An accomplished digital marketer, Mel How launched Melbourne Cocktails® in 2014 as a hobby designed to reignite her passion for writing and social media.

The blog, which explored the city’s emerging cocktail culture through the lens of Melbourne’s events, bars and bartenders, provided a creative outlet for Mel. Melbourne Cocktails® was the first of its kind in Australia and one of only a handful of cocktail blogs in the world. High quality photography, stories, biographies and cocktail recipes inspired an engaged and excited audience.

After carving out its niche and capturing the imagination of cocktail enthusiasts, the blog was nominated as one of the top six finalists in the Saveur Blog Awards (distilled spirits category), flying Mel to New York. Moreover, the plan worked, reigniting Mel’s passion for her craft and deepening her love for cocktails.

However, Mel recognised the cost involved in making cocktails at home and knew she had to find a way for curious home bartenders to sample a variety of cocktail recipes and premium spirits without stockpiling expensive liquor, so in 2018, The Cocktail Shop was born.

Working with local producers and distillers, Mel created the cutest little cocktail kits. The kits bundle custom size ingredients with a recipe card and garnishes, providing enough to make around four cocktails per pack. To make things really simple, The Cocktail Shop added barware, books and glassware, as well as video tutorials to help usher a way into the hobby of home cocktailing.

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