Proud Henry Winebar & Ginoteca
Fortitude Valley
Proud Henry Winebar & Ginoteca is a charming 1920’s gin and wine bar, occupying an historic Fortitude Valley hidey-hole off bustling Wickham St.
A world away from the gritty streets outside, Proud Henry is cosy and candlelit, with wood-panelled bar, jazz, bentwood chairs, art deco chandeliers, dining/drinking room with stunning oak table and a charming little garden courtyard.
Here is something of a gin lovers nirvana, with more than 80 gins from around the world (including England, France, Netherlands, Scotland and Australia) on display, for tasting, drinking or take away.
The impressive gin menu includes an extensive list of International Juniper gins such as The Botanical Islay Gin (Scotland) Bols Geneva Gin (Amsterdam), Cotswalds Dry Gin and the unusual such as Whitley Neill Quince Gin (England) and Victoria’s Rhubarb Gin by Warner Edwards (made from a crop of rhubarb originally grown at Buckingham Palace during Queen Victoria’s Reign). There’s also a small selection of Sloe Juniper varieties including Plymouth and Haymans Sloe Gin.
All of these gins are matched with recommended varieties of tonic water and garnish along with Proud Henry’s artisan cheese and charcuterie platters.
As well as gin, a fantastic curated selection of wines are on offer, selected by owner and well-known Brisbane wine aficionado Darren Davis, to suit the most discerning wine drinker. On offer are some of Australia’s iconic wines and many small producer’s wines, available by the glass, or retail by the bottle.
The cheese and charcuterie (also perfectly paired with wines) comes from a carefully selected menu that changes weekly. Cheese boards are served with luxury crackers, crusty bread from a local bakery, condiments and quince paste and cheese. A popular choice is the Bubbles & Brie (2 glasses of bubbles matched with two different varieties of Brie, with crackers, fruit and condiments.
Charcuterie boards, meanwhile comprise a small or large selection of cold cuts along with Dijon mustard, peppered fig paste, a mix of condiments, crusty bread and luxury crackers. There’s also the option of Cheese and Charcuterie.
In a nutshell – Perfect for a refined date night or evening with friends sipping quality gins or wines matched with artisan cheese and charcuterie in an elegant old world setting.
*The menu may have changed since our visit.
Check out our full list of Fortitude Valley bars HERE
See our full guide to the best wine bars in Brisbane HERE