An entrepreneur and an artist walk into a bar... No joke - it happened. That's where they met Mikey. The rest, as they say, is history.

The unorthodox beginnings of Artisan Drinks provide a strong clue to the type of business the three founders wanted to create. Steve Cooper, Alan Walsh and Mikey Enright - respectively the drinks entrepreneur, the artist and the award-winning bar owner in Sydney - all had one thing in common, a desire to do things differently. This led to the Artisan ethos of "why blend in when you can stand out..."

The Art of Mixing

Artisan Drinks are very proud of the fact they've taken this idea from concept to creation and the result is their ever-growing range of drinks, all made with 100% natural ingredients, offering unique flavour combinations which have been developed by Mikey to truly complement craft spirits rather than drowning them in sugar or artificial ingredients.

When this is combined with Al's outstanding illustrations, each with their own story of where the art was created, you can see the artisan spirit behind this very different type of mixer drink!

Why Blend in when you can stand out...

The journey may have started off as a proverbial meet-cute in Australia, and akin to many of the silver screen tales with the same beginning, what was once a glimmer of an idea quickly grew into something more. Artisan Drinks has continued to develop since its birth and is now an outstanding range of mixer drinks for those colourful, free spirits prepared to stand out from the crowd and shine in their own way.

Mixology

Winner of Outstanding Contribution in Australian Bartender Magazine Awards and owner of World's Best Gin Bar of the year so who better than our very own Mikey Enright to create some awesome Artisan cocktails for you to try.

Mikey creates magic in a cocktail glass. Name any spirit and he'll know the best match for it. He doesn't shy away from a challenge, and his quest for the best cocktail recipes has taken him on many travels across the globe. If you are looking for a unique recipe for a special occasion, or simply some inspiration for a treat for yourself, you've come to the right place.

The Artisan Julep

Rhett Butler certainly would have given a damn about this one. And you don't have to be a Southern belle to enjoy our take on another old favourite.

Bourbon, Maison Ferrand Mathilde Peche - a peach infused liqueur - sugar, the all-important Angostura Bitters and the even more important Bubbly Soda Water helps to fight the humidity and keep you hydrated in the best possible way.

• 40ml Woodford Reserve Bourbon
• 20ml Maison Ferrand Mathilde Peche
• 5ml Sugar
• 2 Dash Angostura Bitters
• 12 Fresh Mint Leaves
• 200ml Bubbly Soda Water

Add top 5 ingredients to collins glass (or julep tin) and 2/3 fill with crushed ice. Top with Artisan Drinks Bubbly Soda, stir gently and garnish.

Rose Blush

Artisan Violet Blossom Tonic is added to the combination of blush rose, St Germain elderflower liqueur and fresh lemon for a truly refreshing cocktail which is perfect for any time of day. Finish it with some lavender and juniper berries and you're good to go.

• 75ml Blush Rose
• 25ml St Germain Elderflower
• 10ml Fresh Lemon
• 200ml Violet Blossom Tonic

Add first 3 ingredients to shaker and give hard shake. Strain into ice filled glass, top with Violet Blossom Tonic. Stir gently and garnish.

As we're sure you can agree; life's too short to drink dull and opting for the ordinary or mixing with the mainstream. The range consists of eight skus, ranging from the Classic London Ton to the more exotic Amalfi Lime or Violet Blossom Tonics.

Shop the full range here.