December 6, 2021 | By Bronwen Largier
A new whiskey bar was launched at Fairmont Resort & Spa, Blue Mountains last Thursday night, but the origins of the bar arguably date all the way back to 2012.
Because as evidence suggests, owner of the Blue Mountains Fairmont property, Dr Jerry Schwartz does not do things by half measures. The other week it was launching a superyacht festival to support tourism in Sydney. Now it’s opening a whiskey bar to host a new single malt whiskey, developed by Dr Schwartz and another Sydney doctor, Professor John Rasko, aptly named Two Doctors.
The just-launched whiskey bar at Fairmont Resort is called The Two Doctors Whisky Tavern and features an extensive list of the finest local and international whiskies. A three-year-old whiskey by Prof Rasko was on hand on Thursday evening, while their six-year-old whiskey is near bottling stage and will be on the shelf in 2022. The two doctors’ initial collaboration kicked off in 2012.
The quirky tavern is an intimate space hidden in the basement of the resort and pays homage to whiskey taverns of yesteryear to create warmth and charm with its décor of four cosy interior spaces where visitors can sink into voluptuous chesterfields and plush velvet chairs and explore the bookshelves housing vintage books and curios.
The tavern is available for group bookings Monday to Wednesday and will host local musicians and DJs on weekends. It will offer modern classic food with a twist by incorporating whiskey and smoke elements into their signature dishes.
Jerry Schwartz speaking at the opening of the Two Doctors Whiskey last Thursday | Image: Richard Bulley Photography
“As a logical extension to the production of the whiskey, I thought we should open a dedicated whiskey bar given that I had a perfect space for such a venue at my Fairmont Resort,” said Dr Schwartz of his latest opening.
“With Prof Rasko’s integral role in our whiskey journey, the bar just had to be called the Two Doctors Whiskey Tavern.
“There is a medical theme to the bar, with various pieces of medical equipment installed as ‘furnishings’, though we are confident that a ‘visit to the doctors’ will be a far more attractive proposition than the usual doctor’s appointment.
“The Fairmont is a brilliant location for a whiskey bar because the Blue Mountains, with its mist and chill are very reminiscent of many Irish and Scottish locations steeped in whiskey – or whisky – heritage.
“The opening this week is a great celebration of the end of most COVID restrictions and the welcoming back of interstate and some international visitors,” he said.
“Last week we did 95 percent occupancy at the Fairmont, and it’s been a long time between drinks since we’ve recorded such a strong performance.”
micenet’s Publisher Helen Batt-Rawden attended the launch on Thursday night as a guest of Fairmont Resort & Spa, Blue Mountains.