“Have you been to the Baxter Inn yet?”
Every bartender, brand ambassador, spirit rep and whisky aficionado has asked this of us in the last week. The Baxter Inn, the latest CBD venture from the Shady Pines Saloon crew opened its doors, and the accolades have followed.
The whisky menu board at the Baxter Inn
To find it, you need walk through a dodgy laneway between two buildings, turn right and spot the friendly bouncer near the entrance. With a capacity of 130 people, which we’re told includes 10 staff, expect a queue to get in. Once you go down the stairwell and open the door, you’ll find yourself in a retro American-style saloon.
The design is a little reminiscent of Shady Pines but without the oddities and blaring music that prohibits conversation. There is a long bar that stretches along one side with ladders to climb, bar stools, a space with tables and chairs and a small standing area.
The ambience is welcoming and relaxed, despite being at maximum capacity with wine, whisky and beer swilling patrons.
The Baxter Inn menu offers beers on tap, six classic cocktails which include Brandy Crusta and the South Side which comes served in an enamel cup and there’s an impressive wine list that takes up several pages. But you come to the Baxter Inn for one thing.
Whisky.
With nearly 300 whiskies on offer, there is only one way to order when you’ve tasted countless whiskies as we have had of late. The bartender’s recommendations are spot on with Ardbeg Uigeadail and Ardbeg Corryvreckan, both heavily peated single malts from Islay.
Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail
The bartenders are welcoming, attentive and more than happy to chat with you about your choice of whisky despite the bar being at full capacity. If you’re lucky to get a seat at the bar, you can watch what is being served and listen to the odd apology they receive when someone orders a beer instead of a whisky.
Smokehead 18 year old and Hakushu 16 year old
Round two of Scotch has us trying the heavily peated Hakushu 16 year old single malt from Japan. It has that distinct Japanese whisky flavour with a strong measure of peat. The Smokehead 18 year old from Islay is a lot more intense with dominant seaweed and peat flavours.
The Baxter Inn has no food on the menu at this time, with complimentary pretzels being the only snack. It could be early days or a clever strategy to prevent people from lingering and to allow more turnover. Either way, there is only one problem with the Baxter Inn. Once you’re there amidst all that whisky, you may never want to leave.
The Baxter Inn is featured in Sydney’s top whisky bars, Sydney’s Best Winter Bars. Also in Gourmantic’s 5th Birthday Progressive Bar & Restaurant Tour.
The Baxter Inn
Basement
152-156 Clarence Street
Sydney, 2000
thebaxterinn.com
Great photos guys!
Thanks!
Whisky Lovers – This place sounds worth a visit. The Baxter Inn – Sydney Small Bars gourmantic.com/2011/12/11/the… via @Gourmantic
This comment was originally posted on Twitter.
I need to visit this bar! Awesome!
This comment was originally posted on Facebook.
You can check out any time you like but you may never want to leave. http://bit.ly/v9KPT0 The Baxter Inn via @Gourmantic
This comment was originally posted on Twitter.
It’s whisky heaven in Sydney! The Baxter Inn via @Gourmantic bit.ly/tx3KBK
This comment was originally posted on Twitter.
[…] frequented many bars such as Eau de Vie Bar, the Victoria Room, Hemingway’s Manly, Low 302 Bar, the Baxter Inn and will continue to grow our Sydney small bar […]
[…] America is more like a tequila shrine in the Sydney small bar scene. Or simply put, what the Baxter Inn is to whisky, Tio’s is to […]
Technically speaking, the Suntory Hakushu 16 year old whiskey you mentioned is not a scotch, only whiskeys from Scotland are technically scotch.
That’s true, force of habit… but then it’s a whisky not a whiskey 🙂
[…] New Bar of the Year: Baxter Inn […]
[…] Grill Hot Talent: Michael Chiem from Black Bar at BLACK by Ezard Best Bartender: Lewis Jaffrey of Baxter Inn Best Pub in Sydney: The Local Taphouse Best Wine Bar: The Wine Library Best Cocktail Bar: Palmer […]
[…] knowledgeable bar staff and a fun ambience in a retro American style saloon. Read our review of The Baxter Inn. Address: Basement 152-156 Clarence Street, Sydney Open: 4pm-1am, Monday to Saturday. Closed […]
[…] bar scene and is set to make its mark with the specialist bars that have proven their success among whisky bars, tequila bars and champagne bars. Its claim to be the first sherry bar in Australia is […]
[…] style venue from the award winning duo Anton Forte and Jason Scott of Shady Pines Saloon and the Baxter Inn fame combines kitsch with […]
[…] be put off by the queues or the dodgy entrance. The Baxter Inn is whisky heaven with a selection of over 300 whiskies served by highly knowledgeable bartenders […]
[…] An outdoor area with heaters in winter accommodates smokers and looks onto the entrance to the Baxter Inn. […]
[…] represented with The Black Pearl from Melbourne at number 7 and Best Bar in Australasia. Sydney’s Baxter Inn followed at number 8. The Everleigh in Melbourne took out the 24th spot followed by Sydney’s Eau […]
[…] The Baxter Inn in Sydney was the ideal venue for the Chivas Crafted for the Senses tasting session. The afternoon of sensory whisky experience was presented by visiting Chivas Global Ambassador, Max Warner with Ben Davidson, Spirits Ambassador for Pernod Ricard Australia. […]
[…] BARTENDER Charlie Ainsbury- Eau de Vie Jay Gray- Lobo Plantation Lewis Jaffrey- Baxter Inn Luke Redington- Hello Sailor Adi Ruiz- Bulletin […]
[…] of Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern, a new venue by Sebastian Soto, Charlie Lehmann both formerly of The Baxter Inn and Dardan Shervashidze, ex Frankie’s […]
[…] be forever in my mind and while after the first year got a bit hazy when we made our way to the Baxter Inn, there is a special spot on the carpet reserved for Andy Buntine […]
[…] and whisky are a match made in heaven. Head down to Sydney’s best whisky bar at The Baxter Inn for your favourite dram. Whether it’s floral, fruity or peated, the knowledgeable team of […]
[…] the Baxter Inn, the latest CBD venture from its owners, Shady Pines has a good range of whisky and Bourbon. Ask […]
[…] International Bar Team – New Category ● The Baxter Inn (Sydney) ● The Black Pearl (Melbourne) Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer ● Sam Bygrave […]
[…] may be a strange name for a bar that comes from the owners of Shady Pines and The Baxter Inn but you’re in for something special. Take the steps down Hunter Street and go back to the […]
[…] features predominantly in our articles. There is a whisky heaven in Sydney and it’s called The Baxter Inn. Whether it’s our first or nth visit, we leave in awe at the experience the team […]
[…] final stop for the night was in whisky heaven, The Baxter Inn. No matter how many times we visit, no matter who is behind the bar, we always leave in awe of the […]
[…] can find the Lost Distillery whiskies at Sydney bars such as The Baxter Inn, Hotel Centennial in Woollahra, Assembly Bar, Brooklyn Social, The Corner House, China Doll […]
[…] BAR TEAM: The Rook The Baxter Inn Earl’s Juke Joint Bulletin Place […]
[…] Best Bartenders’ Bar: Hello Sailor, Sydney Rookie of the Year: Edward Quatermass, Papa Jacks Brisbane Best Specialty Beer Venue: The Local Taphouse, Sydney Bar Manager of the Year: Jason Williams, Keystone Group Best Regional Bar: Miss Moneypenny Pub Operator of the Year: Fraser Short Small Bar of the Year: Varnish on King, Perth Bar Operator of the Year: Barrelhouse Group, Sydney (with The Barber Shop) Wine Bar of the Year: The Winery Bar Team of the Year: Eau de Vie, Melbourne Cocktail Bar of the Year: Bulletin Place, Sydney New Pub of the Year: Oxford Tavern, Sydney New Bar of the Year: Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane Best Bar Food Selection: Statler & Waldorf, Brisbane (Presented and Sponsored by Gourmantic) Training Program of the Year: Maison, Pernod Ricard Brand Ambassador of the Year: Justin Strzadala Outstanding Contribution: John Duncan, Keystone Group Cocktail List of the Year: Bar Americano, Melbourne Nightclub of the Year: The Emerson, Melbourne Pub of the Year: Hotel Marlborough, Sydney Bar of the Year: The Baxter Inn […]
[…] was represented with Sydney’s Baxter Inn at no 7 followed by Bulletin Place at number 19 and The Everleigh in Melbourne at no 30. Sydney’s […]
[…] BAR TEAM The Rook The Baxter Inn Earl’s Juke Joint Bulletin Place Sokyo […]
[…] International Bar Team 28 Hong Kong Street (Singapore) American Bar at the Savoy Hotel (London) The Baxter Inn (Sydney) Black Pearl (Melbourne) Le Lion Bar de Paris (Hamburg) Licoreria Limantour Roma (Mexico […]
[…] venue will be managed by David “Rizza” Rozario (ex The Baxter Inn) with Lee Potter Cavanagh (ex Whisky Jerx) as Executive […]
[…] & Grog, New York 3. Nightjar, London 4. Employees Only, New York 5. American Bar, London 6. The Baxter Inn, Sydney 7. 28 Hongkong Street, Singapore 8. Happiness Forgets, London 9. Connaught Bar, London 10. […]
[…] Hubert by Swillhouse (Baxter Inn, Shady Pines and Frankie’s Pizza) is set to open in Sydney’s O’Connell Street early […]
[…] secluded location in the laneway space near The Baxter Inn and The Barber Shop somehow feels at home as if it was always meant to be there. Inside, a central […]
[…] in a secluded location in the laneway space near The Baxter Inn and The Barber Shop, Easy Eight will capture you with its lived-in look and welcoming vibe. […]
[…] scene enjoys a mosaic of diversity, from themed bars to speakeasies, bars within distilleries and award-winning bars with a singular spirit focus. PS40 brings a new dimension to the Sydney small bar landscape with a […]
[…] tasting of this prestigious small batch whisky blend was held at Sydney’s Baxter Inn with National Ambassador for Johnnie Walker and the Classic Malts, Sean […]
[…] American Bar at the Savoy (London, United Kingdom) Amor y Amargo (New York, United States) The Baxter Inn (Sydney, Australia) Daddy-O (New York, United States) Multnomah Whiskey Library (Portland, United […]
[…] Best Spirits Selection The Baxter Inn (Sydney, Australia) Multnomah Whiskey Library (Portland, United States) Old Lightning (Marina Del […]
[…] Athens 10. Happiness Forgets, London 11. Manhattan, Singapore (Bols Genever Best Bar in Asia) 12. The Baxter Inn, Sydney 13. Licoreria Limantour, Mexico City (Torres Brandy Best Bar in Latin America_ 14. 28 Hongkong […]
[…] & Riberry by Stuart Morrow, The Baxter Inn, […]
[…] Anton and Stefan Forte plus Jason Scott, who have already gifted Sydney some of its coolest venues (The Baxter Inn, Shady Pines and Frankie’s Pizza), deliver an old world French feel with modern sensibilities of […]
[…] COCKTAIL BAR The Baxter Inn Bulletin Place Earl’s Juke Joint Eau De Vie Lobo […]