Whisk(e)y on The Rocks

Overview

What better way to welcome the cooler months than ditching the spritz and cosying up to some whisky? Between Thursday, April 28 and Sunday, May 1, you'll be able to do just that at the Whisk(e)y on The Rocks festival.

As you may have guessed, this fest is taking place in The Rocks, where you'll wander your way between three festival zones across approximately 2.5 hours. Where you start is up to you, with each space offering something different as part of your $35 ticket — that price also includes nine tokens for drinks. Plus, you can use your NSW Discover vouchers.

At Whisky Park, located at First Fleet Park, you'll find the Glenfiddich 'Whisky Wanderer' bus — once a 1972 doubledecker bus, now a luxury whisky lounge. Then make your way to the Fever-Tree Highball Garden and learn how to best harness a mixer to complement your whisky and Monkey Shoulder's pop-up bar for free samples. And, if you are feeling a bit more on the experimental side, try Sheep Dog's peanut butter whisky.

Next, Campbell's Cove will be transformed into Whisky Cove with a Johnnie Walker Highball Food Truck and Talisker Boat House. Enjoy a blood orange and lemon highball with paired snacks and the salted smoke taste of Talisker's Single Malt Scotch Whisky, served with freshly shucked oysters.

Then, wander down to Sip Street on Playfair Street. Mr Black will be hosting a Coffee Cocktail Carnival where you can sample delicious coffee and whisky cocktails.

Once you've sipped your way through each zone, you can mosey through The Rocks Whisk(e)y Trail and explore the whisky pop-ups at a collection of top restaurants and bars — the new Hickson House Distilling Co is hosting a bunch of Aussie craft distilleries, while The Doss House is running a series masterclasses with Head Distiller of Westward Whiskey, Miles Munroe, from Oregon, USA.

Get your crew organised and be sure to get tickets to Whisk(e)y on The Rocks before they sell out. You'll need to pick your day and your session, with time slots at 5–7.30pm and 7.45–10.15pm most nights, plus extra daytime sessions on Saturday and Sunday.