The 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival begins on Saturday and drinks companies have previewed their extravagant marquees in The Birdcage.

More than just a place to watch the races, the marquees in the The Birdcage at Melbourne Cup have become synonymous with high-end hospitality and a touch of celebrity.

The exclusive area will feature 10 installations this year over 18,000 square metres, with 100,000 glasses of champagne expected to be served throughout the carnival.

G.H. Mumm, the official Champagne of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, has unveiled a trackside-first ‘Now Boarding’ Birdcage marquee, a nod to luxury travel across the altitudes at the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

’Now Boarding’ is G.H. Mumm’s largest scale marquee to date, incorporating a structure that’s never-before-seen in the exclusive enclosure including an observation deck with 270 degree views. 

G.H. Mumm prestige manager Chris Sheehy said: “We’ve actually gone bigger, and we’ve built an observation deck, and we’ve got the champagne, we’ve got the caviar. We are keeping that level because that is the expectation our customers have, we have not stepped back from it. We need that moment of celebration and happiness.”

Australia’s most decorated Olympian and sporting champion, Emma McKeon AM (above) officially opened the marquee with an iconic G.H. Mumm ‘Tap Tap’ moment, sending a shower of free-flowing Cordon Rouge champagne high into the sky by tapping the neck of jeroboam with a sabre. 

Those visiting the marquee will experience a full program of entertainment performances, a luggage carousel serving caviar, canapés and G.H. Mumm’s finest cuvées, and an invite-only secret cellar including the House’s most exclusive vintages.

Upstairs in G.H. Mumm’s Private Jet, co-owner of meat purveyors Victor Churchill, Anthony Puharich, will present a curated menu of some of Australia’s finest produce paired with two exceptional G.H. Mumm Cuvées, to be enjoyed by guests throughout the carnival in the exclusive private dining space.

Learn more here.

Tequila Don Julio is back for its second year as the official tequila of Melbourne Cup Carnival with Club Rosado: By Don Julio.

Invitations to the venue will be shared by the Rosado Party Starters – an exuberant crew decked in pink, seeking out Birdcage revellers who will be handed a playful calling card, inviting them to enter Club Rosado: By Don Julio via the Rosado Phone Box.

Inside they will discover a vibrant, pink-hued parlour pulsing with party vibes, high tempo tunes, performances and Don Julio Rosado.

The Rosado Glitterati will be the iconic drink of the carnival (get the recipe here), a sparkling rosé wine- infused pink grapefruit, lime and agave syrup delight, made with Don Julio Rosado and expertly served by Orlando Marzo, one of the World’s Best Bartenders (2018 Global Diageo World Class Champion).

Accompanying the cocktail will be a glitter-sprayed, Mexican-inspired tostada featuring candied grapefruit, salmon and guacamole.

Hidden within Club Rosado: By Don Julio lies yet another secret: the ultra-exclusive Secret Don Julio 1942 Tequila Bar. Accessible through a concealed door, a select few will be invited into this intimate, luxurious setting where the legendary Tequila Don Julio 1942 will takes centre stage.

The Furphy Marquee is returning to the Birdcage as the official beer partner of the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

In its seventh year, Furphy will be pouring pints and welcoming back one of Australia’s most celebrated sporting events with a distinctive trackside experience that offers unparalleled views of the race that stops the nation.

The marquee combines the brand’s rich heritage with the cheeky, playful spirit that Australians know and love. Guests can stroll down memory lane with framed tributes paying tribute to some iconic Victorian Furphy pubs. At the top of the stairs, a timeline pays homage to the Furphy family’s legacy, showcasing its journey from the 1800s to today.

Learn more here.

Penfolds is following last year’s under the sea theme with a marquee creative featuring a bold, two-toned square Holiday motif in a repeated horizonal and vertical pattern that has no end – a symbol of eternity and prosperity. It will house the longest bar in The Birdcage, spanning 14 meters, and will offer an array of wines from The Penfolds Collection including Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling and Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Signature cocktails will also be served, including a ‘Holiday Spritz’ and ‘Negrosé’ that will pay homage to the Marquee’s design, as well as the ‘389 Sour’, infused with Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz.

Learn more here and take a look inside here:

Plus watch a round-up of all the Melbourne Cup marquees here: