Published 2 years ago

What’s On at Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Week 2023

Photo: Courtesy Of Woodford Reserve

The annual celebration of the classic cocktail returns in November. Here’s where to sip some of the best across Australia.

Words by Alice Jeffery · Updated on 15 Jul 2026 · Published on 03 Nov 2023

Cocktail lovers and bourbon enthusiasts: the annual Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Week is back. Running from November 4 to 18, the “week” (a generous serve at 15 days long) is dedicated to celebrating the history, influence and continued popularity of the Old Fashioned.

This year, 40 Australian bars, restaurants and bartenders pay homage to the classic mixed drink, serving vintage versions and inventive reinterpretations among a host of other event exclusives. Besides the cocktail itself, there’ll be masterclasses, food pairings and Woodford Reserve educational events. You can even claim a complimentary drink at your favourite venue.

One of the world’s most popular classic cocktails, the Old Fashioned is a deceptively simple mix of bourbon or rye, bitters and sugar, stirred and served with a citrus garnish (generally orange peel). According to the common (but probably apocryphal) origin story, the drink first popped up at Kentucky’s Pendennis Club in the 1880s, before being popularised at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria not long after. It’s a straightforward drink that leaves plenty of room to get creative, so expect to try subtle twists and some more ambitious variations among the Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Week offerings.

See the full list of bars participating in Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned Week :

New South Wales:

Jolene’s

Cardea

Jacksons on George
Pocket Terrigal

Victoria:

Grainery

Manchuria

Mazo 128

Queensland:

The Press Club

The Jubilee

Caxton Hotel

Boston Shaker

The Roosevelt Lounge

Loose Moose

Bine

Hideaway

Den Divine

Western Australia:

Foxtrot Unicorn

Alfred’s Pizzeria

Edward & Ida’s

South Australia:

Fumo Blu

Therapy Cocktail Bar

Fourth

Memphis Slim’s House of Blues

Tasmania

The Den

Wrest Point

Sandy Bay Road

oldfashionedweek.woodfordreserve.com

Additional reporting by Evan Jones

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About the author

Alice Jeffery is a freelance writer and Broadsheet’s former shopping editor.