Overview
Following the lead of well-stocked, handpicked whisky bars like The Baxter Inn or the new Dram Club-curated back room of Jacksons on George, Surry Hills staple The Clock Hotel has opened a brand new single malt-happy room out the back. Decked out like an old-timey saloon out the back of the Crown Street pub, The Whisky Room has been a project a long time coming for owners Solotel, dropping over 100 whiskies, chesterfield booths and swinging half-doors into Crown Street's newest addition.
Open Wednesday through to Saturday, The Whisky Room has been stocked to the rafters of whisky's usual suspects (Islay, the Highlands, US) alongside handpicked favourites from Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan. Whether you're a fan of a fresh Hakushu Distiller's Reserve or an all-out Sullivans Cove American Oak, there's a metric phucktonne of whiskies behind the bar — and bartenders who actually know their stuff.
If you're a newcomer to the whisky world, bar manager Daniel Molnar will show you the ropes with a few cocktails. From the crispy Yamazaki-laden Japanese Highball to the mighty Penicillin (Money Shoulder, homemade honey-ginger syrup, fresh lemon, smoky Ardberg float), the paired down cocktail menu is tailored to suit the star spirit. Classic whisky-friendly staples are all on offer — Manhattan, Whisky Sour, Old Fashioned — and if you're a fan of the Shady Pines-popularised fresh pressed apple topper, there's a juicer at the end of the bar.
Seasoned tasters might be more interested in the monthly whisky flights (focusing on one region, country or brand) and Boiler Maker specials — pairing a shot with a complementary bottle of craft beer. The team are also pairing food samples with their flights — Messina green tea gelato with Hakushu, ANZAC biscuits with a sadly discontinued South Island Single Malt 18YO, orange chocolate with a 15-year old Tobermorey.
While the idea of a whisky room isn't new to Sydney, The Whisky Room is a welcome addition to Crown Street and a surprising little hidden gem out the back of a constantly refurbishing Surry Hills staple. Worth checking out if only for the Penicillins.
Find The Whisky Room at the Clock Hotel, 470 Crown St, Surry Hills. Open Wednesday to Saturday.
Images: Alana Dimou.