NOW EXPERIENCING:Hains & Co
Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Phone
(08) 8410 7088
Website
hainsco.com.au
Instagram
@hainsco

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 08 Mar 2023

By
Daniela Frangos


Drop anchor at this nautical-themed gin and rum bar for expertly made cocktails, signature house-made sausage rolls and the rare opportunity to try high-end whiskies.

Hains & Co bar interiors
Why you goA nautically inspired gin and rum bar in the heart of the city? You bet. It might not be the most obvious setting for the theme, but owner Marcus “the Admiral” Motteram is dedicated to the cause (his crew includes the Commodore and the Navigator). With design fixtures like timber cladding, porthole windows, coiled rope and an old copper diving helmet, you might feel as though you’ve been transported to the deck of an old-timey sailing ship (even the bar is constructed from a slab of the 19th-century Largs Bay Jetty). You’ll be tempted to drink like a sailor, too, with an extensive menu of gin and rum (the bar specialties) plus a range of whiskies and cigars.
Why you stay

The bar’s MO is lifting spirits in more ways than one. Step into this marine-themed saloon and be greeted by warm, friendly and knowledgeable bar staff who can suggest a tipple to suit your needs. The menu, or “ship’s log”, also has staff recommendations as well as a gin and rum of the month – a zesty, fresh and savoury Spiritato Mediterranean Gin from the Barossa Valley, say, or a 12-year-old Cadenhead’s Foursquare rum from Barbados. You’re likely to discover something new on every visit – ideal whether you’re a spirit aficionado or one of the regulars from the nearby office buildings who tend to make up the mixed crowd at this versatile watering hole. 

The bar also stocks a huge range of Cuban, Nicaraguan, Dominican and Honduran cigars in a large humidor, which you can take away or enjoy outside with a swig of rum in true sea-captain style.

Hains & Co: Themed bar in Adelaide, Australia
Drinks at Hains & Co bar, Adelaide
What drink to orderHains & Co’s signature cocktail is the Gin & Juice, made with the house pour, Never Never Triple Juniper Gin, juiced leftover oranges and grapefruit, and a little Aperol, Italy’s bittersweet liqueur. Other cocktails among the house originals include a “Splice ice-cream in liquid form” called Splice the Mainbrace with lime, pineapple, cream and a nice dose of rum, the Yuzu Fancy, mixing Ambleside Mandarin Gin and fresh mandarin with citrusy yuzu liqueur, and the Club Tropicana, a fruity blend of Hains & Co’s own white rum with vermouth, mango syrup, pineapple juice and pineapple soda. The classic cocktails include a Gibson Martini, a Tom Collins using Japan’s Roku Gin and a Daiquiri, though the team will mix any request.
What to pair it withWhen it’s time to snack, you’ll find a tight selection, such as cheese platters and fried haloumi with honey and lemon. For the lactose-intolerant, there’s a choice of potato or sweet-potato fries, and the signature “sea pigs”, AKA the very popular house-made sausage rolls served with the bar’s tomato, shiraz and black-pepper chutney – a crowd favourite since day one.
Food and drinks pairing at Hains & Co, Adelaide
Enjoy cocktails with outdoor seating at Hains & Co bar, Adelaide
Why we love it A true port in a storm, this place is open every day of the year (except Christmas Day), a rarity in Adelaide’s small-bar scene. It’s also dedicated to introducing new drinks to people through its monthly spirit tastings, such as its popular Whisky 101 Masterclass, and Pouring Ribbons, a monthly tasting club by women for women.
Regular's tipThe best place to sit is the front deck, right outside the bar window, so you can watch the bartenders do their thing and people-watch the passers-by on busy Gilbert Place (also home to rambunctious bars Shotgun Willie’s and Memphis Slim’s) at the same time.
Make it fancyThere’s always a “break-even bottle” on offer – a rare or expensive (anywhere between $500 and $2,500) bottle of whisky or rum sold at cost price “to bring the grail bottlings to the everyday drinker”. But the rule is one nip per customer.
Who to takeBring your gin- and rum-loving friends – those already in the know or those wanting to discover more – your work mates, or visiting seafarers who have docked during the holidays. Its daily opening hours mean it’s a perfect go-to at (just about) any time of year. 
Enjoy fancy and delicious food with drinks at the Hains & Co bar, Adelaide
image credits: Jon Wah