Bar Fly: The Whisky Room

THE WHISKY ROOM
Upstairs, The Clock Hotel, 470 Crown Street, Surry Hills (02) 9331 5333 clockhotel.com.au
Sydney was clearly champing at the bit for another place to celebrate whisky, but as bar industry heavyweight Jeremy Shipley explained, it takes time to amass over a hundred whiskies! Once you’ve swung open the saloon doors on the first floor of The Clock Hotel, you’ll be met with quite the selection. You can drink ‘em neat; you can drink ‘em on the rocks; you can drink ‘em in a cocktail; you can drink ‘em with freshly squeezed juice, or take on three in a whisky flight. The flights are themed – mine was called Islands ($25) – matching three whiskies that all call islands home, with three tiny snacks. Japan’s Hakushu with green tea sorbet was my favourite combination. Monkey Shoulder (with an Ardbeg float) pops up in a cocktail called Penicillin ($17). With honey-ginger syrup, it’s guaranteed to cure any lingering tickles winter has left at the back of your throat.