Melbourne will host Australia's first whisky festival dedicated entirely to Australian whisky when The Australian Whisky Show is hosted at the Pullman Hotel on Sunday, 3 April.
Held in partnership with the Australian Distillers Association, The Australian Whisky Show will showcase over 100 different whiskies and spirits, all produced by distilleries from across Australia.
The idea for an all Australian whisky show presented itself in the planning stages of the ADA's annual major trade conference which will take place in person this year. With so many distillers visiting in town, it seemed too good an opportunity not to host "a consumer facing festival to celebrate the amazing whisky producing nation that Australia has become," say the organisers.
With over 350 distilleries in Australia now making whisky, Paul McLeay, ADA Chief Executive says it is an exciting opportunity to celebrate Australian whisky makers at such an exciting time in the industry’s development.
"Australian whisky has already been recognised through some of the world’s most reputable awards programs and the innovation of craft producers makes our products among some of the best in the world. I look forward to consumers being able to sample some of the best our local industry has to offer,” says Mr McLeay.
Over thirty Australian whisky distilleries will be exhibiting at The Australian Whisky Show, including 5 Nines Distilling, Adelaide Hills Distillery, Ancient Wisdom Distillery, Archie Rose Distillery, Backwoods Distilling Co, Bakery Hill Distillery, Belgrove Distillery, Callington Mill, Chief's Son Distillery, Craft Works Distillery, Cut Hill Distillery, Furneax Distillery, Gospel Distillery, Hellyers Road Distillery, Hobart Whisky, Iniquity Whisky, Joadja Distillery, Killara Distillery, Launceston Distillery, Manly Distillery, McRoberts Distillery, Morris Whisky, Ned Whisky, Overeem Whisky, Remnant, Spirit Thief, Spring Bay Distillery, Starward Distillery, and The Gospel Distillers with more to come.
David Ligoff, founder of both exhibitions says, “This will be the first time so many Australian whisky distilleries and the distillers themselves, will be together for such an event. It is the largest gathering dedicated entirely to locally produced whiskies. It’s a fun way to explore Aussie whisky and meet the makers, who all love having a chat about their adventures and challenges, the highs and the lows, of getting their whisky to you. Plus a few distillers are bringing a bottle of something really special to try only at the show.”
The Australian Whisky Show
Tickets to The Australian Whisky Show go on sale at 6.00pm on Tuesday, 15 February and are $79.00 each. Purchase tickets here: thewhiskyshow.com.au.
Location: Pullman Hotel, Albert Park, Melbourne
Time: 12.00pm - 4.00pm (4 hour session)
On entry, ticket holders receive a tasting glass and then have four hours to visit each distillery’s stand, sample the whiskies and spirits they have on pour and meet with the makers.
The Whisky Show tours around Australia
The Australian Whisky Show will be followed by The Whisky Show events which will tour the nation, travelling to Hobart, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra. (See schedule below.) Tickets go on sale at 6.00pm on Tuesday, 15 February from thewhiskyshow.com.au.
In its eleventh year, Mr Ligoff says, “In between lockdowns last year we managed to put on three in-person whisky shows, which all sold out in days. Australian whisky drinkers are loving their whisky currently and the shows are continuously proving to be the best value for money experience to try over 60, 80, 100 different whiskies.
"As part of celebrating 11 years of Whisky Shows in 2022 and listening to our customers' feedback, we’re putting on more shows than ever before to ensure whisky drinkers across Australia get the chance to taste some amazing new whiskies.”
Tickets for all state based Whisky Shows are $109, and include entry to each show, a Whisky Show branded tasting glass to keep, snack pack, gift bag and access to try all the whiskies available to pour at each stand. Brands from Scotland, USA, Australia and the rest of the world will be on pour at each Whisky Show.
Schedule of shows:
- Melbourne - Australian Whisky Show - Sunday, 3 April
- Hobart - Saturday, 30 April
- Sydney - Friday 20 and Saturday, 21 May (traditionally held on World Whisky Day)
- Adelaide - Saturday,11 June
- Canberra - Saturday, 25 June
- Melbourne - Saturday, 6 August
- Brisbane - Saturday, 8 October
Each state based show will have a mix of Scotch whisky, world whiskies, USA bourbons and ryes, and local Australian distilleries on taste.
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