Words by Katie Spain
Ralph Louis Frederick is no ordinary bar. The high-end whisky haunt is the kind of place that encourages you to put your phone away, order something considered and stay long enough for the lofty hideaway and the beverage to work their magic.
Finding it is part of the fun. Here’s a clue. Venture down the Gilbert Place laneway, through a bustling gin bar, find the old school phone at the base of a staircase, lift the receiver and when bar staff answer, wait in anticipation. If there’s space, they’ll buzz you through the locked gate. Let the adventure begin.
“Finding us is part of the theatre of it all,” says owner Marcus Motteram. “It’s an experience.”
Keeping it human and accessible is important to Motteram. The bar is named after his grandfather, and a portrait of the handsome chap – painted by Motteram’s mother – watches over the space.
It’s an evocative backdrop for pre-or post-dinner drinks. Intimate booths, soft light, and cabinets lined with coveted rare drops and antiques whispering tales of yore.
There’s no jostling at the bar because there is none. Instead, delighted drinkers gather around a long marble table; a stage of sorts where guests dabble in whisky cocktails and marvelat the glistening wall of bottles, each one whispering tales of faraway lands.“
“We want to remove the barriers between guests and the products,” Motteram says. “It’s like going to someone’s house… you’re in their space, and you can get up close and personal with it.” Couples on dates whisper sweet nothings in discreet corners, while small groups of whisky-discerning friends gather for a post-dinner dram – unwilling to let the perfect night end. Conversation is the main event, and the service is deliberately unhurried.
It’s immediately clear this is the kind of destination bar you dress up for – not black tie (though that’s certainly welcome), but a neat casual fit for a dapper setting like this. Footy scarves and game-day gear are politely checked at the door to keep the spell intact.
While Ralph Louis Frederick is a discovery that quietly unfolds, it is also as welcoming as it gets. Motteram’s love affair with whisky is long and enduring, and he wants to share it with the world. His enviable offering of more than 630 drops is displayed throughout the space, quietly begging to be chosen. Many are rare or independent bottlings you won’t see elsewhere in Australia. Guests are encouraged to surrender to their liquid stories (and their own decision-making) and let whisky-wise staff guide the way. A short chat about what you usually drink; a Speyside or a classic Negroni, perhaps, swiftly turns into a tailored flight offered in half‑measuresfor anyone who wants to taste broadly without overdoing it.
“We’re not just here for the hardcore whisky fans, we’re here for the whisky curious,” Motteram says. “In fact, we’re here for everybody.” For the already converted, there are deep dives into cult distilleries, hard‑to‑find releases and personal bottle lockers where whisky die-hards can store their personal collection under lock and key.
Crucially, you don’t have to drink whisky. The temple to single malt also pours champagne, gin and tonics, highballs and spritz‑style whisky drinks. Then there’s the cigars; sensory specialities stored under special humidified conditions. Some range from $750 to more affordable options. “There’s breadth within the range. You can choose what suits you.”
Motteram (who also owns the downstairs nautical-themed bar Hains & Co.) loves to chat and his enthusiasm for the fine, handcrafted things in life is infectious. It’s not about grandeur, more about ritual and pausing a moment to reflect on life’s special moments.
Once a month, the venue hosts Flame and the Fellowship cigar events where attendees smoke and discuss the same cigar. “Cigars are another beautiful bespoke product,” he says. “The process of growing tobacco, harvesting it, curing it, choosing the leaves, rolling it, and storing it is a long one.” Women-only spirit events are also regular drawcards. Again, the goal is inclusive, gentle education and celebration.
The ultimate escape is a balcony looking out over the busy laneways below. Here, a louvred roof and blinds cocoon patronsfrom the elements, and time really does stop.
“You still have the hub of the noise of the laneway downstairs, but you can get as involved or uninvolved as you like,” Motteram says. “Sometimes after I’ve closed up, put some opera on, sit out here, smoke a cigar and reflect on the things that are important in life.”
To ensure entry, book ahead. “We can’t wait to welcome you and let us be your spirit guides.”
Ralph Louis Frederick
Where: Level 1, 21 Gilbert Place, Adelaide
When: Tuesday – Saturday 5pm til late
For more info, click here.
