📍Double Happiness, Melbourne

The first night in Melbourne I was running on adrenaline after landing earlier that day. My friend had retired for the evening so I was walking around the central business district solo. Often I like to start evenings like this at cocktail bars and Double Happiness was on my list.

Melbourne has a bunch of theme bars–different cities, periods, and even alternate realities. Double Happiness has a Chinese communist propaganda theme. When you walk up to this place, you see a brick building with a red light shining through the windows. There's a wall on the other side of the windows so you can't see inside. It feels like the type of place you have to walk in and be known, only then will you be allowed inside.

I just walked in. There was a small group in one corner with an empty bar. I took a seat at the bar. The theme continues inside. It's dark with red accent lighting. You see glass bottles behind red shades and a sink which fits better in a bathroom than a bar. The accents help you understand the specific vision the bar owners have for this place.

I ordered a cocktail called the Joy Luck Club. It had rum (Bacardi), jackfruit, lime, and makrut lime. Jackfruit often only makes it to the US in cans or prepared but fresh it's like a subtle tropical fruit flavor. Makrut lime is the same as keffir lime and often found in Thai and other southeast asian cuisines. Makrut limes are a little more floral and less tart than regular limes.

When you put all this together it's a tropical, citrusy, rum cocktail. It was pretty refreshing. Considering the summer weather, it's just what I needed. I probably drank it faster than I should have but I was one and done. Off to get dinner.

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