NEWCASTLE bar Babylon is set to host the Hunter's first spirits festival this Saturday.
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The Whisky and Craft Spirits Festival on Saturday, August 24, will feature around 40 stallholders showcasing more than 70 brands, including 15 boutique distilleries from Australia such as the locally-owned The Farmer's Wife Distillery and Sydney's Brix, along with international names such as Laphroaig.
The event will include tastings, masterclasses, and a three-course lunch paired with matching whisky.
The festival is the brainchild of Babylon owners, Phil and John Elsley, who took over the grand circa 1903 Central Hall building one year ago to transform it into a 1920s-style whisky, craft beer and wine bar.
"We hope it will become an annual event," Phil Elsley says.
"It's much like the events you would see in capital cities, like Whisky Live or an event like that. Generally they feature a lot of the smaller suppliers, but we also have a few of the bigger Scottish ones coming as well.
"The whisky suppliers all give tastings of their range, much like a beer festival, but it's whisky instead. You can chat to the distiller or a rep, and they will tell you about all of the whiskies while you have a taste.
"We will also be featuring craft spirits as well, especially with the rise in gin at the moment. Gin and rum, and a few artisan spirits as well as liqueurs."
The launch of the festival reflects the shift consumers are making in choosing premium craft spirits over big-name brands.
The boutique distillery industry has grown rapidly in the past five years.
There are 195 craft distilleries operating in Australia today, with 47 of those located in NSW.
It is an remarkable figure considering that until 1992, when Tasmanian whisky distiller Bill Lark successfully lobbied for changes to Australia's laws around boutique distilleries to set up Lark Distillery, Australia's craft spirit industry was non-existent.
Elsley says spirit drinkers are seeking out quality rather than quantity these days.
"I think people are drinking a little bit less, but better quality," Elsley says.
"Their budget is the same but they're drinking not to get drunk - they want to enjoy the actual drink. There is an appreciation for it. It happened with craft beers a few years ago and now the same thing is happening with spirits.
"People are seeking out a different experience."
The festival begins at 12.30pm with a VIP three-course lunch, after which ticket holders can move on to tastings before general admission ticket holders enter at 2.30pm.
In addition to the tastings, three masterclasses will be held including a whisky masterclass hosted by The Balvenie, a craft spirit masterclass with NSW distillery Husk, and a Peated Malts of Distinction class featuring Laphroaig, Bowmore, Ardmore, and Connemara.
The classes are seated and will be conducted via wireless headphone sets.
Any spirits that tickle your fancy can be ordered from the team at Tighes Hill Cellars who will be on location to take orders for products which can be picked up in-store or delivered.
Among the distilleries taking part is Allworth-based gin maker Kylie Sepos of The Farmer's Wife Distillery, who recently took out a silver medal at the London Gin Awards, and The Newcastle Distilling Co., which released its first single malt whisky in June.
While Babylon has a strong focus on whisky, Elsley says interest in craft gin and rum has risen considerably since they opened the doors 12 months ago.
Elsley knows a thing or two about cocktails. He opened Babylon, 145 King Street, Newcastle a year ago in the grand old Central Hall building as a 1920s-inspired bar and cocktail lounge. Whisky and craft spirits are the star and the cocktails are created with care. The cocktail list is long, incorporating both traditional and modern creations, including a special each week.
Babylon recently featured a gin cocktail from local maker The Farmer's Wife Distillery and earlier this month was serving the "caramel bliss bomb, which combines Absolute vanilla vodka with Bailey's Irish cream, butterscotch schnapps, Frangelico with caramelised condensed milk and popcorn syrup.
The whisky festival will culminate with live music with jazz band Soda from 6.30pm when doors open to the public.
There will also be a special cocktail list on the night featuring drinks inspired by the featured distilleries.
VIP tickets (including the three-course lunch) cost $200 and general admission tickets, which includes tastings and food, cost $79. Book online at wacsfestival.com.au
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