Hickson House Distilling Co is the latest, much anticipated venture from Mikey Enright and Julian Train, the team behind The Barber Shop and The Duke of Clarence, joined by distiller Tim Stones (ex-Manly Spirits).
The trio’s ambitious, multi-faceted project is spearheading the revival of The Rocks, in line with City of Sydney’s vision to create one of the world’s most envied heritage precincts.
June 2021 will see the opening of Hickson House amongst the soaring brickwork and girders of the former Saatchi & Saatchi garage, scene of many infamous warehouse parties; soon to house a new creative spirit in the shadow of the Harbour Bridge.
Hickson House Distilling Co will create gins, aperitifs, whiskies and specialist spirits; starting with a range of Hickson Road Gins, including a culinary-inspired gin paired with a complementary kangaroo dish; all crafted with locally-sourced ingredients, such as native botanicals from The Loch farm at Berrima in New South Wales’ Southern Highlands.
There will be immersive, experiential tours, culminating with tastings, the spirit store and private dining experiences. The mezzanine lounge sits above the expansive bar, which will serve bespoke cocktails alongside a botanical-inspired menu.
The total venue space is 450m2 with 180m2 dedicated to the bar, kitchen and mezzanine area. The venue is designed by Steel & Stitch Sydney and Sara Mathers from the UK, working together to create a New York warehouse style bar with the distillery on show to guests.
After the success of The Barber Shop and The Duke of Clarence, the boys knew they wanted to do something big and bold… “Our vision is to create a city distillery that feels balanced by a fully-stocked bar serving all of our favourite spirits, so patrons can come for a full behind-the-scenes distilling experience or just a simple G&T. As the world slowly comes back to life, we see The Rocks becoming a beacon for all Australians and, eventually, overseas visitors. Tim, Jules and I can’t wait to pull up Hickson House’s iconic roller-door in June” says Enright.