- Archie Rose has worked with Sydney Opera House to launch two new whiskies inspired by the cultural icon.
- There is one whisky paying homage to the classical side of the Opera House and one that expresses its contemporary side.
- Both whiskies are available at the Archie Rose cellar door and Opera House venues as well as Duty Free at Sydney International Airport.
- READ MORE: Best places to buy Sydney souvenirs that aren’t terrible
Sydney Opera House, Australia’s most recognised cultural institution and an endearing icon for Sydney, has been officially liquified. It’s legacy at least, inspiring two special edition single malt whiskies from Sydney’s beloved Archie Rose Distilling Co: the Classical Whisky and the Contemporary Whisky.
The simple, limited-edition collection was released at the tail-end of last year, creating a new collector’s item and one that has got whisky aficionados around the world paying close attention. It’s also the first time the Sydney Opera House has officially lent its name to such an endeavour, nodding to the unparalleled creativity and skill being poured into the increasingly present Australian whisky industry.
Archie Rose conceived of the two whiskies as a celebration of the Sydney Opera House’s tireless enthusiasm for the arts, and in particular music. Each of the 8,000 bottles available comes with a QR code that’s part of the Opera House-inspired label, allowing guests to access a specially curated playlist that pays homage to the range of artists and music that have brought the Sydney Opera House’s two stages to life over the past 50 years.
You’ve got two choices if you want to try a Sydney Opera House whisky for yourself: classical, or contemporary?
The Classical Whisky leans towards the symphonic chamber orchestras that have regularly played the Sydney Opera House. Locally grown Australian malt is alchemised with classic techniques, aligning with the classicism of Scottish and Japanese whiskies. The result is deeply complex, bringing in a nose of freshly cut peaches, sun-dried grapes, Turkish delight and shortbread biscuits, connected to a palate that folds silky fruits into peaches, pawpaw, custard cream, drying spices and “hazelnut butter on golden-toasted crumpets.”
The other side of the coin is the Contemporary Whisky, translating modern music performances with Australian provenance and a modern sense of creativity. Rare and speciality malts have been used to cobble together a nose of honey-roasted macadamias, fresh pineapple, digestive biscuits, mango, amaretto and violets. This brings in a palate of tropical fruit that stretches out to roasted nuts, milk chocolate-coasted biscuits, roasted nuts, tropical fruits, dark cacao and “Maillard cheese on toast.”
Archie Rose has only released 5,000 bottles of the Classical Whisky and 3,000 bottles of the Contemporary Whisky. You can find both bottles at the Archie Rose Bar & Cellar Door in Rosebery, the Sydney Opera House venues, and the Heinemann Duty-Free retailer at Sydney International Airport.
Both Archie Rose x Sydney Opera House whiskies are available at a retail price of $129.
Read More
- The best ramen restaurants in Sydney
- The best kid-friendly cafes in Sydney
- The best burgers in Sydney