KOI Dessert Bar and Benriach Scotch Team Up to Reboot the Hot Cross Bun—With Whisky
If you’ve ever bitten into a hot cross bun and thought, “This could use a bit more whisky,” you’re not alone. Thankfully, KOI Dessert Bar and the whisky wizards at Benriach have done something about it.
Meet the Scotch Cross Bun—a grown-up remix of the Easter classic that trades sultanas for single malt and supermarket packaging for precision patisserie. Available 1–17 April, it’s dropping at KOI’s dessert bars in Sydney and Melbourne, and it’s exactly what your long weekend needs.
This limited-edition treat is built like a bun that went to art school. There’s a spiced vanilla mousse (think cinnamon, nutmeg and the warm hug of nostalgia), plus currants soaked in Benriach The Original Ten—a Speyside single malt known for its layers of orchard fruit, toasted oak and just enough peat to keep things interesting. It’s rich, it’s boozy, and it laughs in the face of anything that comes in a 6-pack from Coles.
For $22, you get the full Scotch Cross Bun experience, plus a little something extra: a complimentary 50ml bottle of Benriach The Original Ten, so you can recreate the pairing at home or just sip it while pretending you're the kind of person who makes your own desserts (we won’t tell).
“We love playing with tradition,” says the KOI team. “Hot cross buns are such a staple, but we saw an opportunity to rework it with a bit of edge—and whisky does that beautifully.”
Benriach’s not just here for decoration either. The distillery—based in the rugged, not-so-desserty landscape of Speyside, Scotland—has made a name for itself by experimenting with different cask types, peated and unpeated expressions, and now, apparently, Easter. “This is whisky doing what it does best,” says Benriach’s Stuart Reeves, “adding depth, flavour, and a bit of surprise where you least expect it.”
You’ll find the Scotch Cross Bun at:
- KOI Chippendale, 6 Central Park Ave, Sydney
- KOI Ryde, Shop 3, 62–66 Blaxland Rd, Ryde
- KOI Melbourne, 100 Queen St, Melbourne
And for those who want to keep the vibe going well past dessert, grab a bottle of Benriach The Original Ten from First Choice Liquor. It’s $85, and it’s the kind of bottle that looks good on your shelf and even better in your glass.
So yes, hot cross buns just got a whisky glow-up. You’re welcome.