Melbourne rye whiskey distillery The Gospel is celebrating the return of its annual ‘Rye July’ with a month of activity honouring its signature grain.

The celebrations include partnerships with 60 venues across Australia, consumer events and activations aimed at exciting whiskey lovers about the story of rye.

The Gospel co-founder Andrew Fitzgerald said: “For us, Rye July is a celebration of the underdog, a grain that really pushes a distiller but rewards the drinker with a bold flavour that sings of the region from which it was grown. We started The Gospel with the goal of putting Australian rye on the map, and this month is our open invitation for everyone to experience its incredible character,”

“Whether you’re a die-hard rye fan or just getting into whiskey, Rye July is the perfect time to explore the depth and spice that makes this grain so special. We’re excited to spread the good word of rye through a lineup of events.” 

The Gospel is partnering with bars and venues in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland, including local friends Fancy Hank’s, Whisky & Alement and Eau de Vie. The full list can be found at www.thegospelwhiskey.com/pages/ryejuly.

Each participating venue will feature The Gospel’s rye whiskies, with many activating special menu takeovers.

On 26 July, The Gospel will open its doors for a Distillery Open Day. From 11am to 5pm, rye curious and rye fanatics alike can enjoy a welcome drink, hot pies, tipples from a cocktail caravan and a pop-up whiskey shop, as well as seeing the distillery in full operation. 

Available only on the open day, devoted rye fans will have the rare opportunity to bottle their own release straight from the cask, with two cask releases to choose from.

The first is a single cask release aged in barrels from the legendary Kelvin Cooperage, hand-picked for their toasting precision and consistent char profiles. Barreled in April 2021, the final spirit has a soft, bready palate with a distinct sweetness, all built on a classic, spice-driven rye structure.

The second release was aged in a re-toasted Australian wine barrel, using a mash bill of 55% rye and 45% malted barley. Laid down in August 2020, the time in the cask has resulted in a whiskey defined by its complex rye spice and berry character.

Tickets to the Open Day are free while deeper experiences like cask tastings and bottle-your-own release experiences can be purchased here: events.humanitix.com/the-gospel-distillery-open-day