Dean & Nancy on 22 is inviting guests to step back in time with the launch of its new signature cocktail menu, Time Machine – a spirited journey through the cultural icons, inventions and milestones that defined the 1950s and 1960s.

The cocktail menu transport guests back in time with each cocktail inspired by the legends, events and pop-culture moments of the mid-century era. 

Restaurant & Bar Manager Krisztian Csigo said: “I wanted to take us back to the roots of the original concept behind Dean & Nancy which is the 50’-60’s golden era of hotel bars, and this menu takes our guests on journey back to this era.

“At Dean & Nancy, we’ve always believed cocktails should do more than taste great – they should spark the imagination. Our Time Machine menu celebrates the people and moments that shaped a generation, brought to life through playful techniques, vintage references and modern mixology.”

The 14 creations include:

Instant Camera: Blending nostalgia with innovation and channelling the childlike curiosity of inventor Edwin Land’s three-year-old daughter who asked why she couldn’t see a photo immediately after it was taken. The question sparked a breakthrough with the invention of the Polaroid and changed photography forever. Guests receive a reshly snapped instant photo as their garnish – a keepsake from their night in the sky. Ingredients: Altamura Vodka, Sudachi, Bergamot, Pandan, Coconut, Carbonated.

Road Runner ‘Beep Beep’: A playful tribute to the beloved Warner Brothers’ cartoon, this tequila-based cocktail arrives in a custom 3D printed dynamite bar vessel – just like the ACME props of the TV classic. Ingredients: Patrón Silver Tequila, Los Siete Misterios, Habanero, Sarsa-Cola, Cherry, Lime, Carbonated.

Black Box: A sophisticated, citrus‑driven whisky cocktail honouring Australian inventor Dr David Warren and his ground-breaking 1954 flight recorder. With macadamia‑infused The Dalmore 12, mandarin oleo saccharum, blackberry, and an orange dust garnish to echo the real device’s colour, this cocktail a toast to ingenuity that changed aviation forever. Ingredients: The Dalmore 12 Single Malt, Toasted Macadamia, Blackberry, Mandarin Oleo Saccharum, Chinotto Nero.

Ginza Highball: Inspired by the postwar cultural exchange between American GIs and Japanese youth, this refreshing highball celebrates the rise of Japanese whisky culture, rockabilly fashion and the iconic Izakaya drinking style. Ingredients: Toki Whisky, Honeydew, Lemongrass, White Pepper, Green Tea, Midori, Carbonated.

Viva Las Vegas: Elvis has entered the building! This milk punch creation blends amaretto, banana, coffee and coconut in honour of Elvis Presley’s famed peanut-butter-banana obsession, complete with a cascading Guinness top layer. Viva Las Vegas is finished with a tableside roulette spin for a touch of high-stakes drama. Ingredients: Amaretto Disaronno, Banana Oleo, Banana Water, Spices, Citrus, Coco-Coffee Guinness, Mr Black.

Melbourne Olympics: A sparkling tribute to the 1956 ‘Friendly Games’ – the first Olympics held in the Southern Hemisphere. This bright and airy Gin Fizz blends native wattleseed and guava, served in a reimagined souvenir glass that celebrates a proud Australian moment in dazzling green and gold. Ingredients: Roku Gin, Cocchi Americano, Wattleseed, Guava, Marigold-Golden Soda, Egg White, Carbonated.

Kid Ory: Inspired by the French American jazz culture of New Orleans this cocktail pays tribute to legendary 1950s Creole musician Edward ‘Kid’ Ory. Blending the atmosphere of dimly lit New Orleans jazz clubs with European coffee culture, it reimagines the DNA of the iconic Mai Tai. Ingredients: Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum; Salted Calamansi and Pineapple, Tia Maria, Agricole Rhum, Cacao Bitters.

Club Tropicana: Inspired by the golden era of the Tropicana Club, the legendary open-air nightclub that defined mid-century glamour in Havana, this cocktail is a reimagining of the classic Old Cuban, capturing the rhythm, heat, and effervescence of tropical nightlife at its peak. Ingredients: Flor de Caña 12 Rum, Jasmine Soda, Tropical Fruits, Carbonated.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds: Inspired by the landmark 1967 classic by The Beatles, this effervescent cocktail is a vivid journey through flavour and imagination, finished with an edible sugar paper garnish – a sparkling technicolour tribute to the psychedelic era. Ingredients: Hendrick’s Gin, Rhubi Mistelle, Watermelon, Lavender, Cardamom, Sparkling Wine, Carbonated.

M&M’s: This dessert cocktail pays tribute to the 1954 launch of the now-iconic peanut-filled candy. A nostalgic twist on the classic Brandy Alexander, this version swaps cognac for Michter’s Rye, infused with peanut butter, cacao nibs, oats, and vanilla. Ingredients: Michter’s Rye Whiskey, Oats, Licor 43 Vanilla, Peanut Butter, Cacao, Vegan Cream.

Pink Champagne Cake: A classic mid-century sweet treat, this cocktail captures the pink-coloured sponge cake and champagne cream filling in a glass! Often enjoyed on Valentine’s Day, at Dean & Nancy’s it is ready to enjoy all year
round. Ingredients: Grey Goose Vodka, Champagne Cordial, Noilly Prat Vermouth, Lacto-fermented Strawberry, Berry Yoghurt.

Kiwi Negroni: Originally known as “Chinese Gooseberries” before savvy New Zealand exporters renamed them to “Kiwi Fruit” in 1959, to appeal to American markets and avoid high tariffs on berries, this Negroni variation pays homage to the fuzzy fruit and the laidback Kiwi lifestyle. Ingredients: Nikka Coffey Gin, Kiwi, Suze, Cocchi Americano, Dill, Quinine.

Tea-Juana: This twist on a ‘Tommy’s Margarita’ classic tequila cocktail leans into the Baja California Chinese community – which flourished during the mid-century era – and its tea culture. Blending flavours of both cultures, the result is refreshing and fruity with subtle heat from the chilli, served in a traditional Chinese teacup over ice. Ingredients: Herradura Plata Tequila, Pu’er Tea, Aji Amarillo Chilli, Mango, Chamomile, Lime.

2001 Space Odyssey: Inspired by the classic 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey which centres on the spacecraft Discovery One and its onboard AI, HAL 9000. Fast forward to today, more than half a century later, its portrayal of AI-human tension remains unsettlingly relevant. The drink’s garnish features a mirrored surface to evoke the film’s iconic use of light, symmetry, reflection and altered perception. Ingredients: Glenfiddich 21 Single Malt, Apples & Pears, Cacao, Cinnamon, Calvados, Paragon Timur Berry.

You’ll find Dean & Nancy on 22, Level 22, 2 Hunter St, Sydney.