10 best cocktails in Sydney

When the Harbour City was first colonized, rum was the drink of choice, as the notorious New South Wales Corps ("rum corps") took charge of a governor-less colony to bootleg their trade.

But tastes change: a schooner (425 milliliters) of draft beer came to define the city.

More recently, New South Wales' plethora of vineyards has brought wine into vogue.

With a globalized drinking culture and need for style, however, cocktails have also joined the fray.

A cocktail is no longer judged by how a bartender flips a shaker, but gets graded like a gourmet meal. Bartenders have become alcohol chefs.

From pomegranate-infused Turkish delights to classics garnished with Japanese basil and edible foil, Sydney’s cocktail bars have a reputation for taking things off the hook.

Here are Sydney’s 10 most interesting cocktails and a look at the bars that make them.

1. Espresso Ice-Cream Martini @ Manta

Homemade coffee ice cream and a slice of paparazzi go into the Espresso Ice-Cream Martini.

Jon Bon Jovi liked Manta enough to leave a $600 tip and told a radio station: “I can tell you this is one of the best restaurants I ever ate in. It was killer folks.”

Maybe he had an Espresso Ice-Cream Martini.

It helps punters who don’t like the sourness of coffee to appreciate the bean’s aroma and ability to stimulate. It contains a shot of espresso, a shot of Belvedere vodka and a shot of Kahlua with a scoop of homemade coffee ice cream.

First shaken over ice, it’s double-strained and served in a martini glass and garnished with coffee beans.

Manta Restaurant & Bar, 6 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomooloo, +61(2) 9332 3822, Monday-Sunday, noon-2.30p.m, 6p.m.-midnight, www.mantarestaurant.com.au

2. Papillon @ Brown Sugar  

Read into this: Papillon is a juiced-up version at an old Bondi favorite.

The new owners, siblings Neil and Leanne Gotheiner, still serve contemporary seafood, but have also juiced up the cocktail menu.

New concoctions pop up on the specials board every month, courtesy of French sommelier Allan Bourbon.

Papillon is built from Aperol -- an Italian aperitif, sweeter than Campari -- Cointreau, a half-measure of Stoli vodka, a few drops of bitters, a squeeze of lime, crushed ice and topped with sparkling blood orange juice.

Papillon is harder to put down than the 1969 novel by Henri Charrière it was named after.

Brown Sugar, 106 Curlewis St., (61) 2 9130 1566, Tuesday-Sunday 6:30p.m.-midnight, Friday-Sunday 8:30a.m.-2:30p.m., www.brownsugarbondi.com.au 

3. Fig Daiquiri @ Café Sicilia  

This daiquiri is mainly Italian, with a shot of Caribbean.

The semifreddo al cioccolato –- a mousse and ice cream hybrid –- is excellent, while the Mediterranean-themed cocktails are about as subtle as Berlusconi. Italy is the home of the fig, so it comes as no surprise to see a fig daiquiri on the menu here.

The drink contains Bacardi Superior Rum shaken on ice with fresh lime juice and, of course, mama’s homemade fig marmalade.

Served with a float of Bacardi 8, it's very easy to drink.

Café Sicilia, 628 Crown St., Surry Hills, (61) 2 9699 8787, Monday-Sunday 7:00a.m. – midnight, www.caffesicilia.com.au

4. La Bomba @ Miss Marley’s

Cocktails like "the bomb" are changing the face of "God's country" (that's Manly).

There, a chrome feature wall, patterned wallpaper and floor-to-ceiling mirrors have an odd but comfortable marriage with low-stung lights and grungy, garage-sale table and chairs. 

La Bomba is Spanish for "the bomb," which makes no sense given the smooth, suave nature of this cocktail.  But it’s the taste -- not the name –- where this drink hits the spot.

Containing Tromba tequila, fresh passion fruit, passion fruit syrup, Grand Marnier and lime juice, it’s double strained and garnished with a slice of passion fruit. Sure to cluster on your taste buds.

Miss Marley’s Pan American Restaurant & Tequila Cocktail Bar, 32 Belgrave St., Manly +61 (2) 8065 4805, Monday-Saturday 5 p.m.-midnight, Sunday 5p.m.-10.p.m, www.missmarleys.com.au

5. The Rose Porteous @ Longrain

Named after a seductress, the The Rose Porteous is sure to tantalize.

The Rose Porteous is named after the super-interesting former Filipino lingerie model-cum-maid, who married iron-ore magnate Lang Hancock -- a man 40 years her senior.

It’s bound to seduce: containing lemon vodka, watermelon liqueur and watermelon and cranberry juice, it’s served in an old-fashioned glass and topped with crushed raspberry and blackberry bits.

Longrain Cocktail Bar, 85 Commonwealth St., Surry Hills, +61(2) 9280 2888, Daily 4p.m-midnight. www.longrain.com.au