Overview

Sydney Whisky Show • Distillery Masterclass • Underground Whisky Bars • The Amber Circle Whisky Flavour Trail • Rare Whisky Prizes

The Amber Circle Whisky Flavour Trail

Limited to just 12 guests for an intimate experience.

Step inside the Amber Circle Whisky Flavour Trail — a hidden world of Sydney’s whisky bars, where secret venues, rare drams, and a mysterious lost cask await.

3 Day Weekend Highlights

• 2-night stay at a boutique Sydney CBD/Rocks Hotel

• whisky blending masterclass at Archie Rose Distilling Co.

• entry to the Sydney Whisky Show and rare dram bar

• Visit Sydney’s legendary whisky bars including the historical Doss House and the infamous Baxter’s Inn and enjoy a carefully crafted complimentary signature beverage at each venue.

• Enjoy curated dining experiences in atmospheric venues including a rooftop lunch overlooking Sydney Harbour.

• immersive secret society story experience

• Taste Test your way along the Amber Circle Whisky Flavour Trail. Custom Whisky prize bottle up for grabs.

Non-whisky drinkers are welcome — all venues offer excellent alternative drinks.

A bootmaker, a barber and a seamstress walk into a bar…

It reads like the opening line of a perfect Sydney parody, the kind whispered through the cobblestone laneways of The Rocks District in the 1920’s.

It was the kind of meeting that often grew into a tale The Rocks district never forgot. Or was it a tale or something else entirely.

The Story Begins

Over a century ago, beneath the sandstone streets of Sydney, a small group of whisky lovers formed a private society known only as The Amber Circle.

A barber with wit as sharp as his shears.

A bootmaker with a taste for trouble and fine spirits.

A seamstress who kept the society’s secrets stitched tightly in place.

And Ms Genevieve “Ginny” MacTavish — a Scottish distiller and a woman of remarkable taste and vision.

Having run her husband’s whisky estate during the Great War, she arrived in Australia under uncertain circumstances… with a well-hidden secret.

A single experimental cask.

After many days Ginny was well known and then the next day she suddenly disappeared.

The society disbanded.

The cask was never found.

And her work became part of whisky folklore.

An Invitation to the Circle

This weekend is an invitation to step into that world.

A two-night hosted whisky experience in Sydney, where exceptional venues, remarkable drams, and a beautifully paced itinerary come together — with a story quietly woven throughout.

From historic cellars to hidden bars, each setting reveals a little more of the Amber Circle and the legacy of Ginny MacTavish.

The Amber Circle Whisky Flavour Trail

At the heart of the weekend is a guided tasting journey.

Across select moments, you’ll be introduced to elements that shape whisky — cask influence, regional character, balance, and aroma.

Each experience offers a small insight. A note. A profile. A possibility.

Together, these form a broader picture — the kind of whisky Ginny may have been creating.

By the end of the weekend, you may find yourself closer than expected to understanding Ginny’s lost cask.

There is nothing formal to follow.

Simply a thread for those who enjoy noticing the details.

What’s Included

Accommodation

• Two nights’ boutique accommodation in Sydney CBD – QT Hotel or similar

• Single occupancy room (twin/double available)

Experiences

• Ticket to the Sydney Whisky Show

• Whisky blending masterclass at Archie Rose

• Hosted underground whisky bar experience

• Amber Circle tasting journal

• Take-home whisky dram

• A custom Amber Circle whisky bottle — inspired by Ginny’s experimental cask — awarded during the Sunday gathering

Food & Drink:

· Welcome cocktail reception.

· Friday Night Dinner

· Late Night bites at hidden speakeasy bar.

· 7 Hosted Drinks across Sydney’s Whisky Bars

· Breakfast Daily

· Saturday rooftop lunch in The Rocks

· $20 food voucher for The Whisky Show

· Late night food on Saturday evening

· Traditional Sunday Roast Lunch

Walking/Transportation:

We will be walking through Sydney’s Rock district. Short walks between venues. Where distance is greater transport between venues is included.

Not included:

• Flights to/from Sydney

• Transfers to/from hotel

• Additional Drinks outside those listed

• Personal purchases and items of a personal nature.

• Note: Any purchases made that the Whisky Show or at Archie Rose and elsewhere can be stored by your hosts for the weekend and transported back to your hotel.

Hosted Weekend

• Fully hosted throughout the experience

• All reservations and logistics taken care of

• A seamless and thoughtfully curated itinerary

Your Hosts

This experience is hosted by Curious Compass Collective, creators of immersive travel experiences designed for curious travellers who love discovering the hidden stories behind places.

Our events combine unique venues, storytelling and memorable shared adventures throughout Australia and the Globe.

WEEKEND ITINERARY:

Friday — The Circle Gathers

Arrive in Sydney and settle into your boutique hotel before joining the group for a welcome cocktail and dinner.

As evening unfolds, we move into Sydney’s underground whisky scene — beginning at the historic Doss House, before continuing through hidden bars and finishing at one of the city’s most iconic whisky destinations, Baxters Inn.

Saturday — The Craft of Whisky

Enjoy a lazy morning. At midday our whisky blending masterclass at Archie Rose begins.

After a long lunch in The Rocks, we attend the Sydney Whisky Show, where you are free to explore, taste, and enjoy at your own pace.

The evening continues in a Japanese whisky bar — relaxed, atmospheric, and a perfect way to close the day.

Sunday — The Final Gathering

Over a traditional Sunday roast, the weekend draws to a close.

For those who have followed the flavour trail, this is where everything settles into place — not as a conclusion, but as an appreciation of what has been discovered along the way.

Who This Experience Is For

• Whisky lovers and curious newcomers alike

• Solo travellers, couples, and friends

• Those who enjoy hidden bars and thoughtfully curated experiences

• Travellers who value atmosphere, story, and connection

Whisky knowledge is not required. Curiosity is.

Important Notes

The Amber Circle is our Whisky club, inspired by tales, stories, people, places and whisky culture of Sydney in the early 20th century

Responsible drinking is encouraged

Day Dress: Casual, shorts/trousers/dress.

Night Dress: Comfortable evening wear, trousers/dress

1920s dress theme is welcome but not essential.

Guests must be 18+.

Non-whisky drinkers are welcome — all venues offer alternative beverages

Additional drinks outside those listed are at your own cost

Booking fees apply

Final Invitation

Some weekends are planned.

Others unfold.

This is one to be experienced slowly — one pour, one story, one tale and one moment at a time.

The Amber Circle awaits.

Places are limited.

Brought to you e the creative workshop Curious Compass Collective.