After an abundance of delicious drams, enticing eats, and invaluable insights, Sydney Whisky Month has drawn to a close for 2024. Across four weeks, Man of Many and The Whisky List gathered Sydney whisky lovers within our fair city’s finest venues to explore and enjoy a range of the world’s most unforgettable expressions, with sold-out events at Grain Bar, Hickson House, Eau De Vie, and more.
It’s certainly been a month to remember as brands like Glen Moray, Stauning, Angel’s Envy, and Glenfiddich pulled out all the stops. And while we can’t wait to do it all again in 2025, for now, let’s look back at some of the highlights that made Sydney Whisky Month 2024 an unforgettable celebration of the water of life.
The Sydney Whisky Show
What better way to commence this month-long tribute to our favourite libation than with the Sydney Whisky Show? Boasting more than 100 whiskies from all over the world—including those from Scotland, the USA, Australia, and more—this event served up one outstanding expression after another, from the new and exclusive to limited editions and stone-cold classics.
The show also featured a pop-up bottle shop, a rare whisky bar, and a live band, as well as a range of food trucks ready and waiting to serve up delicious bites perfectly crafted to enhance attendees’ whisky-drinking experience. As a finishing touch, Lark Distillery was pouring a limited-edition Lark PX single-cask bottling, which could only be sampled and bought at the Sydney Whisky Show. For those who came along, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did and look forward to seeing you again next year!
Glen Moray Week
Sydney Whisky Month gave Sydneysiders the chance to drop by Grain Bar and discover Glen Moray’s carefully curated (and absolutely delicious) Explorer Range. What’s more, lucky visitors could sample two limited-edition Glen Moray expressions secured by The Whisky List to be served throughout the week: the 2015 Rioja Cask Matured Single Malt and the 2012 Rioja Cask Finished Peated Single Malt. These showcased the intriguing characteristics red wine casks bring to the distilling process, embodying how Glen Moray’s focus on innovation and flavour ensures each of its whiskies is unlike anything else on the market. As a result, many a guest was converted to the Glen Moray cause at this year’s Sydney Whisky Month.
Special Event: Exclusive Glen Moray Launch with Global Ambassador Iain Allan
In addition to serving up the Cask Explorer Range all week long, Glen Moray invited Sydney’s whisky-loving community to take part in a consumer masterclass, where guests were guided through a range of tastings by Glen Moray’s global brand ambassador, Iain Allan. Joining Iain was Judith Zhu—last year named one of Australia’s Top 25 bartenders—who served up incredible cocktails, ensuring a good time was had by all.
Stauning Week
Taking over Hickson House, Denmark’s Stauning left guests in no doubt as to the delights of the Danish dram. With practices like automated floor malting and the direct firing of a whopping 24 small copper alembic stills, even Scottish distillers have been inspired by Stauning’s approach to whisky-making. As such, Sydney’s whisky community turned out in droves to experience some of the stunning expressions that have secured this innovative distillery’s place on the map.
Special Event: Rye & Records – A Dinner with Danish Whisky and Old School Vinyls
For just one night, Stauning gave Sydney “the full hygge experience,” which means to relax and enjoy the good things in life with good people. Over the course of the evening, Stauning offered an enticing selection of its single-malt and rye whiskies served alongside a delicious four-course meal. These proceedings were soundtracked by a dedicated vinyl DJ playing hand-selected tracks designed to imbue the evening with a perfectly playful ambience. As those at the sold-out event quickly discovered, there’s nothing quite like Danish hospitality.
Angel’s Envy Week
Angel’s Envy—one of the world’s finest Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys—marked Sydney Whisky Month by taking over Eau De Vie Sydney. From there, this distillery—founded by Bourbon Hall of Fame icon and master distiller Lincoln Henderson—dished out bespoke cocktails and dessert specials with exclusive whiskey tastings, all of which paid tribute to the label’s signature finishing in port wine barrels. Without a doubt, Angel’s Envy set plenty of Sydney whisky lovers’ tastebuds soaring.
Special Event: Angel’s Envy Finishing Dinner
For one special evening, Angel’s Envy invited Australian bourbon and whiskey lovers to experience a selection of its signature drams alongside one of the finest dining experiences Sydney has to offer. Guests at this exclusive 22-seat event enjoyed a three-course menu of creative dishes carefully crafted by Eau De Vie’s executive chef. What’s more, the dishes were ingeniously designed to be “finished” at the table; a nod to the complex flavours that arise from the finishing of Angel’s Envy bourbon in port wine casks.
Sydney Whisky Month Will Return!
While it’s certainly a bittersweet feeling saying our goodbyes to Sydney Whisky Month for 2024, it was an absolute pleasure seeing so many of our readers in attendance at each of these extraordinary events. And if you missed out this time, there’s always next year, when Sydney Whisky Month will undoubtedly make a triumphant return.
For now, we’d like to thank the brands who joined us for this vibrant celebration of whisky, along with our friends at The Whisky List, without whom none of this would have been possible. Until next time. Skål!
