A Rhubarb Spritz Is Popping Up Around Sydney – Here’s Where To Try One

Is there a more iconic warm weather drink than the spritz? They’re sparkling and fresh, easy to make, endlessly tweakable and perfect for aperitivo hour in those long sunny afternoons. While the format is pretty much always the same – a liqueur or aperitif, wine (often prosecco) and soda water – it’s also a blank canvas for creative bartenders and home mixers to make as they see fit. And while the spritz standard has been orange-hued for years now, this year we predict ruby red will be the colour of the season. Australian-made aperitif Rhubi is made for spritzes – and a whole bunch of Sydney bars are serving just that.

Created by renowned Aussie bartenders, including Evan Stroeve (of Sydney’s The Waratah and Sakura House) and Tim Philips-Johansson (owner of now-closed Sydney institution Bulletin Place), Rhubi is an aperitif that plays on the classic French mistelle, which is traditionally a blend of fruit wine and grape spirit or brandy. Here, Stroeve and the team use fresh rhubarb with juniper, gentian and mandarin, resulting in an aperitif that’s soft and fruit-forward, without the intense bitterness found in many aperitifs on the market. The profile makes for a silky, dry and fruity spritz that’s perfect for Sydney in spring.

Rhubi Rosé Spritz

The Rhubi Rosé Spritz takes a slightly different approach than you might be used to, subbing the usual prosecco for a crisp, dry rosé. Along with the rhubarb and citrus flavours of Rhubi and the freshness of soda, it makes for a light, fruity spritz that’s also a little lower in alcohol and sugar than typical spritzes.

While you can definitely make your own – it’s just one part Rhubi Apéritif, two parts dry rosé, two parts soda water – we’ll be making a beeline for some of Sydney’s favourite bars and restaurants, where you’ll find the spritz on the menu this spring.

From 20 November to 18 December you can order a Rhubi Rosé Spritz at The Carrington, Bar Conte or Tucanos, all in Surry Hills, plus Baptist Street Rec Club in Redfern.

Best enjoyed with light, seasonal dishes, the drink is paired with a salad of Rhubi-compressed watermelon, sugar snap and goat’s curd at Jane. At The Waratah, Stroeve serves the signature spritz alongside Sydney rock oysters topped with a rosella mignonette made using Rhubi Apéritif.

And if you’d prefer your spritz at home – in the afternoon sun, ideally – you can also grab a bottle of Rhubi Apéritif at Zest Cellars and Barrel & Batch in Surry Hills, P&V Wine & Liquor Merchants Paddington, and Camperdown Cellars in Darlinghurst. Or order it online at rhubimistelle.com.au.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Rhubi.