Alf Alpha dishes on the drinks he’s serving to celebrate.
Forget about mercury coming into retrograde (yes, again) because it’s Mardi Gras season, darlings – the most fabulous time of the year. The month-long festival, which is celebrating 48 years, will wrap in style on Saturday, February 28, at the always extra, always unforgettable Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. This year, the theme is ‘Ecstatica’, and to ensure we celebrate Mardi Gras in style, we called in our favourite drag king, bartender and host with the most, Alf Alpha, to give us the low-down on the best drinks and how to Mardi Gras like a king.
If Alf Alpha looks familiar to you, it might be because he hosted our recent Midsumma event, cooling everyone down with fans and slinging non-alcoholic bevvies and chippies. Alf is a big advocate for everyone having a good time, which makes him the ideal host for a day of Mardi Gras activities. So, what are we wearing? Alf will obviously be donning his signature greens (not many people can pull off that neon hair), and says it’s important to wear something weather appropriate. “Wear something breathable, if possible, and something with sparkle.” Noted. But above all, Alf says, wear sunscreen.
Another non-negotiable for Alf is getting out and seeing friends. “I want to see as many kings as possible to support my community.” And while Mardi Gras is all about the glitz and the glamour, Alf says it’s also important to remember the history of drag kings and the people that came before him. “Whether that is going to a history talk or an art exhibition, I always try to learn something new about my history and queer culture.”
Charlotte Lynch is the brains behind Alf Alpha. And if you’ve ever wondered how one becomes a drag king, well, Charlotte’s story started by joining the circus – literally. “Since I was very young, I wanted to run away and join the circus, and I did.” She got her start in circus art, auditioned for – and was accepted into – the National Institute of Circus Arts (while still in high school), and trained with the circus full-time and loved it – but something was missing. That’s where Kong’s Kings – one of Melbourne’s founding drag-king companies – came in. Charlotte had only ever seen drag queens before. “Then I heard the term ‘drag king’ where you’re playing these masculine characters, and playing with masculinity and male characters. It sounded really interesting. And I said, ‘I'm going to give it a go’, and so Alf Alpha was born. And the rest is history.”
Alf debuted in 2019 and, for Charlotte, one of her favourite things about being a drag king is the people she meets. “The community is really solid and you feel the support from all your other performers – no one's competing with one another. We're all here to improve as artists and as performers. And you find your chosen family through drag.”
Charlotte describes Mardi Gras as “protest in celebration” and a beautiful time to be with community. “Not only to celebrate and remember how far we’ve come as a community, and how many amazing steps forward we’ve taken with the queer rights movement, but also to remind ourselves of how far we have to go. It’s not just about showing up once in the year; it’s continuing to show up all year-round and it’s showing up for community, remembering to hold space for one another, but also celebrating because it’s the queer joy that keeps us going in the fight.”
With the theme of this year’s Mardi Gras Ecstatica, Charlotte sees her role as an artist as a unique way of engaging in some of the serious topics happening in the world. “We are storytellers and we are the messages for this movement, and I think that Mardi Gras and Ecstatica, an active euphoric rebellion, is a perfect example of that,” she says. “If we dance together and if we celebrate together, we can do anything.”
Alf Alpha’s Mardi Gras drinks
1. Heaps Normal Half Day Hazy Pale Ale
Alf is kicking off with the zero%* pale ale as he says it’s important to pace yourself. “It’s a long day and the parade goes for a while. It’s fruity and super refreshing on a hot day, so I'll happily sip on that.” Alf also says it’s the perfect drink to throw in a picnic basket.
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2. Zonzo Estate Zoncello Limoncello Spritz
“This is a beautiful little spritzy moment. I love Zoncello. It’s a little sweet, a little sparkly, which is perfect for Mardis Gras.” Zoncello is a blend of Zonzo’s homemade limoncello and Aussie sparkling wine – just add ice.
“Usually I'm a red-wine drinker, but this summer I've really gotten into white wine. I love vermentino,” Alf says of the Mediterranean grape variety. He’s a big fan of the Chalmers Vermentino – it’s crisp, refreshing and packed with white florals, white peach, lemon and a hint of saltiness. It pairs pretty well with a plate of fresh oysters before the parade, too.
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4. Garibaldi
“Okay, this is my brunch drink. If you’re at drag brunch, order a Garibaldi – it’s Campari and orange juice. It’s amazing – it’s a little bit bitter, but it's not as bitter as a Negroni. It's perfect.” To make a Garibaldi at home, you’ll want to add your juice and Campari to a chilled highball glass, fill your glass with ice and garnish with a wedge of orange – and voila!
5. Tommy’s Margarita with añejo tequila
Alf is mixing up a Tommy’s Marg, but rather than using a blanco or silver tequila, he’s throwing some age in there with an añejo. “I’m a big whiskey person, but I’m also a big aged tequila person.” We love the añejos from Don Julio or Espolon – expect flavours of caramel, vanilla, dried fruit and fresh agave. Yum.
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