For the love of whisky & the love of Sydney

Gilles Merry is on a mission to bring the crowds back to the Rocks, specifically crowds with a love of whisky and those who are curious to know more. The former ambassador for Glenfiddich is bringing 18 of the world’s leading whisky innovators and producers to The Rocks for the four day Whisk(e)y on the Rocks festival starting this Thursday.

The event is back again with Mr Merry and his team at Yakusan collaborating with The Rocks and NSW Government to help get the hospitality and events sectors back up and running and to breathe life back into the city.

"We quickly realised that the events and hospitality sectors would need to innovate to survive Covid-19. Many good people wanted to help, but it was very hard to know where to start. I had the insight that if we could bring a lot of good people and teams together, that we could achieve something incredible together with a real impact for both industry, brands and for the public who have been starved of great event experiences," said Mr Merry.

This year he has brought in the weight of mighty whisky brands including Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder, Johnnie Walker, Talisker, Benriach, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Westward, Sheep Dog & Dubliner Irish Whiskey. The festival also partners with Fever-Tree and Mr Black Coffee Liquor who are exploring the marriage of Whisky and Coffee.

Highlights include the Glenfiddich Whisky Wanderer - a fully converted 1972 Double Decker bus, the Monkey Shoulder cocktail mixer, a secret VIP hotel tasting room from Woodford Reserve, a whisky and oyster shack by Talisker, the Johnnie Walker Whisky Highball Food Truck, an iconic rooftop take-over by Wild Turkey at The Glenmore Hotel.

One of the most innovative and exciting whisky brands in the world right now, Oregon’s Westward Whiskey has flown its Head Distiller Miles Munroe in to host a series of private tastings and launch the brand’s new beer-inspired Westward American Single Malt Belgian Ardennes Whiskey.

Hickson House Distilling Co is crafting its own whisky on site and while there are still a few years to go before it comes to market, the distillers will be hosting a series of events during the festival with partner Australian craft Whisky Brands Corowa, Craft Works, Killara and Highwayman. Hickson House will be the destination for Craft Australian Whisky for the festival, and boasts and one of the best whisky bars in Australia, not to mention their incredible house distilled gin.

"There are both ticketed zones and unique venue partnerships that have all been carefully curated to come together as an immersive whisky adventure like no other throughout the iconic Harbour and Rocks precinct. There is no other event quite like it anywhere in the world," said Mr Merry.

Tickets are $35 or patrons can visit The Rocks and traipse along the The Whisky Trail at venues including Grain Bar, The Push, Harbour Rocks Hotel, Doss House, The Mercantile and The Glenmore Rooftop. Fever-Tree premium mixers are also in on the action, creating Whisky Highballs all along the Trail.

A full rundown of information for the Whisky Trail and the Whisk(e)y on The Rocks festival can be found on the official website here.