17 Jun 2025
Australian Whisky Embassy Launches at Bar Tilda
bar tilda, which opened in Sydney’s CBD in late 2024, has quietly built one of the country’s most respected Australian whisky programs—while doubling as a go-to for cocktails and late-night hospitality.
Now, it becomes the official home of the Australian Whisky Embassy (AWE): a new membership-based social club dedicated to the appreciation of Australian whisky and the people behind it.
The Embassy is more clubroom than classroom—designed for anyone with a curiosity about Australian whisky, not just collectors or connoisseurs. The goal is simple: to bring together like-minded drinkers who want to explore and enjoy the best of what Australia’s distillers are producing today.
“We held a quiet, unofficial launch on World Whisky Day with Bill Lark, which felt like the right way to begin—bringing together people who love Australian whisky in an intimate, relaxed setting with the godfather of Australian whisky,” says Jason Williams, Director of Beverage at House Made Hospitality.
“bar tilda isn’t a whisky bar in the traditional sense, but we’re becoming more and more known for our local list. We straddle the line between a serious whisky destination and a great cocktail bar—and the fact that Australian whisky now accounts for 25% of what we pour shows there’s genuine appetite for it.”
The Australian Whisky Embassy will host monthly tasting events, featuring guest appearances from master distillers, brand founders and whisky makers. Each evening includes five tastings, a cocktail demonstration, bar snacks created in collaboration with the distillery, and the chance to chat with the people behind the bottle. Guests can also purchase bottles on the night—often with a signed label to take home.
The next event will take place from 6–7.30pm on Saturday 5 July at bar tilda, showcasing Archie Rose—Australia’s most highly awarded distillery—and its founder, Will Edwards.
Membership is open to the public and offered in three tiers:
● Whisky Curious: No annual fee. Members are added to the Embassy database and kept in the loop on upcoming events and activities.
● Consulate Level ($185/year): Members at this level receive a welcome pack with a lapel pin, tasting glass, 100ml Lark bottle, and a ‘passport’ notebook to track their whisky journey. They also gain priority access to events, 10% off bar tilda’s Australian whisky collection, VIP status across all House Made Hospitality venues (with a surprise on each booking), a birthday whisky flight, and a range of other exclusive perks.
● Embassy Level ($450/year): This tier provides all Consulate benefits, along with a personalised bottle of Lark Classic Single Malt, 15% off the whisky list, and first access to all events..
The Australian whisky collection at bar tilda is among the most extensive and curated in the world, highlighting early trailblazers like the Sullivans Cove First Release (1995) and Smith’s Angaston bottlings, alongside rare Highwayman expressions and red gum-aged single malts from Archie Rose.
At the heart of the venue is The Whisky Armoire—a glowing golden cabinet housing over 100 Australian whiskies. While whisky clubs exist around the world, this is the first time Australian whisky has had a club—and a dedicated home—within a five-star hotel setting.
The Australian Whisky Embassy offers a fresh and inclusive way to explore the category, while spotlighting the innovation, creativity and anti-authoritarian spirit that continue to define Australia’s whisky scene. bar tilda is helmed by Jason Williams—who conceptualised and launched multiple venues on The World’s 50 Best Bars list, including ATLAS, 28 HongKong Street, and Raffles Singapore—alongside Sofitel Sydney Wentworth’s Head of Beverage, Christian Blair (ex-Annata, Rockpool, Eau de Vie).
Alongside the whisky offering there’s live music, warm service, and a cocktail list that references both classics and nostalgia with a distinctly Australian accent. More info on AWE membership: here
Tickets to the AWE x Archie Rose event on Sat 5 July (for non-members): here.