If you enjoy a cocktail, whisky or even just a wander, then this upcoming four-day festival (April 28-May 1) has your name all over it. The event is not just about drinking whisky and feeling like an extra in Peaky Blinders. It's also about having an experience, remember those? Pre-lockdown?
For one long weekend you can explore history-laden zones of The Rocks and browse pop-up bars hosted by the world’s top distillers of premium hooch. Whether you’re a whisky expert, a cocktail lover or a first-time sipper, you'll be able to choose your own adventure.
You’ll be able to sample Highballs, single malt, blended malt whisky, and you can even sample cold drip coffee mixed with whisky at Mr Black's Coffee Cocktail Carnival. On Kendall Lane, Westward Whiskey and Doss House are partnering to bring legendary head distiller Miles Munro out from Oregon for the festival. The four-day program features private masterclasses and public sessions with Miles, including the launch of several incredible new whiskies that are unique and exclusive to the festival that are a must-try.
Campbells Cove will become Whisky Cove for the event. It’s here that the Johnnie Walker Highball Food Truck will pair delicious snacks with Johnnie Highballs. The Talisker Boat House, meanwhile, is where you'll enjoy the fruits of the oldest distillery on the Isle of Skye along with an ocean view and freshly shucked oysters.
First Fleet Park will be transformed into Whisky Park, where you’ll find the Glenfiddich Whisky Wanderer – a 1972 Double Decker Bus that has been cannily adapted into a whisky lounge on wheels. The Fever-Tree Highball Garden is where Fever-Tree’s mixers are shown to their advantage mixed with fine whisky and bourbon.
You'll hardly be able to miss that giant spinning cocktail shaker on wheels at the Monkey Shoulder Mixer Bar, where you can try Monkey Shoulder blended malt whisky in cocktails to a soundtrack of pumping DJ beats. And keep an eye out for Sheep Dog, a uniquely smooth liqueur combining whiskey and peanut butter – they’ll be serving Sheep Dog on the Rocks and Peanut Butter Espresso Wooftinis all weekend.
Of course, this is all taking place at one of Sydney's prettiest spots, The Rocks, so you'll be taking this all in with a view as well as a whisky in hand.
Tickets for a 2.5 hour session are $35, which includes eight tokens that are redeemable for brand samples across the festival – booking ahead is essential (find out more here). And yes, you can use your Discover NSW vouchers.
The roaming adventure doesn't stop here; in fact it’s only just getting started. The Whisky Trail awaits: a jam-packed experience completely open to the public. Visitors will be able to sip, taste, and explore their way around The Rocks bars, pubs and restaurants, savouring a huge selection of whiskeys, cocktails, brand events and live experiences. For example, local favourite the Glenmore Hotel has teamed up with Wild Turkey for a rooftop takeover; and the Mercantile Hotel has paired up with Dubliner Irish Whiskey to create the very best tunes for you and your crew.
Stop by Grain Bar to experience their collaboration with Glen Grant, as well as The Push (Benriach) and Harbour Rocks Hotel (Woodford Reserve). The incredible new Hickson House Distilling Co, crafting Australian whisky, gin and spirits on-site and home to a stunning cocktail bar, is another one not to be missed along the trail.
You will likely need more than one day or night to discover and experience all that’s on offer. See the full festival program and start planning your immersive whisky adventure now.
Oh, and if you’re wondering about the difference between whisky and whiskey? Whiskey with an e is from Ireland and America, while without is from Scotland and everywhere else. Now you know!