Hickson House is welcoming the warmer weather with a ‘Summer o’ Clock’ celebration and a new release, Hickson House Wild Rosé Summer Cup, a contemporary Australian twist on classic British fruit cup aperitifs.

Launched as a Limited Edition last summer, it won both Gold and Best in Class (Flavoured Gin) at the Australian Gin Awards 2023, and has joined Hickson House’s permanent range by popular demand.

The versatile release works equally well in cocktails such as the signature Summer Cup cocktail with ginger ale, strawberries, cucumber and mint; a Native Negroni, with Hickson House Australian Dry, Luxardo and Convict Bitters; or the bar’s newest serving innovation – the Summer Freeze – a gin frosé.

Summer Cup joins a Summer O’Clock celebration that will see the distillery’s doors swing open at 10am daily, with tasting flights hosted against the spectacular backdrop of the distillery’s soaring copper stills.

From 11am on weekends, Hickson House’s Bottomless Gin Brunches will kick off. On sunny days, these will start in its new botanical garden, with spectacular views up to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

At 4pm the venue shifts gears, away goes the tasting table and up goes the music. Fresh dishes are served, designed to complement the distillery’s gins include tempura spring vegetables with soy and pickled ginger; chargrilled pineapple salad with pickled ginger, fetta and dukkah; and a trio of native sorbets with toasted macadamia.

Hickson House owners Mikey Enright and Julian Train said: “We love The Rocks, and hope our new, wider offerings and all-day opening are a welcome addition to this historic neighbourhood. Summer O’Clock is our way of saying we now have something for everyone, no matter what time of day.”

While Hickson House in Hickson Road, The Rocks, is the home of Summer Cup, it is also debuting nationwide at independent liquor stores and leading bars including The Barber Shop, Frank Macs, Bar Planet, and poolside at Oxford House, plus many more.

The expanded Hickson House distillery store also stocks all five Hickson House gins – Australian Dry, Classic Dry, Harbour Strength, Seven Spice and Summer Cup – alongside a host of gin-related products, such as Martini olives and house-smoked Gibson onions.