At Hills & West we’re all about introducing you to amazing Australian talent and unique products. We also have a huge appreciation for beautiful branding and packaging, and when this is mixed with some of our favourite cocktails, did we mention Negroni and Old Fashioned, we had to delve deeper and share.

Meet David Best, co-founder of Cocktail Archive Co., a bottled cocktail shop with a difference offering premium handcrafted cocktails for hotels, home, office or bespoke events.

Established by seasoned industry veterans who aim to deliver consistent perfection to every cocktail, wherever you would like it, we wanted to share their story and are very excited to have them kick off our Gentleman’s Essentials Evening this month, helping to make the launch of our Gentleman’s Essentials Collection as memorable as possible.

Our first intention was to share classic drinks that were born in a time when drinking was illegal.

Read below about the founder and how this bartender in a bottle idea brings the bar to you.

A little about David…

As a hospitality veteran who managed operations for luxury hotels, restaurant groups and brands in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Sydney and Perth; David has honed an eye for details and a knack for making an experience memorable. They are the framework for success.

Inspired by Prohibition

With operational experience to ensure a bar can speed up cocktail delivery at busy times, batching or bottling is part of life and part of many cocktails. This bartender in a bottle idea brings the bar to you. Besides, the company start up was a way to get to bed earlier! Our first intention was to share classic drinks that were born in a time when drinking was illegal. The birth of cocktails during prohibition was our inspiration and our Gatsby branding highlights the hypocrisy of that era.

The number of cocktails that can be found in the Archives gave us a very solid amount of great bartenders to draw inspiration from. Many of whom are only just making a name for themselves today but will also be forever in our plans.

Memorable Occasions

I have too many to mention but without doubt being given the task to manage service Princess Diana’s table at the Tate Gallery London for a Chanel event is one I will never forget. She captivated my attention that’s for sure.

The Secret to the Perfect Cocktail

Balance.

Cocktail Archive Co. in 2-3 years

As the Louis Vuitton of drinks.

5 Things the Dapper Gentleman Can’t Live Without…

• A good pair of leather shoes

• A matching belt

• Pair of cuff links

• Bow tie

• Confidence (of course)

Top 5 Restaurants…

• Noma in Copenhagen because I could fly there from London for lunch

• Hutong in Hong Kong because they cook duck like nobody else

• Rockpool Sydney because they treat their suppliers with the utmost respect

• St John in London because they make me want to eat things I’d never normally eat

• Finally, That Little Trattoria in Positano under the olive tree with the most amazing view. The waiters would skip across the road with aplomb. It’s my favourite ever!

Last but definitely not least…

Favourite piece from the Hills & West’s new Gentlemen’s Essentials collection… The messenger briefcase!

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An obviously dapper and well travelled gent, David thank you for your tips and sharing your journey, we are very honoured to have you as part of our Gentlemen’s Essentials Evening and look forward to sipping on some prohibition inspired drinks.