Over a liquored-up nine days, the Rocks and the CBD will transform into a Negroni-swilling, tequila-sipping wonderland of film, culture and of course, cocktails galore. From September 9-18, the World Class Cocktail Festival will bring the best of the world's small bars (and the most knowledgeable of its boozehounds) to Sydney.
The event, put on by liquor giant Diageo, is set to be a music festival-style bonanza: events will radiate out from the Rocks district and spill over into Newtown and Surry Hills, with some of the world's most innovative bars headlining and a sprinkling of support acts coming along for the ride. No craning your neck or lining up for hours for a taste of your favourites, though. There's set to be enough activity spread throughout the neighbourhood to go around.
Hailing from the world's number one bar, the Connaught's 'Master of the Martini' Ago Perrone will be jetting in from London to create magic with Tanqueray No. Ten at Bennelong, for a one-night-only collaboration that will see the world's best bar meet the world's best view to deliver the world's best Martini. Guests will be served a special menu prepared by the legendary Peter Gilmore, paired with cocktails by Perrone.
On the other side of Sydney Harbour, a sparkling whisky lounge brought to you by celebrated London bar Lyaness, hosted by none other than the world's most awarded bartender, Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan) will come to life. For a few days only, Mr Lyan will transform the Green Room of fine dining restaurant Quay into a vibrant bar and supper club, serving Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktails alongside snacks by Gilmore.
Queen of Cocktails, and recently-named most influential bar star in the world, Norwegian bartender Monica Berg will grace our presence to transform Shell House's Clocktower Bar into a pop-up showcasing the skills she has honed at her very own Tayēr + Elementary, voted number two bar in the world.
A colourful feast comes courtesy of the Don Julio Food Truck Fiesta, which will assemble Australia’s most popular food trucks for a pop-up experience at Hickson Road Reserve. A vibrant celebration of the Margarita, the vibrant fiesta will feature Sydney’s Cantina OK! alongside an all-star line-up of food trucks including Melbourne's '09 Beatbox Kitchen, Ricos Tacos, and Taco Truck Dos.
'Support acts' for the festival is a stellar line-up of some of Sydney's favourite bars like Continental Deli, Earl's Juke Joint, Double Deuce, Frankie's, Old Mate's Place and the Barber Shop, with plenty more will be announced. This is truly set to be a party to remember, with each bar slinging a speciality cocktail for just 15 dollars so everyone can get in on the action, without the pricetag.
In a world first, local hospitality legend and waste-free crusader Matt Whiley of Re- is on a mission to transform sustainability in hospitality by leading a week-long circular economy of participating festival bars with The Barbershop, PS40, Old Mate's Place and The Lobo using each other's unwanted food and bar waste to create tasty, one-off cocktail additions. Whiley’s initiative kicks off Ketel One’s bartender-led program ‘Garnished with Good’, inspiring and enabling the hospitality community to create positive impact in their local community.
Check out the full program online.