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World Whisky Day is almost upon us! Returning as always for the third Saturday in May – that’s May 20th this time around – we’re already making our own plans for this year’s celebration and if you enjoy a good time we strongly suggest you do the same. Essentially an excuse to get together with some great company and bask in the glory of your favourite whisky, World Whisky Day is an event that’s open to everyone, from the most experienced aficionado to those dipping their toes in the world of this delightful spirit for the very first time In that case, check out our comprehensive whisky guide). Just you, your family and friends, and the water of life. What could be better?
A truly global event, World Whisky Day is a major date on the Scotch-savouring calendar, so no matter where you are, there’ll be a venue near you putting on some kind of special celebration. Fortunately, that’s just as applicable in Australia as it is anywhere else, which is why Benriach and GlenDronach – two of the finest conjurors of whisky-magic on the world stage – are partnering with a range of Aussie venues to help you make the most of this year’s World Whisky Day.
To that end, read on for a few of our hand-picked favourites from the list of venues collaborating with Benriach and GlenDronach in order to ensure Aussies everywhere have a May 20th to remember.
Death & Taxes, Brisbane, Qld
Located in Brisbane’s oldest laneway – Burnett Lane – Death & Taxes is one of the most intimate and elegant bars in which to enjoy a dram or two. With a grand back bar displaying over 1,000 spirit bottles, a selection of luxurious booths, and a wonderful 100-year-old wooden floor, it’s a hard spot to beat for atmosphere and beverage range.
Taking World Whisky Day and kicking it up a notch or two, Death & Taxes will be running a whisky and chocolate flights menu for the entire month of May. This menu will pair both Benriach and GlenDronach expressions with a range of delicious treats from local chocolatier, Basik, boasting bespoke flavours designed to pair perfectly with the very finest whiskies.
Earl’s Juke Joint, Sydney, NSW
Located in the heart of Sydney’s vibrant Newtown hub, Earl’s Juke Joint brings a touch of New Orleans to the Harbour City. The venue offers a wide range of delicious cocktails, beers, ciders, and natural wines, but we tend to drop by for the whiskies.
To celebrate World Whisky Day, the team members at Earl’s will be offering up their own unique version of the Penicillin cocktail, a modern Scotch Whisky classic, which they’ll be making with one of Benriach’s more smoky expressions, mixed with a hearty serving of lemon and ginger. Fortunately for all of us, this particular cocktail is too delicious to limit to just one day, so it will be available for the entirety of May.
Fortunate Son, Sydney, NSW
Just across the road from the iconic Enmore Theatre, Fortunate Son is the perfect place to hang with friends before or after a gig, offering up an impressive selection of spirits and cocktails.
Having been voted Australia’s best bar in 2022 at the Bartender Magazine Bar Awards, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better place to celebrate World Whisky Day. This is particularly true as the Fortunate Son crew will be offering up an impossible-to-resist Tangled Up In You cocktail, which combines GlenDronach 12yo, Cynar, Orange Bitters, Angostura Bitters, and lemon zest to create a rich and complex yet somehow refreshingly simple Scotch experience. Drop in on May 20th to learn more.
Whisky & Alement, Melbourne, Vic
Another award-winning venue, Whisky & Alement was voted Best Whisky Bar at the World Whiskies Awards 2023, so it’s no exaggeration to describe this incredible establishment as world-class. Offering hundreds of whiskies, a wide range of cocktails and a rotating list of local and international craft beers, you’ll always find something to suit your mood at this Melbourne institution.
In celebration of World Whisky Day, the team at Whisky & Alement will be running a version of the classic Penicillin cocktail using Benriach whisky for the entirety of May, so be sure to stop by. And while you’re there, check out the gobsmackingly broad selection of GlenDronach and Benriach single malt whiskies on offer.
The Den (at The Atlantic), Melbourne, Vic
Come for the comfort of the velvet sofas and vintage Persian rugs, stay for the whisky deliciousness. Located beneath The Atlantic right by the Yarra River, The Den boasts a distinct nocturnal ambiance that’s further enhanced by beverages served up by some of Melbourne’s top mixologists and excellent live music.
Championing all things whisky for the entirety of May, the team at The Den will be serving up whisky flights all month, featuring irresistible expressions from both GlenDronach and Benriach.
Strato, Melbourne, Vic
With its seven-metre-tall glass windows and adjoining alfresco terrace providing an unparalleled 360-degree view of Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay and beyond, you’ll be hard pressed to find a venue that more effectively elevates your World Whisky Day celebrations.
The Strato team will be serving delicious GlenDronach whisky flights for the remainder of May in recognition of World Whisky Day – featuring GlenDronach 12yo, Portwood and Traditionally Peated as a three-dram flight – and afterwards why not dive into Strato’s impressive range of vintage GlenDronach whiskies, including an impressive back catalogue of Grandeur releases?
The Baxter Inn, Sydney, NSW
If you’re looking to spend World Whisky Day in the company of some of Sydney’s most knowledgeable whisky devotees, you can’t go past The Baxter Inn. Not only does this venue offer up a wider variety of whisky bottles than you can shake a Spey Glass at, but the team knows the story behind each one too. Just ask.
For World Whisky Day (and the entirety of May) the Baxter team will be serving up the Burnside Highball. This delightful cocktail consists of a delicious combination of Benriach 12yo, hickory smoked honey, and cardamom, all lengthened with soda. As one of Australia’s most highly regarded whisky venues, we highly recommend you pay The Baxter Inn a visit.
No matter where you choose to spend World Whisky Day, you can’t go wrong with a little GlenDronach or Benriach in your glass. To discover more about the range of outstanding flavours available from these iconic distilleries, follow the links below. Slàinte Mhath!
