As COVID-19 continues to spread around the globe, scarily fast in some areas, the WHO are praising other countries who have managed to effectively contain it. Thankfully, Australia falls into the latter category. How have we done this? Through social distancing and self-isolation (among other things).
While it's important that we respect the guidelines we are being issued by the government, there is nothing stopping us enjoying a nice glass of red, or perhaps a cheeky beer. Some will claim it's the only thing keeping them sane! On that note, there is some trepidation in preparing this blog post as we do not want to encourage unhealthy levels of drinking, but the truth is our readers are all likely of legal age, and hopefully have enough self-awareness to know if this is an issue. If you are struggling, we implore you to reach out for help.
At the time of writing this, bottle shops are still open to the public. It's difficult to say if it will stay that way but given our success in "flattening the curve" so far, I don't expect this to change any time soon. However, the truth is some people will still prefer to avoid visiting a bottle-o if they can... some people prefer to avoid going outside, regardless of any virus! If this is you, read on!
I believe we have mentioned this in previous blog posts, but Sentrian do have several beer connoisseurs on staff. Given the load on the Service Desk over the past month or so, we might have a few more by now! We have gathered a few favourite online retailers of a few favourite drinks that you can have delivered to your door for you to enjoy (responsibly) in the comfort of your own home.
Craft Cartel
First of all, let's look at Craft Cartel. Under $10 for delivery Australia wide, and free shipping for orders over $75, it's worth a browse around their online store. While members of our team have been buying some craft beers from here, they do have quite the selection of wines and spirits also. Unleash your inner hipster and check them out.
DRNKS anyone?
DRNKS is a Sydney based online wine shop, and for our Sydney based readers, they offer same day delivery for some areas. They offer free shipping for orders over $99 and other discounts when buying in bulk... well... what some people consider "bulk", and what Deb in Accounts considers a reasonable order.
Four Pillars
So, bit of a personal one for me as I don't mind a good gin. My first Four Pillars was a Bloody Shiraz I bought duty free. I really enjoyed it, so have bought a few other bottles from their range since then. If gin's your thing, I would recommend looking over their range.
Gauge X Maker
Cocktails more your thing? Perhaps you enjoy a good "Quarantini"! Brisbane's Gauge restaurant (awarded a Chef Hat for their excellent food) have teamed up with cocktail experts, Maker. If you're keen to go all out, get yourself some top notch grub with a Dark Chocolate Old Fashioned delivered to your door.
Young Henrys
If you happen to already be a fan of Young Henrys, then you'll be happy to know you can still visit them online for your "Quarantinnies". Is that pun getting tired yet? Either way, they too are offering free delivery on orders over $100. If it turns out you reeeally like their beer, perhaps you should by a Young Henrys Hoodie (or anything else from their fairly extensive line of merch).
A little bonus
So perhaps you're not a drinker, or perhaps there isn't a decent barista near your home. I know I enjoy a coffee to start my day and I know I'm not alone. I've been making a conscious effort to support our local cafes by buying more coffees around here while working from home, but I do have a capable machine on the kitchen bench. If you too have a machine at home, and prefer to make your own, check out Three Thousand Thieves. These guys deliver beans from a new Australian artisan coffee roaster each month. They are currently offering a 15% discount on your first 3 months and free shipping. Don't have a machine at home already? They even have starter kits for you to explore.
Have you got a favourite online retailer helping you get through this isolation period? Drop us a comment below to let us know.
