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By Nina SchultzISSUE #050 FOOD AND BOOZE ISSUE | Community

Must-Try Producers at StickyBeak

With so many incredible producers, where do you start? We’ve rounded up the must-try food and drink stalls so you can skip the guesswork and dive straight into the good stuff.

Limited Editions – Exclusive Festival Dishes And Cocktails

Fair warning — it’s going to be tough deciding which cocktail to start with. Go classic with The Waratah’s Pub Squash, featuring Archie Rose Lemon Scented Gum Harvest Gin. PS40 is rolling in with PSGO (nicknamed Harvy), a retro RV they’ve transformed into a bar. Be sure to stop by and discover why the team behind PS40 are some of the most creative cocktail minds in the country. Newcomers to Redfern and StickyBeak, Baptist St Rec. Club are showing up with Bone Hugs & Harmony, featuring Archie Rose Bone Dry Gin, pineapple and coconut. Another new face on the bar scene - dive bar Little Cooler (from the minds of the Maybe Sammy group), serving everything out of an esky just like in their Clarence St home. And veterans Double Deuce are bringing their slice of nostalgic sleaze to Ultimo. We’ll be queuing up for The Indicator, which if the ingredients of Archie Rose Rye Malt Whisky, grapefruit and hibiscus are anything to go by indicates a damn good time. Of course we’ll be there. The Archie Rose bar team are going to be serving some home runs - including a Penicillin Highball with the now sold out Trials & Exceptions Stringybark Smoked Single Malt. Using a whisky that rare in a cocktail - it should be illegal, but you only live once.

You really can’t go wrong with any of our vendors, but here’s a sneak peek at some of the must-try dishes on offer:

  • Attenzione!, Redfern’s newest hotspot, is bringing a festival-exclusive BBQ. Our pick is the grilled beef tongue, salted chilli and cherry-pickled radish roll. Pair it with a Penicillin Highball from Archie Rose.
  • Lankan Filling Station is serving up a full menu of Sri Lankan inspired dishes, including their String Hopper with pumpkin kiri hodi, herbs, and katta sambol.
  • Ho Jiak is bringing their famous Char Koay Teow, a must for fans of bold, smokey flavours. Pair it with Double Deuce’s spicy cocktail, Caged Heat, made with Archie Rose Straight Dry Gin, pineapple honey, lime, and a hint of chilli for a perfect match.
  • Flora is showcasing an all-vegetarian menu, featuring an unmissable mushroom taco made with mushrooms from Ruffle Farm in St Peters. (Yes, there’s a mushroom farm in a warehouse in St Peters — who knew?)
  • Make sure to see Morgan McGlone, brand ambassador for Tabasco and the Tabasco Hot List, and chef owner of Bar Copains, Bessie’s and Bar Alma’s, for a menu inspired by Tabasco.
  • To round off the night, treat yourself to Messina’s Crepes Yuzette or try your luck getting one of Andy Bowdy’s deep-fried banana & coconut custard pies at Kiln.

Hidden Gems & Rising Stars – Feature exciting new producers alongside well-known favourites.

  • We’re excited to feature a mix of hidden gems and rising stars alongside some well-known favourites.
  • Baptists Street Rec. Club, which just opened last month, will be joining us at StickyBeak, serving up two original cocktails — Bone Hugs & Harmony and Whisky Woo Woo — so be sure to grab a drink if you haven’t already!
  • Cocktail legends Maybe Sammy will also be bringing along their new dive bar, Little Cooler. Find their red neon sign and grab a Watermelon Cooler or Punk Banana.
  • Two of our favourite hidden gems are returning this year: TBC Grape Garden, often discussed as the best Friday night spot in Sydney amongst the team at Archie Rose (grab some of their cumin lamb skewers.) Takam, one of Sydney’s best Filipino restaurants will be attracting lines again with their menu of charcoal grilled favourites.
  • Another rising star you may not have heard of yet is Maiz Mexican from Newtown, offering Esquites, a variety of Tostadas, and Uchepo.
  • Fabbrica is back as well, this time showcasing a new menu of baked pasta.
  • And finally, don’t miss Shadow Bakery from Messina, who will be serving up a single but absolutely delicious menu item you won’t want to miss!

Take-Home Essentials – Must-buy spirits, or gifts you can take away?

This year, we’re introducing an Archie Rose bottle shop, so you can take home a little something to remember the festival — and share with friends. Our top picks? The crowd-favourite Emerald Finger Lime Harvest Gin, our delicious White Cane plus the limited-edition Fiona Cocktail Mug (perfect for Piña Coladas at home), and the rich, complex Heritage Red Gum Cask Single Malt Whisky. Whatever your spirit of choice, there’s something for everyone.

Plus, every ticket includes an Archie Rose gift bag valued at over $80 featuring 2 x 50mL spirits, a four-pack of cans, and an invite for a free Tour & Tasting at the Archie Rose Bar & Cellar Door in Rosebery.

GET YOUR TICKETS TO STICKYBEAK 2025 HERE