Created In Partnership With LARK Distilling Co.
Winter may be in full force, but that doesn’t mean the country is slowing down. As the temperature drops, Australia’s cultural calendar heats up, making winter less about hibernating and more about finding reasons to stay out a little longer.
The way we drink changes with the seasons as well. Winter means farewelling ice-cold cocktails and festival margaritas for a spirit that’s more refined.
Created by Tasmania’s LARK Distillery, Dark Lark No.166 is the new 2026 annual Special Edition Tasmanian Single Malt whisky inspired by the energy and spontaneity of after dark. Rather than being reserved for the final pour, it’s crafted to be part of the evening itself, whether that’s before a show or while debriefing the setlist with friends after the encore.
Featuring notes of dark fruit, sticky figs, and dark chocolate cherries, this Single Malt whisky is full of contrast and character, and is lighter than its matte black packaging may suggest. Born in Tasmania but inspired by after-dark culture, Dark Lark is available now at LARK Distillery for $150.
In celebration of the whisky’s release, these are the gigs, bars and cultural moments that make winter one of Australia’s most exciting seasons. Here’s where to start.
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Make a Pilgrimage to Hobart
Dark Mofo may have closed its laneways for another year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still make the winter pilgrimage down to Hobart. From MONA to world-class restaurants and ghost tours, Hobart is the cultural escape to lock in this winter. If you’re looking for an after-dark experience to remember, LARK Distillery’s flagship whisky and cocktail bar, The Still, has been reimagined as GOTHAM for winter. Inspired by the world of Dark Lark, the immersive takeover features a brand-new food and cocktail menu, atmospheric whisky experiences and a chance to step inside the universe behind the limited-edition release.
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Massive Attack
Massive Attack’s return to Australia is one of this winter’s biggest live music moments. More than a decade since their last Australian tour, trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack are finally heading back with three exclusive headline shows. Presented by Frontier Touring, the Bristol collective will perform at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on August 6th, Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on August 9th and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on August 11th, bringing one of modern music’s most influential live shows back to Australian audiences.
Parkway Drive
This August, the Byron Bay metal heavyweights return home for an intimate run of Australian dates, swapping arenas for some of the country’s most recognisable venues. Kicking off at Perth’s Metro City on August 1st and 2nd before stopping in Adelaide, Melbourne’s Forum, Sydney’s Enmore Theatre and Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall, the national anniversary tour will celebrate two of Parkway Drive’s most revered albums, 2005’s Killing With a Smile, and 2007’s Horizons, and bring one of the country’s biggest global success stories back onto home shores.
Marie Davidson
Now or Never
Now or Never, Melbourne’s city-wide festival of music, art, technology and ideas is back for its fourth year. Running from Wednesday, August 19th until Sunday, August 30th, the festival could be its most groundbreaking yet. Centred around the theme A Whole New World, attendees can expect an exploration of cultural shifts driven by immersive technologies such as AI and digital storytelling. The festival (which mostly takes place after dark) blurs the lines between installation, performance, reality and imagination. Catch the full program here.
Vera Blue
With her third studio album Modern Rituals, dropping on Friday, August 21st, Vera Blue is getting set to tour across the country. The late-winter tour kicks off in Brisbane on the day of her album debut, then heads down the east coast from August 22nd. Given Vera Blue’s haunting voice and soaring melodies, these live shows are the perfect end to the colder season and a chance to enjoy culture after dark.
Dark Lark is here at larkdistillery.com
