LEFT: BAR MANAGER TAYLOR BENSON-HOGAN (LEFT) WITH BARTENDER SAM ABOVE: ALLAN VIRIEUX AFTER TAKING THE REINS AT BAR 1808. PIC: EXAMINER/ CRAIG GEORGE
In the heart of Launceston, something quietly revolutionary has been brewing - and it’s not just the cocktails. Six months ago, 1808 Lounge Bar swung open its doors, bringing with it a rich pour of history, adventure, and, of course, rum. A s Launceston’s first dedicated rum bar, 1808 is more than a place to sip, it’s an experience soaked in stories and a toast to the spirit of rebellion. Situated in the former Geronimo Apertivo site – one of Launceston’s most popular venues – it is already growing a steady fan base with locals. At the helm of this bold venture is developer Allan Virieux, a man whose journey to rum enlightenment began quite by chance. “I was in Airlie Beach,” Alan says, “it was bucketing down with rain, and we got stuck in this rum bar… and I got interested in the actual history of Australia and Australian rum. I wasn’t much of a rum drinker before that, more a whisky drinker. But after being there [in Airlie Beach], it spruiked my interest.” For Allan, what started as a weather-imposed detour became the seed of inspiration for something special back home. The name 1808 isn’t just a catchy date plucked from the past, it’s a nod to one of Australia’s
most fascinating historical events: the Rum Rebellion. The only successful armed takeover of government in Australia, the rebellion saw soldiers overthrow Governor William Bligh after he attempted to outlaw rum as a form of currency. “Rum was legal tender in Australia,” Allan says. “And then, of course, Captain Bligh decided that rum wasn’t the way to go. So he changed it in 1808, and the soldiers rebelled against him and so on. That was our first rebellion in Australia.” The bar channels that rebellious spirit with its rich timber interiors, candlelit mood lighting, and walls lined with history (and rum, of course). Think moody Caribbean elegance meets modern lounge charm, a place where you half expect a sea captain to wander in. But the soul of 1808 is its growing collection of 85 rums and counting, sourced from every corner of the globe. “We’ve got 85 rums now, there’s probably 8,000 rums or more throughout the world,” says Allan. “I come from Mauritius, we have a rum from there and more as we go, what’s popular, we’ll keep on changing them up to find different rums. We have some really good rums here in
19 Tasmanian Hospitality Review Apr/May Edition
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