As one of Sydney’s oldest suburbs, The Rocks has quite the checkered past. The Doss House – the suburb’s latest addition – is proof of that having been home to a bootmaker, boarding house and opium dealer in its 170 years, now settling as Sydney’s latest whisky bar. Its tumultuous past is celebrated in the new space, inspiring the interiors of each of the five, cosy bar spaces in the basement drinking den, which include Unwin’s Stores, The Dock Bar, Ung Quoy’s Den, The Bootmaker’s Workshop, and The Sailors Garden. The bar specialises in whisky, with the collection sitting at 150 bottles sourced from Australia, Scotland, Ireland, Japan and America. There are rare whiskeys among them, including the Hibiki 30 year Old, Glenglassaugh 30 Year Old, GlenDronach 1994 and the Nikka ‘Taketsuru’ Fortune 80. There are also ample cocktails and sharing platters to accompany (including an Aussie platter that features the likes of emu prosciutto and kangaroo salami with damper and Australian cheeses). The Doss House is co-owned by school friends and Irish ex-pats Colm O’Neill and Eoin Daniels. Another of Colm’s school friends, Bobby Carey (of Big Poppa’s, Shady Pines, and Riley Street Garage) has consulted on the food and drinks menu, alongside Bar Manager Alex O’Brien (of Bar No. 5 and Archie Rose Distillery Bar). “My favourite type of bar is one that you can find a cosy nook in, or a little bar you can sit up at and have a chat, with a tidy collection of drinks to choose from and with a smile,” says O’Neill. “The reality is there’s some great bars in Sydney that already do that well. What makes our experience a little special is the fact you have this rare opportunity to choose a whisky from one of Australia’s finest producers or one of the best from abroad and enjoy it in a space that has this rich history attached to the walls unlike anywhere else. The building is steeped in stories you’d expect to hear from your Granny; old and romantic.” The Doss House 77-79 George Street, The Rock thedosshouse.com.au