Melbourne goes dark and stormy

The Craft & Co have launched a new festival. Broody, dark and stormy, the Dark Spirits Festival will showcase artisanal distillers from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide over four days in August.

Organisers say it is great news for fans of local whisky or rum (or anything in-between).

The Craft & Co’s chief distiller and founder Paul Baggio said:

“With the continual evolution of the Aussie craft spirits scene, we knew it was time to take on more than gin into our successful market format at The Craft & Co. Having released a barrel-aged rum and with our whisky program well underway, it made a lot of sense to start exploring the dark spirits scene in a collaborative format that helps promote not only our brand, but also those other quality distillers in the industry.

"One thing’s for sure, the local distilling industry is full of talent and we’re only too happy to help showcase their talents along with our own distilling team at The Craft & Co. We’re all about collective growth for the industry and have proven that time and time again through our Gin Markets over the years, having promoted dozens and dozens of other independent distillers though the process. The quality of artisanal dark spirits in this country is exceptional and what better way to celebrate that with a delicious pairing dinner and interactive market!”

The event commences with a gala Dark Spirits Dinner featuring Artillery Distillery, Boatrocker Brewers & Distillers, Brix Distillers, The Gospel and Manly Spirits Co: a five course paired dinner will showcasing the best of Australian craft dark spirits and food.

MENU:

First course: Canapes: Toasted brioche with chicken liver parfait, chicken crackling paired with Artillery 8 year Barrel Aged Rum

Second course: Vegetarian: Pepperberry and vanilla smoked kohlrabi, compressed apple, baby fennel, coconut yuzu labneh paired with Boatrocker Double Barrel Aged Spiced Rum

Third course: Seafood: Cobia crudo, lime, sour cherry olive oil, cherry salt, pine nut and coriander salsa paired with Coastal Stone Sherry Cask Whiskey by Manly Spirits Co

Fourth coures: Meat: Rosted duck breast, king brown mushroom, onion rings, roasted cauliflower puree, jus paired with Brix Gold Rum

Fifth course: Chocolate Torte, blood orange paired with The Gospel Solera Rye Whiskey

From Friday 19 August to Sunday 21 August, The Craft & Co’s famous market setup will be transported into Australian craft dark spirits paradise with nine market stalls of local craft spirit distillers on show, inclusing Artillery, Boatrocker, Brix Distillers, The Gospel, JimmyRum, Manly Spirits Co, Okar, Unico Apero, 78º and The Craft & Co, themselves.

Ticketed sessions are available throughout the weekend and include admission to your chosen session, free tastings and The Craft & Co showbag at: The Craft & Co - 390 Smith Street, Collingwood in Melbourne.

Photo by Catherine Sutherland.