Whisky Tastings

Whether you're a whisky connoisseur or new to the whisky game, you can definitely learn from a good ol' tasting. Words by Sam Wall and Emma Dempsey.  

VIC

Whisky & Alement — 270 Russell St, Melbourne

With nearly 500 bottles to choose from, Whisky & Alement have the fever. They have a calendar packed with tasting events spanning samplings of rare and unusual malts, whisky and cheese pairings, and tasting evenings with an array of international master distillers.

Eau De Vie — 1 Malthouse Ln, Melbourne 

Ask anyone in Melbourne where to get a drop of your favourite spirit and they'll likely point you at the stylish Eau De Vie. Their dedicated whisky room has an awe-inspiring collection and every Tuesday they hold Whisky & Cheese Night. Drop in and choose five cheese tasters and one of the knowledgeable staff will match your pick with five whisky tastings. Enquire about their Whisky Club, as well as tastings and cocktail classes.

Cure Bar & Eatery — 164 Rathdowne St, Melbourne

Book one of their tastings and take the opportunity to sample a few items off Cure Bar's impressive whisky list, including some rare drops. The experience includes shared antipasto as well as discussion on different styles and regions so you know what you're drinking.

NSW

Wonder & Whisky — Sydney

Feel like a wee dram but don't know where to start? Wonder & Whisky can point you in the right direction. Besides holding regular public tastings around the city, the guys at W&W are more than happy to hold private bookings so you can pick a venue, call a few mates, and learn the history and method behind Uisce beatha one sip at a time.

The Oak Barrel — 152 Elizabeth St, Sydney

Besides holding a monthly whisky appreciation session where you can take a run at a range of international whiskies, The Oak Barrel hosts the annual Sydney Whisky Fair, a two-day celebration of everything dark and smoky. The fair has a huge selection each year and usually includes an exclusive bottling.

Shirt Bar — 7 Sussex Ln, Sydney

There's more to Shirt Bar than hip apparel. They also hold a monthly scotch club. If you're quick enough to get a ticket an expert whisky sommelier will guide you through a selection of different spirits. It's held on a Wednesday night (usually mid-month), so make sure you clear your Thursday morning.

QLD

The Brisbane Club — 241 Adelaide St, Brisbane

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is throwing a whisky bash here on 13 & 18 Nov for anyone who loves the drop. The shindig includes step-by-step instructions on how to get the most from tasting single cask, single malt whisky and what to eat with the stuff. Kicks off at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Hit up mansfield@smws.com.au for ticket info.

Cobbler — 7 Browning St, West End

The walls are library shelves, except bottles replace the books. Seriously, it’s wild how much booze these guys have. Over 400 whiskies from all over the world. That’s hard stuff from Scotland, Ireland, America and Japan. Not only do they whip up a mean cocktail with the stuff, they also hold whiskey-tasting nights every month to share what they know about their collection. Rad.

The Morrison’s Naked Whisky Bar — 640 Stanley St
, Woolloongabba

The Morrison Hotel takes their distilled spirit seriously. So seriously they created a separate space, called it the Naked Whisky Bar and tossed over 200 whiskies in its direction. If you think that’s dedication to the drop, every Friday night they get a pianist in and let you sip your liquid heaven to the sound of sultry blues.

NATIONAL

Whisky Live

Whisky Live is a massive international whisky tasting event taking place from London to Tokyo and just about everywhere in-between. More importantly it visits Australia once a year to tickle taste buds in several major cities. Their mission statement is to make learning about whisky stimulating and fun, and while the product likely does most of the work for them they also have range of food and entertainment to sweeten the pot.