Sydney Whisky Month is officially back and 2025’s celebrations are shaping up to be our biggest yet! What started as a week-long affair has evolved into a full month dedicated to showcasing the best whisky from all around the world. Now, the most dram-tastic event of the year returns to deliver more takes on the ‘water of life’ than you can throw a cask at.
Hosted by Man of Many and The Whisky List, Sydney Whisky Month has become a staple on our beautiful city’s event calendar as it brings whisky makers and whisky lovers together for an unmissable series of exclusive tastings, rare releases, and immersive experiences across the Harbour City.
Entering its fifth year, Sydney Whisky Month’s momentum continues to build with more venues, new faces, and even bigger pours than ever before. Whether you’re a whisky veteran or just starting your dram journey, 2025 is the perfect time to get involved. Raise your glass as Sydney Whisky Month returns this May!
Event Details
Golden Ticket Giveaway
Sydney Whisky Month 2025 will prove an unforgettable celebration of our favourite spirits. Promising to be bigger, bolder, and better than previous incarnations, the month will be jam-packed with events that any whisky lover would trade their bar cart for.
Fortunately, that may not be necessary, as we’re giving Man of Many readers the chance to win an exclusive, one-off Sydney Whisky Month Golden Ticket. This will unlock access to every special event taking place throughout the festival.
To learn more about how you can get your hands on this Golden Ticket, as well as further details on the events it will give you access to throughout Sydney Whisky Month, enter below and then read on to discover all that’s in store.
Sydney Whisky Month 2025 Details
Starward
Named ‘Most Awarded International Distillery’ at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for the second time in three years, Melbourne’s Starward is a proud standard-bearer for Australian whisky on the international stage.
As such, it’s inspiring to see how Starward’s whisky-makers go out of their way to keep things local. From the grains that go into every drop of whisky to the red wine barrels that help imbue those incredible flavours, Starward sources all of its ingredients from within one day’s drive of its Port Melbourne distillery.
Plus, Melbourne’s notorious four-seasons-in-one-day weather adds another local touch when it comes to achieving Starward’s signature flavours. This constant change in temperature makes the distillery’s barrels contract and expand at a rapid rate, meaning Starward’s drams extract even more flavour from the wood. Uniquely Melburnian and uniquely delicious.
Special Event: Starward Co-Ferment: Where Wine Meets Whisky – A Tasting Event with Founder David Vitale
| Date | Location | Time | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2025 | Bar Tilda, 61-101 Phillip St, Sydney NSW 2000 | Session 1: 6:00 PM Session 2: 7:00 PM Session 3: 8:00 PM | $65 |
| May 2025 | Starward Cocktail Happy Hour Special – Ace Hotel, 47-53 Wentworth Ave, Sydney NSW 2000 | 4pm-6pm Everyday | $14 Cocktail |
Sydney Whisky Month continues with an exciting evening of Starward Whisky cocktails, live music, and intimate tasting sessions at Bar Tilda!
As an exclusive introduction to the landmark release of the Starward Co-Ferment Grape x Malt Australian Spirit, this event will see the distillery’s founder, David Vitale, sharing insights into the inspiration and experimentation that brought the worlds of Australian wine and whisky together for this incredible expression.
Arguably the distillery’s most experimental release, it was made through the mixing of equal parts malted barley wash and cabernet sauvignon grape juice, fermenting them together, distilling that blend, and aging it for almost six years in red wine barrels. Is it a whisky? No. Is it a wine? No. But it is distinctly Starward.
On the night, guests are invited to taste four expressions of Starward—including the Grape x Malt Spirit and an experimental single barrel—paired with a selection of delicious bites, while hearing directly from the Starward founder up close and personal.
Expressions guests will taste on the night include:
- Starward Nova Australian Single Malt Aged in Red Wine Casks
- Starward 100 Proof Australian Single Malt Aged in Red Wine Casks
- Red Wine Single Barrel Cask Sample
- Starward Project Grape X Malt Australian spirit 6 years old
Plus, Bar Tilda will be offering Starward New Old Fashioneds, archive releases of Starward Whisky, live music and more. Grab your tickets asap as they’re seriously limited!
And if you’re looking to keep the celebrations going, Ace Hotel will also be serving $14 Starward (New) Old Fashioneds every day from 4–6pm throughout Sydney Whisky Month. Another perfect way to toast the season.
Bushmills Irish Whiskey
Bushmills Irish Whiskey is the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, having spent well over 400 years honing its craft. Established in 1608, the distillery is located in—but of course—the village of Bushmills on County Antrim’s rugged coastline, beside Northern Ireland’s iconic Giants Causeway landmark.
Famed for its single malts, if we were to pick a dram as an introduction to this historic whiskey-maker, it would have to be the 10-year-old single malt. Triple distilled from 100 per cent malted barley and matured for at least 10 years in hand-selected bourbon barrels and sherry butts, it’s zesty and fresh on the nose, offers notes of ripe fruit, creamy vanilla, and soft toasted wood. It’s nothing short of a delight.
Special Event: Bushmills Irish Whiskey Dinner with Tom Opie, Dipti Karnad, and James Maguire
| Date | Location | Time | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 May 2025 | The Waratah, 308-310 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010 | 6:30 PM | $95 |
This Sydney Whisky Month, Darlinghurst’s hottest neighbourhood bar and restaurant, The Waratah, is collaborating with Bushmills Irish Whiskey to create a one-night-only, bespoke cocktail and dining experience. Bringing together the oldest licensed distillery in the world with the best of Sydney’s hospitality industry, this magical night of paired cocktails, whiskey-inspired dishes, and exciting new expressions of Bushmills Irish Whiskey promises to be simply unmissable.
As always, The Waratah team will be bringing their A-game, with chefs Dipti Karnad and James Maguire building an entirely bespoke three-course menu, as well as bartender Tom Opie creating an all-new, incredible cocktail for each dish.
Recognised as one of Australia’s Top 25 Bartenders in 2024, Tom has won multiple cocktail competitions, including the 2024 Stauning Drinks Collective, from which he went on to represent Australia internationally. His inspiration has regularly been to incorporate native Australian produce and ingredients, which made him a perfect fit to join the team at The Waratah.
In this same spirit, Dipti Karnad and James Maguire will act as culinary guides on the night, leading guests through a menu that features only the best components from small and independent producers, local growers and ethically sourced native Australian ingredient suppliers. Of course, the dishes themselves will also incorporate a splash or two of Bushmills Irish Whiskey!
Taking guests through the whiskey will be Bushmills Ambassador Loy Catada as well as Sydney Whisky Month’s Whisky Specialist Scott Allan. The dinner is set to start with a toast and finish on a showstopper: the Bushmills 26 Year Old Crystal Malt Single Malt Irish Whiskey.
Tastings on the night include:
- Bushmills 10 Year Old – Neat on Arrival
- Bushmills 10 Year Old – Cocktail with Starters
- Bushmills 16 Year Old – Cocktail with Mains
- Bushmills 21 Year Old – Cocktail with Dessert
- Bushmills 26 Year Old – Neat to Finish
The Waratah will be exclusively available to ticketholders all evening, so join the team in the bar before or after the tasting for more Bushmills, live music, and a special hidden whisky. As a one-night-only experience, these tickets will go fast!
The Glendronach
As one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland—established way back in 1826—The Glendronach is known for producing some of the most incredible whiskies ever to grace the Scottish Highlands.
The Glendronach’s magic touch comes from its pairing of robust Highland spirit with a signature maturation process using Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks sourced from Andalucìa, Spain. The result is an irresistible whisky with uniquely rich, deep fruit flavours and an intensely dark, natural colour.
Using techniques that have been carefully refined over nearly two hundred years of whisky-making mastery, The Glendronach has long set the standard by which others are judged.
Special Event: An Evening of Odes: The Glendronach at Hickson House
| Date | Location | Time | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 May 2025 | Hickson House Distilling, 6 Hickson Rd, The Rocks, NSW 2000 | 5:30–7:00 PM | $100.00 |
This Sydney Whisky Month, Man of Many and The Whisky List invite you to an exclusive evening of whisky discovery with The Glendronach at the iconic Hickson House in The Rocks. For one night only, whisky lovers will be among the first in Australia to sample The Glendronach’s stunning new Masters Anthology Series: Ode To The Valley, Ode To The Embers, and Ode To The Dark.
Hosted in the venue’s intimate upstairs tasting room, the session will feature a six-whisky flight including three newly reimagined core expressions (12, 15, and 18 Year Old), expertly paired with both matching canapés from the Hickson House kitchen and custom creations courtesy of the master chocolatiers at BASIK Chocolates.
With just 25 seats available, this is a rare opportunity to experience The Glendronach’s glorious flavours in an atmospheric and guided tasting format. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a curious newcomer, this evening promises a deep dive into one of Scotland’s most iconic distilleries with stories, flavour, and sherry-soaked character in every sip.
In addition to the evening’s tasting, Hickson House will be celebrating The Glendronach throughout the entire month of May with two exclusive Glendronach cocktails available at the main bar:
- Crimson Glory: Glendronach 12yo, Glendronach Traditionally Peated, Rhubi Mistelle, ginger syrup, and fresh lemon juice
- Baharat Fashioned: Glendronach 12yo, baharat-spiced honey and Pedro Ximénez mix, and convict bitters
Both cocktails will be available for $22, offering guests a wonderfully flavourful way of experiencing The Glendronach’s signature sherried character all month long.
Morris Whisky
The Morris story is an Australian tale like no other. Starting in 1859 with a vineyard that would produce some of Australia’s finest wines for decades and beyond, after more than 150 years of refining the discipline of vino, the team from Rutherglen expanded into the world of premium whisky. Given the incredible expressions we’ve enjoyed ever since, we’re so glad they did.
By using the very casks that once held their sibling wines to complete the whisky-finishing process, Morris whiskies offer a unique and potent sense of terroir that captures the true spirit of the distillery’s hometown of Rutherglen, Victoria. It’s Australian whisky with roots.
SOLD OUT!
Special Event: Morris Whisky, Wine & Food Pairing
Select the First Ever Morris Single Barrel release!
| Date | Location | Time | Ticket Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2025 | Grana, Ground Floor / 5-7 Young St, Sydney, NSW 2000 | Arrive 6:30pm | $85.00 |
To kick off Sydney Whisky Month 2025 in style, Man of Many is collaborating with Morris Whisky for a very special event on May 1st, during which you’re invited to help shape the next Morris release!
Join Head Distiller Darren Peck and Chief Winemaker Madden Morris for a whisky and wine dinner at Grana, and while there, you’ll also taste three incredible candidates for Morris’ most exciting whisky release yet. One of the three will go on to become a limited-edition, single-barrel release, and you’ll have your say as to which one is most worthy.
While the exact releases are a closely guarded secret, each one tells an important part of the Morris Whisky story, exploring the distillery’s close connection to the historic winery through which these talented whisky makers can access the very best casks for maturation in the heart of the Rutherglen.
In addition, guests will enjoy a selection of Morris Australian Single Malt Whiskies, Morris of Rutherglen Table, and Fortified Wine expressions that have made Morris Australia’s most-awarded wine and whisky brand over its 165 years of operation. Further, guests will find a Morris Whisky highball cocktail served on arrival and three delicious courses courtesy of Grana Kitchen, each paired with one of Morris’ exceptional wines:
- Entrée paired with Morris 2023 Chardonnay
- Main paired with Morris 2023 Durif Bin No.158
- Dessert paired with Morris Old Premium Rare Muscat
This is a night of whisky, wine, and fine dining that no Australian whisky lover can afford to miss. Sydney Whisky Month 2025 is starting on a high!
The Whisky Show
Kicking off Sydney Whisky Month with a huge bang, this unmissable event will boast more than 100 different whiskies from all over the world—including Scotland, USA, Australia, and more—just waiting to be sampled. From the new and exclusive to limited editions and stone-cold classics, there’s no better place to be if you’re a whisky lover.
The show will boast a pop-up bottle shop, a rare whisky bar, and a harbour-side food zone with talented live musicians performing throughout the day.
Snag your ticket now to unlock:
- 4 hours to sample 100+ whiskies
- A free branded tasting glass
- $20 Meal Voucher
- A bottle of water (stay hydrated, people)
- Access to the Whisky Show App
The Sydney Whisky Month App
To help you discover all the incredible goings on that will turn Sydney into the whisky capital of the world for a month, make sure you download The Whisky List’s accompanying Sydney Whisky Month app. Not only will you be able to take a self-guided walking tour of some of Sydney’s best whisky hotspots, the app will keep you up to date on all the events and exclusives that you can only experience courtesy of The Whisky List, Man of Many, and Sydney Whisky Month 2025!
