Whiskey connoisseurs, the cocktail-curious and fresh first-timers hear the call: from Thursday April 28 until Sunday May 1, The Rocks precinct is turning into whiskey heaven.
Whiskey on The Rocks will see bars, pubs and distilleries dedicate themselves to whiskey-worshipping activations, including three festival zones full of takeovers and tastings, as well as the freeform exploration of The Rocks Whiskey Trail.
Woodford Reserve will take over the boutique heritage-listed Harbour Rocks Hotel. Across the four days, you’ll find three levels devoted to the splendours of bourbon whiskey, including a few bespoke cocktails mixed in person by Australia’s Top 25 Bartender Millie Tang. Tang’s two drinks – Two in the Bushel and Early Retirement – are both variations on classics.
“Two in the Bushel is an Old Fashioned twist,” says Tang. “It’s like a really rich apple-pie Old Fashioned.” Tang is drawing out the flavours of the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked to guide her version, which features a French apple liqueur called pomme verte and port reduced with cinnamon. “Woodford Reserve has a lot of really nice fruity, citrusy notes in it along with the toffee and the caramel, so I decided to highlight some of that,” Tang says.
Early Retirement is a variation on a classic highball, with a few additions taking it to a new level of luxury. “There’s really good pineapple honey in there which makes it beautiful and round with lots of nice golden notes,” Tang says. “Then to top it off, instead of using soda we’re using carbonated coconut water, which adds a really nice fatty background for everything to stand up on.”
For whiskey lovers and cocktail enthusiasts alike, Tang will be creating her drinks in person at the Woodford Reserve House of the Senses experience at the Harbour Rocks Hotel. (But be warned: spaces are limited.)“People will be able to come through and get some private-made cocktails. I’ll be manning that through the whole weekend,” Tang says. Whiskey on the Rocks ticket holders will also receive a discount on drinks.
Early Retirement
Makes 1 serving. Approx 2 standard drinks
Ingredients:
45ml Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
10ml Pineapple spiced honey
3 dashes Black walnut bitters
Top with Carbonated coconut water
Lemon peel
Method:
Build over ice in a highball glass
Garnish with lemon twist
Two in the Bushel
Serves:
Makes 1 serving. Approx 2 standard drinks
Ingredients:
50ml Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
5ml Pomme verte
10ml Cinnamon port
3 dashes Bitters
Dehydrated apple
Method:
Stir all ingredients in a rocks glass. Garnish with dehydrated apple.
Whiskey on The Rocks runs from April 28 until May 1. Tickets can be purchased here.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Woodford Reserve.
