Ambrosia Lounge owners Tim Stephens and Andrew Galbraith. Photo: Taylah Cunningham.
Who are you?
Andrew Galbraith, I own Ambrosia Distillery and Ambrosia Lounge. I started the distillery about four years ago and opened the lounge last year. I was actually studying medicine when a friend (also a doctor) suggested we start distilling together.
That gave me a bit of a passion for the industry and I’ve never looked back! For a while, I was trying to study and do distilling at the same time, and one thing had to give, and I decided to follow the one that was more fun. So I started my own business – Ambrosia – and now the sky is the limit! The cohort of mates I went to uni with are all junior doctors now, and they all wish they had started a distillery!
Did you have a dream job as a kid?
My family have always been in law, so I always thought I’d grow up to be a lawyer, but I was good at science at school, so I decided to give medical science a crack. It was a bit of a natural progression from science to distilling – very transferable skills.
What is your drinks philosophy?
So all through uni, I was a cocktail bartender. I worked at lots of Canberra venues like Bellucis and Kokomos, and I developed a lot of my skills while working at EightySix.
During that time, I learned what customers really want. I’m always looking to make people-pleasing drinks, really accessible gins and vodkas that people enjoy. I try to make flavours that people really want.
Are you much of a home cook?
I’m actually notorious for never cooking because I live in the middle of Braddon, so I go out to eat or get takeaways most nights. But when I do cook, I make spaghetti bolognese. I got the recipe from Mum, she’s an amazing cook. I add a lot of red wine to that recipe.
Andrew Galbraith (centre) recently accepted the Best in Show Award from the Sydney Royal Easter Show team. Photo: Ambrosia Distillery.
What’s an underrated Canberra venue that you love?
On Lonsdale, it’s a cafe on Lonsdale Street that recently changed hands from Lonsdale Street Roasters. I get a coffee there most mornings, and they’re really good guys.
Who do you admire in the Canberra food scene?
My mates from EightySix, Dash and Ross, who opened Pilot and Such and Such. They are incredible at hospitality and have really captured the essence of what Canberra hospo should be. They’re just absolutely kicking goals.
When you’re not at Ambrosia Lounge, where do you go for a drink in Canberra?
My favourite place to have a boogie is Highball Express. Really nice, great atmosphere, great drinks, and they play bangers!
Who is your dream dinner party guest, and what would you make them?
I’m a big fan of David Pocock; he’s been my idol since I saw him play rugby, and I’m also a big fan of what he’s doing in the political sphere. So I’d like to show him some appreciation! He seems like a Negroni kind of guy, so maybe we’d have that. And I guess if I’m cooking, then I hope he likes spag bol!
Andrew reckons David Pocock might also be a Negroni drinker. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
What is your current cocktail obsession?
For a long time now, I’ve been obsessed with Negronis. Whenever I go out anywhere, I always order a Negroni to see what other people are doing with them.
Actually the first time I had one I nearly spat it out cause I couldn’t handle it but now I drink them like water!
What’s the best thing you ate this week?
I’ve been in Sydney doing events for the past month and where we were staying had a great cafe. They had a really nice schnitzel sandwich, which I’d eat pretty much every morning.
What’s a food that reminds you of your childhood?
Like I said, Mum is a really, really, really good cook. Although when I was a kid, she would sneak veggies into all my food because I didn’t like eating my vegetables. But there was one dish where I didn’t mind her doing it, and that was her lasagna. Every time I go back to Mum’s, I still try to sneak some out of her freezer, which keeps me going for a while.
What’s a typical breakfast for you?
Honestly, a lot of the time, I just duck past Maccas on the way to work! But if I want to treat myself, I go for an egg Benedict.
Andrew also makes a killer Negroni at Ambrosia Lounge. Photo: Taylah Cunningham.
Where do you shop for alcohol?
My local bottle shop is Cellarbrations in Braddon, or POP Canberra actually has a lot of really eclectic boutique stuff. They’re really good for things you can’t always find at the bottle shop.
When you can’t be bothered to cook for yourself, where do you go and what do you eat?
I’ve got an obsession with Blu Ginger Indian at the moment. I’m extremely basic and get the butter chicken with garlic naan and raita. That’s my happy meal!
Where are you travelling next?
We’re heading to the Noosa Eat and Drink Festival soon. So it’ll be 16 hours driving with the mobile bar attached to the back of the car! And then we’ll be selling as many cocktails and bottles as we can up there. Just work trips for the next little while.
Tell me something you love about living in Canberra.
I’ve lived here all my life, and it’s a beautiful place. It does get cold in winter, but we’re used to that by now! It’s just such a beautiful and relaxed city: a great place to raise a family, or focus on work and go at your own pace.
What TV show are you watching right now?
I’ve been getting into the Black Mirror series at the moment, but I’m usually too tired to watch much TV when I finish work. I only get through half an episode!
An easy one to finish – what’s your go-to coffee order?
Because I’m a child, I get iced coffee with a bit of caramel, and it’s got to have ice cream and whipped cream.
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