Menu Winter 2017
Polit Bar – more than cocktails
Welcome! We designed Polit Bar organically to be the relaxed, friendly bar that we wanted to go to.
Not quite politburo, Polit Bar is more of a wink and a nod to Canberra as the hive of national politics. Established 1927? Canberrans have been imbibing & lounging since Parliament opened. We are continuing the tradition.
We create our cocktails using classic & time-tested recipes and the finest ingredients, crafting them with precision, care & a smile. Others are just a cheeky poke at life, for our amusement.
For those who prefer something other than spirits, we offer a tailored selection of boutique wines & craft bottled beers from around the world to suit all tastes.
Polit Bar is also proud to nurture and support diverse local talent. We pass 100% of all show ticket sales on to the participating producers and their performers. When you buy a ticket at our events, you're directly supporting emerging talent. We hope you enjoy our offerings!
Mary-Jane, Emily & the team
Listed prices are subject to a public holiday and after-midnight 10% surcharge. We do not charge EFTPOS, credit card, or Amex fees.
Planning a Party?
Let US do the work. Birthdays, hens, bachelors, engagements, weddings, divorces, wakes, Christmas, or ....JUST BECAUSE...
Canberra's funnest parties ever....
Party & canape options @ www.politbar.co > book us
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Twitter @Polit_Bar #politbar
Virgin Offerings
Piemento ginger beer – chilli infused (France) 9
mocktails 12 / or not with shot 19
Virgin Vera – Sooth your digestive system, the 'seat of your health,' with this delicious combination of organic aloe, pear, blueberry juice, apple, lemon, cucumber & mint.
Simon, Tahiti! – Re-energise and refresh with this fruit drink rich in antioxidents, phytonutrients and phytoceuticals, a mix of Hawaiian Noni, apple & cranberry topped with lemonade.
Ready for Action – Boost your energy & endurance with this acai (ah-sigh) super-fruit, guarana, green tea extract cocktail topped with ginger ale & pineapple juice. A natural Red Bull.
Winter Warmer Cocktails
Mulled Wine 9 gls / 35 jug
Fiery Ranga – cinnamon whisky, dash Tabasco, chill infused Piemento ginger beer 17.5
Apple Pie – award winning CBR Baldwin Apple Pie Moonshine, cinnamon whisky, organic ginger liqueur & apple juice 17.5
Ginger, Lemon & Honey Elixir – Organic ginger liqueur, lemon
juice, Fireball whisky & CBR Baldwin Honey Moonshine 17.5
Hot Toddy / Irish Coffee / Jamaican Coffee /
Spiked Hot Chocolate (your choice of liqueur) 17.5
Charlie Sheen – Polit Bar's signature Old Fashioned 22
Shared Bites
House-made chilli soy almonds...6 v
Olives – green Sicilian...6 v gf
Japanese-style edamame – with sea salt flake dust...9 v gf
Dolmades – vegetarian stuffed vine wraps...9 v gf
Sweet potato fries – with aioli dipper...12 v
Monterey Jack cheese fingers – & cranberry dipper...12 v
Zucchini fritti – with paprika yoghurt dip....12 v
Mezze board – house-made hummus & beetroot dips, dolmades, olives, crudités & assorted crackers....24 v gf
Cheese board – triple cream brie, blue &
manchego cheeses, nuts, seasonal fruits & crackers....28 v gf
Hungry?
all served with salad & sweet potato chips
Pan fried halloumi salad...18 v gf
Angus beef meatballs – with tomato coulis...18
Salt 'n' pepper squid & spicy chilli prawn bites – with aioli...18
Japanese-style kara-age chicken – with gourmet sauce...18
Angus beef burger – caramelised onion, beetroot pâté,
cheese, leafy greens & aioli...18
Sweet bites plate – selection of chocs & turkish delight...12 v
Hot Choc Malibu mud pudding – with whipped cream...12 v
Italian-style Pizzas
Tasty thin crust, stone baked available until 830pm...gf +3
Margherita– mozzarella, bocconcini & basil...20
Gorgs – mozzarella, Italian gorgonzola & rocket...21
Pepperoni – mozzarella & pepperoni...23
Gamberetto – mozzarella & marinated Tiger prawns...25
Napoli – mozzarella, bocconcini,
anchovies, olives & fresh chilli...25
Flinders – mozzarella, bocconcini, prosciutto and basil...23
Carne – mozzarella, prosciutto, ham & pepperoni...25
Ozzie– mozzarella, ham & pineapple...21
Greko – mozzarella, feta cubes, fresh tomato, kalamata olives, oregano & virgin olive oil...21
Francese – mozzarella, Camembert & marinated mushrooms...25
Arrabiata – mozzarella, pepperoni, kalamata olives & chilli...25
A Word on Cocktails
Cocktails are defined as an alcohol with a modifier. In the distant past these modifiers were as simple as sugar and/or bitters. Today the term covers millions of variations of ingredients.
The word cocktail first appeared in 1798 in the Morning Post in London. By 1803 it had spread to America, where in 1806 the first definition of the word appeared. The definition was:
“Cock-tail is a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters. It is vulgarly called 'bittered sling' and is supposed to be an excellent electioneering potion in as much as it renders the heart stout and bold at the same time that it fuddles the head.
It is said also to be of great use to a democratic candidate because a person, having swallowed a glass of it, is ready to swallow anything else.”
Classic Cocktails to Share
Long Island Iced Tea (tea pot with tea cups) 40
A blend of five spirits mixed with cola and lemon. Designed to mask the fact that you're drinking what you're drinking, served in classic prohibition style from a tea pot into an antique teacup.
Absinthe Fountain 50
5 PM – The Green Hour – so named as it was when the French traditionally finished work & indulged in delicious amounts of the Wicked Fairy (a scandalous 68%), served in an elegant fountain.
Your favourites are available on request. These are ours.
Sparkling Cocktails 14.5
Bellini – First crafted in Venice in the late 1930s, this sparkling peach cocktail is named after 15th- century artist Giovanni Bellini.
Cham Cham – Delightfully pink & bubbly, mixed from Chambord black raspberry liqueur & Aussie bubbles.
Kir Royale – A refreshing mix of Crème de cassis blackcurrant liqueur & bubbles, named after the Mayor of Dijon, Burgundy, who popularised it at receptions after WWII.
Kitty Royale – Australia's (and the world's) only marshmallow SexyCat liqueur topped with Aussie bubbles. Purrrfectly sweet.
Queen V – Canberra's own musk liqueur. Can you handle it?
Classic Cocktails 17.5
Moscow Mule – Responsible for popularising vodka in the US in 1941 with lime, sugar & ginger beer.
Cosmopolitan – Sex & the City, need we say more?
French Martini – Fruity with pineapple & black raspberry liqueur
Godfather – Marlon Brando's favourite? Amaretto & Scotch.
Godmother – Wave this wand & cast your wish with amaretto and vodka on the rocks in a small glass.
Lychee Martini – An infusion of occidental & oriental delights.
Negroni – You can “Count” on this classic mix of gin, vermouth Antica Formula rosso and Campari.
Rusty Nail – Coming down with a cold? Knock it on the head with this Drambuie & Scotch blend.
Tom Collins – A refreshing mix of gin, lemon, sugar & soda.
More Classic Cocktails 19
Aviation – First mixed by Hugo Ensslin of New York's Wallicks Hotel in celebration of the aviation industry. Using gin, fresh lemon and the obscure violette liqueur, this is probably the only cool blue drink in existence.
Blood and Sand – Created for the 1922 Rudolf Valentino film of the same name, Blood & Sand, mixes Scotch with sweet vermouth, cherry and orange.
Boulevardier – The bourbon drinker's Negroni, mixing Canberra's Baldwin sour mash whisky, sweet vermouth & Campari, named after the 1920-30s' Paris magazine, which advertised on the back of the 1927 classic Barflies & Cocktails.
Charlie Chaplin – One of the Waldorf-Astoria's favourites until 1920. A sweet & gentle mix of lime, apricot brandy and sloe gin.
Corpse Reviver No 2 – “Four of these taken in swift succession will un-revive the corpse again” (Savoy Cocktail Book 1930). One of several Corpse Revivers, No 2 is considered the tastiest variation created of gin, Cointreau, vermouth & lemon.
Japanese Slipper – Created in 1984 in Mietta's Restaurant in Melbourne, this is a sweet, crisp & fruity concoction of honeydew melon Midori liqueur, Cointreau & fresh lemon.
Painkiller – Until 1970 Royal Navy sailors received a daily dose of pain alleviate (rum). We honour this tradition with our mix of pineapple, orange, coconut & Pusser's Navy Rum.
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Daiquiri – sail away from Hemmingway in Cuba with this delicious mix of Caribbean rum, Cointreau, lime & Falernum.
Sazerac – New Orleans: The Big Easy, home to festivals, parades, Rue Bourbon & the Sazerac. Lovingly recreated here in the traditional manner: rye, sugar, bitters and a light wash of absinthe.
Sidecar – A mad Yank came up with this mixture of cognac, Cointreau & lemon in France after The Great War & named it after being driven around by a motorcycle (he couldn't drive...)
Southside – Chicago '20s. Prohibition, speakeasies, G-men raids, bootleggers & Al Capone sipping this in the baddest part of town. A refreshing mix of gin, lemon, sugar & mint.
The Last Word – The Seattle Times remarked of this pale green prohibition-era cocktail mix of gin, Chartreuse & lime juice “..perfectly balanced. A little sour, a little sweet, a little pungent”.
Even More Classic Cocktails 20
Cadillac Margarita – Your margarita supercharged, with 1800 Anejo tequila, organic agave & fresh lime.
Great Gatsby – An elegant balance of vodka, gin, Lillet Blanc & lime. Celebrate the coming (again?) of the 20s.
Pisco Sour – The Peruvian national drink. Or is it Chile's? Which ever, ours is Pisco sugarcane spirit, egg white, lemon & sugar.
Whisky Sour – First seen in 1870 Wisconsin, this is a frothy mix of egg white & sugar with a healthy kick of Scotch & Drambuie.
Martinis & Dessert from 20
Martini, Manhattan, Margarita or Old Fashioned – ask us about a combination to suit you, choosing from more than 50 gins, vodkas, whiskeys, rums & tequilas.
Chocolate Martini – A wonderful way to finish the evening. Dessert anyone? Garnished with Maltesers, just because. Yum.
Martini Noir – A bitter & herbal gin martini using Fernet Branca, Canberra Fog & a dash of black Sambuca crafted at Polit in the 2010s to revive an overworked boss, who exclaimed “By Jove! Surprisingly moreish!”
Nespresso Martini – Stay up all night to get lucky? This might help, with CBR's own coffee liqueur, vodka & Nespresso.
Polit Mocker – Can't choose 'tween choco & coffee for dessert? Then don't. Enjoy our creamy mocha with dusting of Polit magic.
Polit Turk – Housemade liquid turkish delight, Australian SexyCat liqueur & Crème de Fraise. Pink & veeerrrry sweet.
Singapore Sling – Raffles' original cherry & pineapple.
A Word on Whisk(e)y
Ireland lays claim to first producing the drink now known as whisky, which was then introduced to Scotland. Having evolved from a highly alcoholic and roughly distilled drink called “uisge beatha” or “water of life” in Gaelic, whisky has now become the luxurious smooth and delightful tipple enjoyed the world over.
To e or not to e? Most Scottish, Japanese and Canadian whisky is labelled 'whisky,' whereas bourbon and Irish whiskey tend to insert an 'e.' There is much confusion, especially if one considers that some bourbon do 'e' while others don't. There is actually no reason for it other than local preference. Who knows what's true or what's nonsense? Enjoy your whisk(e)y! PS. A single malt is from one distillery; a blend combines several.
Scotch Whisky Wanderings
Speyside – the lightest and sweetest of malts.
Highlands – famed for its maritime flavours, are quite salty & dry.
Islay – boasts high peat/smoke content, especially on the nose.
Lowlands – light bodied & tend to begin sweet with a dry, very short finish; perfect as an aperitif.
Hebrides – not as smoky as Islay, they tend to be peaty & salty.
Campbeltown – curious mix of dry pungency, smoke & salinity.
30 ml
Monkey Shoulder blended 10
Chivas Regal 12 yo blended 11
The Macallan Amber – Speyside – light & sweet 14
Glenfarclas 105 (60%) – Speyside – toffeed fruit, oats, spice 25
Glenmorangie 10 yo – Highlands – floral & fruity 12
Stronachie 10 yo – Highlands – sweet & spicy 12
Oban 14 yo – Highlands – rich & intense peat & malt 17
Lagavulin 16 yo – Islay – peat, smoke & seaweed 16
The Laddie 10 yo – Islay – creamy, mellow oak sweet 14
Octamore 6.1 – Islay – intense peat farm experience 25
Adelphi Liddesdale 21 yo – Islay – complex fruit, salt hints 25
Glenkinchie 12 yo – Lowlands – creamy, vanilla fruit sweet 15
Talisker 10 yo – Hebrides – peat & sea-salt, smokey sweet 13
Jura Superstition – Hebrides – honey & spice, subtle smoke 13
Ardbeg Uigeadail – Hebrides – a complex taste of Xmas 20
Adelphi Fascadale 14yo – Orkany Is – a festive feast 20
Highland Park 12 yo – Orkany Is – sweet malt, peat & spice 12
Highland Park 18 yo – Orkany Is – honey, fruits & smoke 20
Kilkerran– Campbeltown – dark choc, honey & sherrywood 16
Campbeltown Loch 21 yo blend – Campbeltown & Lowlands –
malty fruity sweetness, hint of peat & spice 25
Other Whisk(e)y
United States 30 ml Manhattan / OF
Maker's Mark bourbon 10 20
Woodford Reserve bourbon / 13 26
Rittenhouse Rye 13 26
Elmer T Lee bourbon 16 28
High West Whisky Campfire special blend 15 -
Koval (Millet or Rye) / Michters Rye 16 -
Jack Daniels Un-aged Mash #1 22 -
Buffalo Trace Whitedog #1 25 -
Van Winkle Special Rsv 12 yo 28 -
Sazerac rye 18yo 32 -
Stagg JR bourbon 38 -
Australia & around the world 30 ml Manhattan / OF
Starward 2013 / Award 2016, Victoria 13 / 15 24
Hellyers Road 10 yo, Tas 17 -
Lark Single Strength, Tas 35 -
Lark Limited Release. Tas 40 -
Lark Slainte Whisky Liqueur 20 -
Limeburners Single Malt, WA 20 -
Overeem Single Malt, Tas 22 -
Nant Single Malt, Tas 25 -
McHenry 3 Capes 10yo, Tas 25 -
Belgrove Rye, Tas 25 -
Sullivans Cove French Cask, Tas 70
Fireball Cinnamon, Canada 10 -
Caribou Crossing, Canada 18 -
Jameson, Ireland 10 20
Amrut Fusion, India 15 -
Paul John Edition / Cask 13 / 17
Special Vatting, France 20
Nikka From the Barrel, Japan 18 More rare
Yamazaki 12 yo, Japan 35 Japanese
Hibiki 12 yo, Japan 35 available.
Kavalan Solist, Taiwan 40 Please ask!
Cognac, Armagnac & Brandy
30ml
Laird's Applejack, USA 10
Calvados Comte Louis de Lauriston, France 10
Calvados Victor Gontier 2002, France 13
Calvados Roger Groult 25yo, France 25
Courvoisier VSOP / Hennessy VSOP, France 14
Paul Girad Cognac VSOP / XO, France 16 / 25
Delords Armangnac 1984 / 85 / 79, France 16 / 18 / 20
Fortified Wine
Gallway Pipe port 10 (45 ml)
Penfold’s Grandfather port 18 (45ml)
Gin
(1=dry to 5= sweet) 30 ml Martini
Canberra Gin (1) / CBR Winter Gin Aust (3) 10 / 12 20 / 24
Bombay Sapphire, UK (2.5) 9 18
Martin Miller's 40%, England Iceland (2.9) 13 26
Tanqueray 10, UK (2.6) 13 26
Generous, France (3.2) 13 26
McHenry Classic Dry Gin, Tasmania (2.6) 11 22
Sipsmith, UK (2.6) 12 24
Whitley Neil, UK (3) 12 24
O Gin, Kangaroo Island (3) 11 22
FAIR gin (2.5) 12 24
FAIR Aged gin, France (3.5) 14 28
The Botanist, Islay Scotland (4) 14 28
Le Gin, France (3.5) / Aviation, Portland USA (4) 12 24
Four Pillars Dry, Yarra Valley Vic 10 20
Four Pillars Aged / Vera, Yarra Valley Vic 14 28
Portobello Road, UK (4) 13 26
Hendrick’s, Scotland (4) 13 26
Botanic Australis, North Queensland (4.2) 11 22
Botanica Gin, Gosford Australia (4.5) 13 26
Monkey 47 Dry Gin, Black Forest Germany (4.7) 16 32
Poor Toms Dry Gin, NSW (5) 12 24
Fool Strength, NSW (5) 14 28
Junipero, San Francisco USA (1 & 4) 14 28
Japanese Style Gin, UK 20 40
Hayman’s Sloe, UK 10 -
Vodka
Russian Standard, Russia 9 18
gf FAIR Quinoa, Cognac France 10 20
Tru Vodka (organic), California USA 11 22
Belvedere, Poland 11 22
Grey Goose, France 13 26
Ultimat, Poland 15 30
Chilli vodka, Kangaroo Island 11 -
Rum
30ml OF
Mount Gay Sliver & Eclipse, Barbados 8.5 20
Pusser’s Navy single malt, British Virgin Is 11 22
Metusalem Gran Reserva 15 yo, Dominican Rp 12 24
Diplomatica Reserva Exclusiva 15 yo, Ven. 15 -
Lambs spiced 9 20
Bacardi Oakheart spiced 9 20
Sailor Jerry spiced 9 20
Captain Morgan spiced 9.5 20
The Kraken spiced 10 20
Malibu 8.5 -
Soul cachaça, Brazil / Caipirinha 9 20
Encanto pisco, Peru / Pisco Sour 14 20
Tequila
30ml Margarita
Jose Cuervo Especial Reposado Tequila 8.5 16
IXA Certified Organic Tequila Silver 11 22
Cuervo Tradicional Plata 11 22
1800 Añejo Tequila 13 26
Delirio Mezcal Reposado 14 -
1146 Tequila Añejo 16 -
Fortaleza Tequila Reposado 18 -
Ocho 8 Tequila Reposado 15 -
Named #1 top selling tequila brand by the
Drinks International 50 Best Bars Brand Report
Patron XO café tequila 12 -
Or try Canberra Distillery's Coffee Liqueur... 10
Bubbles
150 ml bottle
Secret Garden Brut 2014, NSW 8.5 40
Light straw green with fine bubbles, fresh citrus aromas & some slightly toasty notes
Sieur d'Arques Grande Cuvée 1531 de Aimery 12 48
Languedoc-Roussillon FRANCE
16 gold medal winning crémant de Limoux, fresh, creamy, subtle with delicate citrus
La Zona Prosecco NV, King Valley VIC 12 48
Aromas of citrus, melon, almonds, honey finishing crisp & clean with delicate bubbles
Champagne
Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut NV, Reims 18 86
Veuve Clicquot NV, Reims - 115
Tattinger Brut Reserve, Reims - 119
Bollinger, Aÿ - 135
Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2004, Reims - 190
Dom Pérignon Brut Vintage 2004, Hautvillers 295
White Wine
Secret Garden Semillion Sauv Blanc, NSW 8.5 40
Pale green with a great mix of citrus & tropical aromas, soft acid & great flavour.
River Retreat Moscato 2013, Murray Darling 9 42
A light, sweet and juicy wine with vibrant flavours of pineapple and citrus.
Wallaroo Riesling 2014, Canberra District 12 48
Heady, musky, floral aromas with the classic Canberra cut and spark driving the palate.
Juniper Crossing Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 11 46
2012 Margaret River, WA
Gooseberry, green apple, pear, passionfruit, citrus blossom & jasmine, herbs & spice
See Saw Sauv Blanc 2014, Orange NSW 9.5 44
Vibrant and refreshing flavours are complemented by lovely natural acidity & balance.
Spy Valley Sauv Blanc 2012, Marlbourough, NZ 12 48
A myriad of herbs with green ginger & grapefruit/ tropical fruit background.
Coli Spa Pinot Grigio 2012, Firenze Italy 10 45
Apples, pears & flaked almonds on the nose, with delicate hints of lemon citrus
Rolf Binder Chardonnay 2015, Barossa SA 10 45
Subtle creamy stone fruit characters with acidic backbone
Delatite Pinot Gris 2015 (Biodnyamic), Vic 12 48
Round and full with oaky warm vanilla notes complementing ripe pear characteristics
Dexter Chardonnay 2012, Mornington VIC - 60
Subtle flavours & aromas, particularly lemon, nectarine, white peach & elegant oak
Red Wine
by the glass & bottle 150 ml bottle
Secret Garden Shiraz 2014, NSW 8.5 40
Dark vibrant red with lifted aromas of black cherry & chocolate showing fleshy dark fruit complimented by subtle oak flavours of mocha and spice.
Secret Garden Cabernet Sauv 2015, NSW 8.5 40
Medium bodied, with a mix of blackcurrant and sweet vanilla oak & low tannins.
Rams Leap Merlot 2009, Western Plains NSW 9.5 44
Herbaceous with a hint of plum and black cherries with American Oak creating overtones of clove and mocha with a smooth finish.
Kilikanoon Killerman’s Run GSM 2014 9.5 44
Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre Clare Valley SA
Earthen spices, subtle oak char and incense, riper plum notes and cured meats with silky natural tannins and classy retained acidity.
Jed Malbec 2013, Mendoza Argentina 12 48
Red berry aromas of sweet cherry & chocolate with rose water & violet characters
Chain of Ponds ‘Section 400’ Pinot Noir 2012 11 46
Lifted cherry, rhubarb and blueberry with nuances of fresh beetroot, and dried sage. An underlying aroma of eucalypt is seamlessly integrated with aromatic savoury oak
Alliance Loire Rosé de Loire 2013, France 9 42
Lovely deep rose colour. A dry, soft wine with aromas of spring fruits. Enjoy it young
Pinot Noir – ask us about our featured special - 60+
Beer & Cider
bottle
Coopers / Cascade Light 7
Uberbrau German lager 7.5
Pure Blond – Australia’s leading low carb beer 8
Peroni / Sapporo 8.5
Corona / Hop Thief American Pale Ale / Coopers Pale Ale 9
Strongbow Classic Apple Cider 9
Premium Bavarian Beer by the Counts of Arco est 1567
Arcobräu Schloss Hell Lager (4.9% 330ml) 10
Arcobräu Schloss Dunkel Dark (5.2% 500ml) 18
Arcobräu Weissbier Wheat Beer (5.2% 500ml) 18
Arcobräu Coronator (7.5% 500ml) 20
Fun & Mischief
80s 90s & 00s music to party to – always
Happy Hour – everyday 5-6pm PLUS
Cocktails & Karaoke – alternating Wed 8pm
Hump Day Fun – with karaoke, (anti)trivia, tarot, fun & games & more alternating Wed 8pm
Every Month & ad hoc
Nightclub NEW Galaxy, Burlesque & Cabaret, Comedy, Musical Theatre, Arabian Nights & more...
Check www.politbar.co for all the details
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Share your pics in our FB group PolitBarPlaymates
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Twitter @Polit_Bar #politbar
