Russell's Reserve 10 Year Bourbon Launch @ Grain Bar Sydney.

An Aussie launch for an American whiskey, and it was not just the excellent, aged ten years Russell's Reserve Kentucky Bourbon on show at Grain Bar; this was the real treat, Master Distiller Jimmy Russell and son Eddie, Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, both speaking from the floor about their work making bourbon whiskey and signing our gift bottles later in the evening. I'm not going to pretend a review but I will say that on the night there were two Russell's Reserve Bourbons lining the bar floor to ceiling, quite literally, the ten year old Small Batch 45% and the Single Batch a wee bit stronger at 55%. I was able to wrangle a side by side tasting of both for myself; and before I say anything else I will admit that I am an occasional Scotch Whisky drinker (no E), single malt preferred, the peatier the better.. and have only tried Bourbon Whiskey once or twice before. Both of the  Russell's Reserve's or should I say all three (there was the Masters Keep!!!) tasting at the end; were superb.

During the talk (they certainly weren't speeches) by Eddie and Jimmy we were given a quick overview of a life making Bourbon, since 1954 for Master Distiller Jimmy. Australia is the largest non-domestic market and; shock horror, much-older bourbon is not necessarily better! In conversation with Eddie I asked why; apparently it has a lot to do with the local climate, temperature changes, "it's not Scotland"! However Wild Turkey have built a brick barrel house to allow for longer ageing without the drawback-characteristics of using new barrels; as all Scotch drinkers know, the colour of the whisky comes from the used oak sherry barrels; this is not permitted in the making of Bourbon which uses new barrels charred on the inside to create the colour and the distinctive flavour - too much time though and the taste can become unfavourable. There were no unfavourable flavours here, I am a new convert to Bourbon with a new range of spirits to explore. And my preference from my tasting? I leant toward the stronger single barrel. Enjoy responsibly!

Thank you to Wild Turkey, Jimmy and Eddie Russell and The Trish Nicol Agency.
wildturkeybourbon.com

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Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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BLACK | KṚṢṆA - THE ASSEMBLY - DUBLER The CO-LAB @ Brand X Creative Retail Residency.

Street Fashion Sydney attended the lunch party on Thursday evening for Brand X Creative Retail Residency, BLACK | KṚṢṆA , THE ASSEMBLY & DUBLER; Fashion, Home-wares and Jewellery respectively. Open this weekend (with a great coffe cart I hear) and in-residency for the next 3 months. It's great to see spaces like this to give emerging brands a space to experiment in the retail environment.

"BLACK | KṚṢṆA is a collection of androgynous garments made from natural fibres designed and constructed in Sydney that embodies the flow of the Japanese mind, Krishna and the spiritual self."

"THE ASSEMBLY carefully curate hand-made products to complement and fit with daily life; a collection of the finest home-wares  furniture and knick-knacks in wood, linen, copper and brass."

"DUBLER explores the possibilities in innovative technologies in contemporary jewellery, utilising the 3D printing process to create expressive pieces of wearable design engaging both traditional and digital techniques."

And may your fashion god go with you!

http://www.brandx.org.au/
Brand X
180B Campbell St
Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

http://www.blackkrsna.com.au/
http://www.theassemblyco.com.au/
http://www.dublerdesign.com.au/

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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A Brighter Winter Ft. vivalaViv

Yes, what a shock 10 days in warm wonderful Brisbane then a return to freezing Sydney; very much so considering the snow dumps up in the nearby Blue Mountains! So here's a way you stay warm, basic black highlighted with a splash of colour and you can't do better than orange! You can check out vivalaViv here.

Stay warm, Spring is coming I'm sure!
http://vivalaviv.com/

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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An Exotic Brisbane, Winters Odyssey - (Brissie you've Changed)

For those of you who may not be aware, and there is no reason you should be.. I grew up in Brisbane, and spent the formative years of my life there including three and a half very-important-years at the Queensland College of Art where I was a major in photography. Although residing down south in Sydney for many years now; one of the things that has stuck with me most, about Brisbane, then-and-now is that Brisbane is exotic! Don't ask the locals about that they won't know what you mean, or worse, may think you are having a go at them. But Brisbane is Exotic, and it's hot, hot and humid, because it's subtropical, which is a big part of why it is exotic. It still has a good collection of colonial era, tropical style architecture (that survived the Joe years), and  famous 'Old Queenslander' houses too, and it has these little patches of remnant bush land, close to the city and dotted all about. And because during WW2  as Pacific headquarters of U.S. General Douglas MacArthur 1,000,000 American servicemen passed through the city; (and the legendary Battle of Brisbane as Aussie servicemen fought the Yanks!) Some things a city never forgets. Because Robin Gibson and successors did such a great job on the South Bank arts precinct, arguably Australia's finest. Then there's the river, there's Morton Bay, Stradbroke island AKA Straddie, and now, while not exactly exotic, there is life right in the city now too; something we would dream of but could hardly imagine back in our day.. as seen from the 26th floor apartment I stayed in, one of the many tall apartment buildings now dotting the Brisbane skyline. Oh yes Brissie, a lot of you has stayed the same, but Brissie you have changed! Mouse over pictures for details.

The view from the 26th floor I Stay River City.

Anti-Vax street march - maybe Joe was right..

Ferris wheel and QPAC, South Bank Brisbane from Victoria Bridge.

Knit Your Bit, outside the Queensland State Library, South Bank Brisbane.

Duchamp & Degars dreaming - Michael Parekowhai, The Promised Land (detail) GOMA.

Michael Parekowhai, The Promised Land (detail) GOMA.

Former CML Building 1930 ( now The manor Apartments), always a favourite & the GPO.

Sandstone arches, Victorian architecture, the arcade Brisbane GPO.

Old State Library Annex Brisbane, Mosaic Mural 1958 by Lindsay Edwards. 

Morning Star by Jon Barlow Hudson

"Approaching Equilibrium" by Anthony Pryor 1951-1991

Under the Storey Bridge, a WW2 bunker? 

Luxury Favelas on the river, Bulimba Brisbane viewed from New Farm.

An Elvis impersonator(?) entertains onlookers at the vibrant West End night markets.

A panoramic view of Victorian era Queenslander houses and the view back to the city from the top of Teneriffe hill. 

Steep public steps leading to the top of Teneriffe hill.

Wild scrub Turkey on path Teneriffe Bushland Park. 

This is not GOMA...

Clouds, view from city cat ferry Bulimba reach.

 Dennis McCart at the opeing night of his show 'Beneath Our Feet' at The Hold Artspace. 

At the 'Beneath Our Feet' exhibition, The Hold Artspace in West End, Brisbane. 

Love you Brisbane! Thank YOU.

My Brisbane Post War Housing Architecture project on Flickr.

Previously from Brisbane.

http://streetfashionsydney.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/christmas-art-culture-in-brisbane.html

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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