Good drinking in an historic hotel: get the recipe for the Tilda Martini

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The Wentworth Hotel got its start in 1966, when Qantas opened it as a swank, five star destination in the Sydney CBD. Over the years, it has seen royalty, global celebrities, and Liberal Party election night gatherings, but it has got a new injection of good taste thanks to House Made Hospitality.

The Sydney hospitality group — the ones behind Apollonia, Hinchcliff House, Martinez, and Promenade in Bondi (they have recently added Island Radio and Baptist St Rec Club to the group) — are overseeing the F&B operations for the bars, and Bar Tilda is the flagship cocktail venue of the hotel. There’s some smart pedigree behind this, too; House Made Hospitality director Jason Williams spent the better part of a decade setting up award-winning hotel bars across the Asia Pacific region, many of which figure prominently on the big global best of lists.

At Bar Tilda, there are subdued tones, and a big welcoming bar to sit at; it sits across the lobby from reception on the ground floor but is ensconced in its own private world, a world where the drinks are thoughtful, well put together, and of a calibre not seen very often in hotel bars in Australia. There’s an emphasis on Australian ingredients and spirits in the cocktails, a Martini trolley, too, and not a damn name badge on the bartenders in sight. We’re big fans of their Tilda Martini, too — you can get the recipe for it below — and the Friday On My Mind (Los Arcos tequila, passionfruit, hot honey, curry leaf, fresh lemon), which might be the best use of spice heat and passionfruit in a drink we’ve seen yet.

Bar Tilda is so named as it’s short for Matilda — and that Australian influence runs through the drinks program, showing up proud in the Australian-accented signature drink, the Tilda Martini.

“Like Bar Tilda, this Martini introduces guests to modern luxury drinking through an Australian lens,” says Housemade Hospitality director and the drinks maven overseeing the drinks program, Jason Williams.

“The lemon gum and eucalyptus work wonderfully together creating a menthol, lemon sherbet sensation. The glass was designed and made specifically for Bar Tilda, inspired by glassware from the year 1966, the year The Wentworth Hotel was built. The vertical cut lines on the glass reflect the pattern on the facade of the building.”

Tilda Martini

• 50ml Archie Rose lemon-scented gum gin
• 20ml Unico Zelo Pomelo vermouth
• 5ml Ferrand Dry Curacao
• 2 dash Pundi ‘Leaves’ Bitters

Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a grapefruit zest and grapefruit coin.

Recipe by Jason Williams, Bar Tilda, Sydney.