Winter is here, so warm up your loins with whisky!

Game of Thrones fans will be thrilled to know that Diageo and HBO have joined forces to bring us a Westerosi-worthy collection of whisky. The alcoholic assembly consists of seven Scotch whiskies, with six representing the iconic Houses of Westeros and the seventh standing for the Night’s Watch. To shake up the balance of power among the seven whiskies, Johnny Walker will bring back the White Walker by Johnny Walker for a limited time (only true fans will get the irony in that.).

But wait! There’s more! Sydneysiders and Melbournites can experience the entire collection at their local Mjølner restaurant on Sunday, April 14. Each event at the Norse-inspired, medieval-like restaurants will treat guests to a two-hour tasting of the entire Game of Thrones single malt whisky collection, paired with a selection of delectable artisanal charcuterie and cheeses. Tickets start from $80 and are available now (while they last) at mjolner.com.au. This unique tasting experience is an ideal treat for those wanting to try the full collection before choosing their preferred “house-whisky” and ensuring they have a glass in hand to toast the final season. The collection itself is available at liquor stores nationwide.

Continue reading for our personal experience of the two-hour tasting experience at Mjølner in Sydney, and a detailed rundown of the Game of Thrones whisky collection.

The Experience

On Wednesday, April 3, we got the chance to indulge in the Game of Thrones whisky tasting experience with over 60 other special guests. If you haven’t been to Mjølner in Sydney before, then you’re in for a treat!

Along the bustling Cleveland Street stands a door that refuses to fit in with the surrounding decor. It’s a wooden slab that conjures up images of medieval taverns. A generous push on the door will bring you into the world of Norse mythology.

Spread out within the various rooms are the Houses of Westeros, each dressed in trinkets that match their wild personalities. Swim with the fishes at House Tully, indulge in stag royalty with House Baratheon, tackle the seas with House Greyjoy or pledge allegiance with another house. Each station is manned by a scotch whisky connoisseur who will run through the tasting notes and pairings.

Depending on your preference, much like the actual Houses of Westeros in the television and book series, some are more of an acquired taste. House Lannister, for instance, is a 9-Year-Old Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky that brings out the inner lion with a sharp, smoky flavour. Among the fire are hints of banana, caramel and marshmallow.

Our liquor of choice is House Stark, a highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Dalwhinnie Distillery. Like House Stark, the Dalwhinnie Distillery is a northerner, too, giving an authentic taste of Stark spirit, from their keeping of promises to their underlying vulnerability. Aged in ex-Bourbon casks, this winter’s frost whisky opens up with the sweet tastes of honeyed figs and delicious malt balls, while finishing with a rich fruitcake. And as a nice homage to the cold, harsh, winters at Winterfell, this particular whisky is best served chilled.

This tasting experience is not to be missed if you’re both a huge fan of the series and an aficionado of scotch whisky. Indulge your senses in this wild underworld at Mjølner, featuring not only all the Houses of Westeros and their whisky pairings, but also the medieval vibe that Mjølner exhibits. Because there’s no greater place to showcase the Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky collection.

Speaking of collections…

The Collection

Much like the kingdoms in Westeros, Diageo’s diverse range of distilleries in Scotland, each have their own unique characteristics and produce a distinctive whisky representative of its local territory. These similarities were the inspiration behind the collection, drawing an authentic storyline between each House and single malt pairing.

If you’re looking for inspiration on which whiskies to collect, there is no shortage of details behind each iconic pairing. For example, House Targaryen – Cardhu Gold Reserve is fuelled by the same fiery spirit of the fierce female leadership of Daenerys Targaryen, celebrating legendary women and their unwavering perseverance. The Cardhu Distillery was pioneered by Helen Cumming and her daughter-in-law Elizabeth during the 1800s – a time when the whisky industry was almost entirely male-dominated.

Meanwhile, royal lineage drives the iconic pairing for House Baratheon – Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old. Similar to Robert Baratheon ruling the Seven Kingdoms upon the Iron Throne, Royal Lochnagar was deemed a whisky worthy of a royal family as it was granted a Royal Warrant after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the distillery in 1848.

Game of Thrones whisky collection. Image: Supplied

Collect all seven whiskies while stocks last, available for purchase at liquor stores nationwide. The list of 8 whiskies include:

• House Stark – Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost; RRP: $99.99 for 700ml; ABV 43%
• House Tully – Singleton of Glendullan Select; RRP: $99.99 for 700ml; ABV 40%
• House Targaryen – Cardhu Gold Reserve; RRP: $99.99 for 700ml; ABV 40%
• House Lannister – Lagavulin 9 Year Old; RRP: $129.99 for 700ml; ABV 46%
• The Night’s Watch – Oban Bay Reserve; RRP: $129.99 for 700ml; ABV 43%
• House Greyjoy – Talisker Select Reserve; RRP: $99.99 for 700ml; ABV 45.8%
• House Baratheon – Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old; RRP: $129.99 for 700ml; ABV 40%
• White Walker by Johnnie Walker – RRP: $64.99 for 700ml; ABV 41.7%