Baranows Lounge - A Melbourne icon

Image (c) Baranows Lounge

When I first heard that I would be in Melbourne just before Easter for a conference, I couldn't help but think to myself, "here's an opportunity to finally visit a whisky establishment of some repute"! Given the rather tight schedule I knew I wouldn't have time to visit more than one bar on my first day in Melbourne (the only available opportunity I would have), so I had chosen ahead of time to visit none other than Baranows Lounge in Hawthorn, inner-east Melbourne.

At this point I'll mention that I've just come fresh off the plane from Brisbane with some kind of a cold going on and my nose is dripping like a tap.  Not a good look. And definitely not an ideal "nosing day" for whisky, either. Such is life though - I should be so lucky to have a first world problem such as this! So anyway, I pick up some tablets from the nearest chemist and I'm on the road again. A runny nose and congestion won't stop me from sampling what Baranow's has to offer.

Baranow's Lounge from the street.
Image (c) Google 2012

A short time later on a train to Glenferrie station in Hawthorn, some quick Subway lunch (it's after 2pm and I haven't eaten since breakfast at about 6:30am!) and a short amble up the street I spot the target on the corner of Burwood Road and Glenferrie Road - a rather inconspicous old building which could have been home to an accountancy or a suburban law firm. The discreet signage above the front door was the only obvious give-away that a cigar and whisky lounge awaited within.

Baranow's Lounge has a healthy and ever-growing reputation, primarily built around proprietor Wal Baranow's extensive selection of fine cigars that is unrivalled. Whisky aficionados are also impressed by the extensive selection of whiskies behind the bar, a large proportion of them fine Scotch single malts but also a healthy selection of international and local whiskies on hand. Being a whisky fan, I won't talk about the fine cigars (not that I could anyway, I know absolutely zilch about them!), so then, onto the whiskies.

Whisky, anyone?
(Apologies for the dodgy quality of my phone camera!)

They say first impressions are everything and I'm certainly not disappointed as I pass through the luxurious lounge setting to the bar - and what a sight! Easily the largest whisky shelf I have ever seen behind any bar, it goes all the way to the ceiling! Immediately attention-grabbing - Elements of Islay bottlings (Port Ellen!), Ardbegs, Malts of Scotland (various), Lark, Bakery Hill, Yamazaki and even English Whisky Co. Well done Baranows. I'm in heaven.

As the euphoria wears off a little, I realise it's kinda quiet - it's about 2:30pm on a Monday; probably not altogether unexpected I should think, I'm so lucky to be here and not in the hustle and bustle of Melbourne's CBD!  I spot some movement on the far end of the bar which extends into what looks like the cigar section and so I introduce my presence to (whom I would later discover to be) Wal Baranow himself.

Nifty ladder on sliding rails. Necessary to reach the top.

"Are you here for the cigars or the whisky?" he queries. "Uhh the whisky, just admiring your fine selection of malts, I'll go sit down for a while at the bar and drool over consider what I might like to drink, thanks". He pours me a glass of complimentary ice water (not for the whisky of course, I haven't ordered anything yet). "Okay no worries, let me know if you need anything" he says. What a nice fellow. I wonder if he's the manager, here all by himself on a quiet day?

I've decided on my first dram. I call Wal away from his cigars after mulling over his very extensive - nay, mind blowing whisky list ("it's not up-to-date, there's more here" he reckons - "my son takes care of the whiskies these days, he knows a lot more than I do now!"). Unfortunately for Wal I send him all the way up to the top shelf for the Compass Box 'Spice Tree'.

"So, are you the manager here?", I put forth matter-of-factly after he's poured my dram and supplied me with some spring water at room temperature. He's a really good bloke - I'm really curious to know. "No", comes the sheepish reply - "I'm the unfortunate owner".  Oops. Sorry Wal! But kudos for manning the station on a very quiet day, it's been really great to meet and be served by the very hospitable proprietor of Baranows; a pleasure I will not soon forget.

The Spice Tree is quite a dram, by the way. I had heard lots of good things about it and had to give it a go. Wal was interested in the story behind the bottling (referring to the Scotch Whisky Association deeming the original release "illegal" as the maturation process involved wood use [inner staves] which is outside the bounds of what can be considered allowable under U.K. law for the production of Scotch whisky - which they have since been able to work around, by coopering barrels with heads made of different woods to achieve a similar effect).

Unfortunately I have misplaced my tasting notes for the Spice Tree. I remember quite well however the jammy fruits, sultanas and raisins in particular and exotic spices in a perfectly balanced, mouth-watering delivery of complex and sumptuous spirit. Great legs too. I'd give it in the vicinity of 9/10 in a heartbeat.

I really enjoyed that, I must say. I'm on the tail end of it, when my old friend whom I last saw a couple of years back joins me on his way home from work - he appreciates the nice setup here - we talk whisky, and about business as I ponder my next dram - ah yes, something peaty for sure. That'll fix my cold right up. Elements of Islay? Yep! I ask how much for the 'Pe3'. I shouldn't have. As with full bottles of the famed Port Ellen malt, I cannot afford a dram of it today (well, to clarify, I was unprepared to spend that amount on a single dram). But that's okay. One day. The Caol Ila though is highly recommended by Wal (as is the sherried Mortlach 16 year old Flora & Fauna, in terms of his favourite whiskies - but I digress). The 'CI1' it is then.

Impressive 'Elements of Islay' range and Ardbegs behind.

I wanted peaty, I got peaty. Intensely peaty. But fantastic. And not one-dimensional. Cask strength. Cough drops and butterscotch. Over 50% from memory (it could even have been in the 60's). I wrote down the ABV but alas, my notepad is missing. Wouldn't rate it as highly as the Spice Tree, but it would have been somewhere in the 8.5-9/10 vicinity.

The time's really getting on now so I decide to wrap things up after only two drams.

After some great chit-chat with Wal (he had some great tales about his travels to Scotland visiting distilleries) and a great catch up with my old friend (and still peat-infused from the robust, warming Caol Ila), it's time for me to hit the road [and to end this ridiculously long blog post], back to the CBD to catch my bus down to the conference venue some 1.5 hours away or so. It's been a fantastic afternoon and the time has just flown by while enjoying my favourite recreational activity, in the company of great people and in a great setting. Cheers to Baranows, thanks Wal, keep up the great work and I will definitely be dropping in again as soon as I can. I might even try the Port Ellen.

Image (c) Baranows Lounge

P.S. You can find Baranows on Twitter @BaranowsCigars and on Facebook page Baranows-Lounge.