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Man of Many
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Man of Many
Feel-Good Friday: 1 August, 2025—Fresh Cuts and Freebies Galore!
By Dean Blake - News Published: 1 Aug 2025 Share Copy Link 0 Readtime: 4 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. It's the end of the week, and you know what that means: another instalment of Man of Many's Feel-Good Friday! Every week we look to bring some fun ideas for things you can do this weekend, as well as some easy opportunities for you to do some good in the world. This week, we're highlighting a bunch of freebies up for grabs this weekend (and next) across Sydney and Melbourne: from delicious Matcha at Carlton's Good Measure, to Oreo Mini Bites at Pitt Street Mall. Plus, there's a TVs, PlayStations, and Headphones up for grabs care of streaming service Stan, and a new do thanks to Brookvale Union. So put your feet up, grab a drink, and check out this week's Feel-Good Friday. T2 x Good Measure | Image: Supplied T2 x Good Measure launch a one-night only Matcha Kissa in Melbourne Tonight (1 August), for one night only, Carlton cafe Good Measure will play host to something special. Tea brand T2 is descending on the venue to deliver a Japan-inspired Kissa, celebrating the return of the brand's White Chocolate flavouring, as well as new matcha flavours Peach and Strawberry. For reference, a Kissa is a laid-back cafe-style tea-house endemic to Japan, where an appreciation of good music and tea goes hand in hand. At Good Measure tonight, starting at 7.30pm and going through until 11pm, customers will be able to enjoy triple strawberry matcha, white chocolate marble matcha, and peach matcha spider drinks, as well as Japanese-inspired deserts to go with the delicious drinks. To provide the music side of the kissa equation will be local DJ LXY, who'll focus on jazz house, lo-fi beats to keep things nice and mellow. Also, the first 100 customers get free matcha—so get there at 7.30pm sharp, Melbournians! Image: Supplied Brookvale Union is on the Lookout for Australia's Weirdest Haircut I've always gotten the feeling that us Aussies like things a bit weird, and booze brand Brookevale Union seems to agree: launching a competition this week to try to find Australia's most ridiculous haircuts, with some pre-paid digital VISA cards on the line. Yes, the brand's 'Upper Nonsense' campaign will see it launch a pop-up barbershop in Sydney today (1 August), and incentivise people to come get some truly strange cuts. Once you've had your trim, you'll need to upload an image of yourself to your Instagram with #uppernonsense and @brookvaleunion included, and then, depending on just how freaky you are, you might win. There's 'bragging rights' on the line, too. If you are crowned Australia's weirdest haircut, you'll be immortalised on the Brookvale Union Insta for all the world to see. If that's up your alley, or if you think you've already got the best haircut in the country, the competition ends on 25 August. Twisted Metal's Sweet Tooth | Image: Stan Stan brings Sweet Tooth to Paddy's Markets this Saturday One for the Sydney-siders among us: Streaming service Stan is celebrating the launch of the second season of Twisted Metal by giving away some free ice-creams, as well as the chance to win big. On Saturday, 2 August, Twisted Metal's Sweet Tooth will head on down to Paddy's Night Food Markets, as well as the Show N Shine auto show at Paddy's Flemington, to give away some delicious treats. Plus, marketgoers can spin on a prize wheel to for the chance to win prizes ranging from a Sony Bravia TV, wireless headphones, a PlayStation 5 console, a PlayStation Plus 12-month membership, and more. If you can't make it this weekend, fret not! Sweet Tooth will be heading to North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club from 1pm to 4pm on Wednesday, 6 August. Oreo's Mini Bites | Image: Supplied 5,000 Mini Oreos Up for Grabs at World's Smallest Drive-Thru If you're looking for something to look forward to, next Saturday (9 August) will see the 'world's smallest drive-thru' hit Sydney's Pitt Street Mall, where you can jump in a miniature kart, drive through a miniature drive-thru, and get your hands on some miniature Oreos. Or rather, Oreo Mini Bites. What's an Oreo Mini Bite, I hear you ask? They're the famous cookie brands new frozen snack: pockets of vanilla ice cream with a crushed Oreo biscuit coating. If that sounds delicious, you know what to do. The pop-up is to celebrate the treat hitting Aussie shores, and there'll be around 5,000 up for grabs. All you have to do is head on down to Pitt Street Mall between 11am and 7pm next Saturday, and gear up for a tiny driving course.
The Guardian
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Australian canned cocktails taste test: from grownup drinks to ‘a hen party in a can'
Canned cocktails were once a single shelf in the bottle shop – at most. Now the category has expanded into whole fridges of options. We tasted our way through 22 Australian-made canned cocktails, and learned that the diversity, even for a group of sommeliers, hospo workers and friends who love a cheeky canned bevvy, is overwhelming. That makes this a really exciting choose-your-own-adventure category of drinks. You want something sessionable (that's insider slang for a drink you can enjoy more than one of in a row) without reaching for a beer? Can't be bothered to make your own cocktails? Crave something savoury? There's a canned cocktail out there that fits the bill. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning We scored each drink we tasted for packaging, with a separate score for taste or flavour. We split drinks into sections: vodka-based, gin-based, brewed, and 'bartender strength' canned cocktails. Every drink was poured into a glass and tasted chilled – because we're professionals (at least, until about the 16th can, when Elvis conspiracy theories took over). This made for some lively debates and a few dramatic reactions. After all the cans were crushed, we had some clear takeaways. First, quality is high: about 85% of what we tried was genuinely excellent. Second, drinking from a glass v straight from the can actually made a difference, sometimes (but not always) for the better. Below you'll find our picks from the mix, along with one that's best left on the shelf. Prices were checked at time of publication, but may fluctuate. Brookvale Union Vodka Peach Iced Tea, $9.29 ($29.95 for six), 4% ABV, available at Dan Murphy's and Liquorland Canned cocktails fall into two camps: bold and flavour-packed or subtle and sessionable. Brookvale Union's Peach Iced Tea lands firmly in the latter category. Soft peach aroma, low carbonation, and a clean finish made this an easy-drinking favourite. 'The label reminds me of an Ed Hardy T-shirt,' one of the reviewers noted, 'but the drink inside is lovely'. Unlike some in the 'fruit' category, this tasted like ripe peaches, not an artificial approximation. Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin & Tonic, 250mL, $28.99 for four cans, 5.1% ABV, available at Dan Murphy's and Liquorland The scent of this drink alone, spilling out of the can before it was even poured, was enough to hook us. Four Pillars has long set a benchmark for gin, and its canned cocktail did not disappoint. With striking packaging and a perfectly balanced hit of Bloody Shiraz Gin, it was flavourful but not overwhelming. 'I don't normally like gin, but I LOVE this,' declared one convert. Proof that a great base spirit makes all the difference. Tommy's Booze Limoncello Spritz, 330mL, $24 for four cans, 5% ABV, The Tommy's range was a unanimous hit – subtle, seltzer-like, and exceptionally well made. Their Limoncello Spritz had a perfect lemony zing without being overpowering. 'When life gives you lemons, make this,' said a reviewer who was also obsessed with every lemon-based drink we tried (and there were a lot). It was fresh, crisp, and effortlessly drinkable – and made us want to book flights to the Amalfi coast immediately. Tommy's Booze Lampone Raspberry Spritz, 330mL, $24 for four cans, 5% ABV, Flavoured spritzes can be tricky – too sweet, too artificial, or just plain unbalanced. But this raspberry number nailed it. Light, refreshing and just tart enough, it proved a sweeter profile can still be well executed. I once heard seltzers described as like 'drinking TV static while someone shouts 'flavour' at you from the next room', but this is so far from that. Take note, future seltzer and spritz makers – this is how you do it. Curatif Amaretto Sour, 130mL, $50 for four cans, 12% ABV, Liquorland and Dan Murphy's Curatif's range is best served over ice, in a glass, and with a bit of ceremony. The Amaretto Sour, in particular, was a standout. With a rich, velvety mouth feel and the perfect maraschino cherry note, it was almost indistinguishable from the real deal. 'I would only buy three of the cans we tried,' said one panellist. 'This is one of them.' A proper, professional cocktail in a can. Don't underestimate its size; the mini can packs a big flavour punch. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion Curatif Limoncello Sour, 125mL, $45 for four cans, 13% ABV, Bright, tart and full of sunshine, this drink reminded us of a photo of lemon sorbet served in a hollowed-out lemon. Someone commented: 'Put it on ice and I'm there.' That's precisely the way to drink it. With Tommy's Limoncello as the base, the quality was top tier – proof that, again, using great spirits leads to great canned cocktails. Bizzarro Australiano feat Maidenii Aperitivo Vermouth & Soda, 250mL, $26 for four cans, 6.5% ABV, Sometimes drinking straight from the can makes all the difference, masking certain aromas or even enhancing the experience. We found this in the sulphur notes of the Batch & Co Bondi Spritz, which were masked when drunk from the can, but Bizzarro Australiano tasted excellent both in glass and can. With its mild negroni meets Christmas cake spice vibe, it had a depth of flavour that felt classic and modern. The clear standout in the aperitif category. Saison Aperitifs x Mischief Brew Amaro Tonic, 250mL, $24 for four cans, 7% ABV, This drink was divisive – amaro lovers were obsessed, others weren't sure what hit them. With bergamot iced tea notes, it reminded me of the canned Lipton Iced Tea from the 90s, in a good way. Among the savoury options, it served as a welcome palate cleanser after several sugary drinks. If you love a good herbal digestif, this is your jam. If not, maybe start with something from the Bizzarro range. Box by G-Flip Apple Guava Alcoholic Juice – $8 each or $15/ 4-pack, 4.5% ABV BWS or Dan Murphy's Loved Just Juice as a kid? Now imagine it grown up and slightly boozy. Box by G-Flip was the ultimate non-carbonated option: juicy, nostalgic and dangerously easy to drink. 'The label is giving gym junkie pre-workout vibes,' one person noted, but the inside was all tropical, throwback fun. It's a great alternative to a pale ale beer when you want something fruity but not fizzy. Modus Double Lemon Alcoholic Lemon Squash, 375mL, $28 for four cans, 6% ABV, Subtle, low on bubbles and ridiculously easy to drink, Modus Operandi's Lemon Squash was a standout in the 'sessionable' category. Unlike other alcoholic lemon squashes, this had a softer mouth feel and avoided palate fatigue. 'Here for a good time, not a long time,' a panellist quipped, while another summed it up as: 'It gets the job done.' Perfect for beach days and back yard hangs. A crisp, no-fuss drink. Billson's Strawberry Watermelon Double Vodka, 250mL, $24.99 for four cans, 6% ABV, available at BWS, Liquorland and Dan Murphy's When this can was cracked open, a unanimous 'ooh' rippled through the group as a wave of liquid fairy floss hit our senses. The flavour followed suit: an explosion of spun sugar sweetness and a radioactively pink liquid that delighted and slightly frightened us. 'It's a hen party in a can,' someone declared. 'It's the first line of Man! I Feel Like a Woman! – LET'S GO GIRLS,' another added. While undeniably fun, it was also intense – one small can was plenty. It is a joyful, neon-pink ride, best enjoyed in moderation (feather boa optional). Roseade Rosé Lemonade Wine Spritzer, 250mL, $22 for four cans, 8% ABV, Vintage Cellars and Liquorland Brewed cocktails overall struggled to impress, often tasting muddled or flat – but none missed the mark quite like this one. As one taster remarked: 'You've taken two things I love – rosé and lemonade – and ruined both.' The packaging, ironically, was one of our favourites: a cool lemon in sunglasses, smirking at us as we grimaced through each astringent, bitter sip. It's a noble attempt, but sometimes even great ingredients don't make a great cocktail.
