The premium Kentucky distiller has teamed up with the Rockpool Dining Group fine diners in Sydney and Melbourne to host a series of whiskey- and bourbon-themed offerings throughout April.

Taking pride of place are four intimate Barrel to Banquet dinners (April 3 and 10; $150) hosted by Woodford Reserve ambassadors Thalita Alves and Linus Schaxmann.  

At each, diners will be guided through a tasting of three Woodford Reserve craft whiskeys before enjoying four Neil Perry-crafted courses, accompanied by whiskey-based cocktails created to showcase one of the five primary characteristics of the Woodford Reserve ‘flavour wheel’.

‘Grain’ is represented on arrival with a cocktail of Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select with champagne, raspberry and panang leaf. Over dinner, ‘floral’ translates to charcoal-roasted scallops with orange gremolata crumb matched with Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select with chamomile syrup, mandarin and lemon. Highlighting ‘spice’ is bresaola with pear and parmesan and a cocktail of Woodford Reserve Rye, fino sherry, citrus and ginger. Slow-roasted lamb basted in Woodford Reserve Rye represents ‘wood’, while sticky date pudding shows off ‘sweet aromatic’ flavour notes. Each comes with a bespoke matching cocktail.

“There are over two hundred detectable flavours in our bourbon – 212 to be exact!” says Alves. “People are often surprised that whiskey pairs so incredibly well with a wide variety of dishes, the complexity of the bourbon with the food can take you on a unique ride.”

In a final touch, there will also be a tasting of Rockpool Bar & Grill’s very own limited-edition Woodford Reserve bottling, created in Kentucky by Rockpool Dining group COO Frank Tucker, together with Woodford Reserve’s master distiller, Chris Morris, and master taster, Elizabeth McCall.

Those who can’t make the dinners needn’t miss out on a Woodford experience. A ‘perfect pairing’ dessert (available April 1-30; $22) combines a wattle seed caramel slice with a glass of Woodford Reserve ‘Double Oaked’ Rockpool Premium Blend.

Also available over April in the bar at both Rockpool Bar & Grills are cocktails specially created to enhance the various flavour profiles of the different Woodford Reserve blends. For instance, the Autumn Old Fashioned sees Woodford Reserve ‘Double Oak’ Rockpool Premium Blend Bourbon infused with autumn stone fruit seeds, then stirred down over ice with a splash of Liqueur Freaks Shiso Leaf Liqueur, maple and bitters.

If you’re a fan of great whiskey and bourbon and fine dining, you’d be an April fool to miss out on this perfect pairing. To book a seat at the Barrel to Banquet dinners in Melbourne, phone (03) 8648 1900 or email info@rockpoolmelbourne.com. In Sydney, phone (02) 8099 7077 or email reservations@rockpoolbarandgrill.com.