The collapse of premium bottled cocktail brand Everleigh Bottling Co. has delivered another blow to the hospitality group behind now-closed Melbourne bars The Everleigh and Bar Margaux.

The Everleigh Group’s flagship venues served their last drinks in March 2025, with owners Michael and Zara Madrusan announcing the closure on Instagram.

“After fourteen years, that little glimmer of light on Gertrude St has gone out for the last time,” the post said.

“The Everleigh has meant so much to so many, hosted so many memorable moments, and we will be forever proud of what this beautiful bar has delivered and accomplished as one of the world’s best cocktail bars. The legacy speaks for itself.

“As the only official outpost of Milk & Honey, New York, in Australia, we have been proud to hold the baton for the man who started it all, my mentor, the chief, Sasha Petraske.

“Whilst our Gertrude St home is no more, the spirit of The Everleigh will live on in every perfectly balanced, three-ingredient cocktail served on crystal clear block ice, delivered without ego, hereafter. The Everleigh family also extends far beyond these four walls, to our devoted regulars and team past and present doing remarkable things around the globe.

“To all who have loyally loved and embraced The Everleigh, we thank you sincerely. Without your support we would never have made it this far. It has truly been our honour to serve you.”

Ms Madrusan told the Herald Sun last year that the Melbourne hospitality industry was facing “really difficult challenges”.

“Looking at restaurants and breweries being forced to close on a daily basis is really sad and the industry isn’t getting the support it needs to thrive in Melbourne,” she said.

“(For us), we didn’t really feel the impacts of Covid until later on. The costs involved in restarting the businesses were large – switching everything back on and re-employing staff.

“In lockdown there was some support but that’s no longer available to us.”

While the hospitality group’s late-night CBD bar Heartbreaker collapsed last year, it has since restructured and continues to operate, as does Navy Strength Ice Co., which is described as Australia’s first boutique hand cut ice company

Everleigh Bottling Co, which was stocked at major retailers including Dan Murphy’s and five-star hotels, entered liquidation last week according to a notice lodged with ASIC, owing over $270,000 to creditors. Its major creditor was the Australian Tax Office.

Insolvency experts from PKF Melbourne Paul Allen and Innis Cull have been appointed as joint liquidators.