Johnnie Walker’s newest drink is hand-in-hand with the Aus music scene right now.

Having burst onto the scene just a few weeks ago to rave reviews, Johnnie Walker Black Ruby Blackberry & Soda  is now making its case as the perfect gig companion – the kind of drink you crack just as the lights go down and the band’s about to hit the stage. It makes sense, given that Johnnie Walker Black Ruby will be the Official Whisky Partner of SXSW Sydney 2025…

For those who haven’t been to SXSW Sydney, it’s like a week-long festival in our own backyard that sees artists from all over Australia and the world give it their all for punters, fans and industry folk. This year’s lineup is stacked. Local highlights include Ninajirachi, fresh off her five-star debut; the enigmatic 2charm; and Drifting Clouds, blending synth-pop and country straight from the NT.

Canberra’s Sonic Reducer are bringing the grit, while Sydney’s Xiao Xiao deliver their dream-pop-meets-punk fusion. The global bill is just as heavy, with Whitney (US), Picture This (Ireland), Lex Amor (UK) and breakout artists like Angela Ken and Maki from the Philippines rounding it out.

And that’s where Johnnie Walker Black Ruby steps in – not just as the Official Whisky Partner of SXSW Sydney 2025, but as the driver of new opportunities for artists. Enter the Walk to Austin Award presented by Johnnie Walker Black Ruby: a one-of-a-kind chance for an emerging Australian act to take their music from the Johnnie Walker Black Ruby House at UTS Underground all the way to SXSW Austin in 2026.

It’s a bold step onto one of the world’s most legendary stages, where names like Dua Lipa, Chance the Rapper and Megan Thee Stallion first cut through. “The Walk to Austin Award is about creating real opportunity,” said Sarah Shimmons, Marketing & Innovation Director, Diageo Australia. “It is our way of supporting the next generation of Australian talent and helping them take a bold step onto the global stage.”

Definitely worth raising a glass (or a can!) to. Try a Johnnie Walker Black Ruby Blackberry & Soda from your nearest Dan Murphy’s or BWS.