With just seven weeks until Sydney Bar Week (September 17-20 2016) kicks off, it’s time to unveil the biggest Bar Week timetable of events yet.
It’s just not September in Sydney without Bar Week, the annual event that brings the Australian bar industry together to celebrate, party, network and learn. The industry has come a long way since September 2002 when the first BarShow was held. Times have sure changed — BarShow became Sydney Bar Week, and those four days have been a drawcard for the industry’s best and brightest to gather in Sydney every year since.
To book tickets and to find out more, click here to check out the full Sydney Bar Week timetable at barweek.com.au, and take a look at the events planned so far below.
Saturday 17 September
Big Gin, Small Gin Seminar
2pm – 4pm, September 17, 2016
THE BARBER SHOP, York Street, Sydney
Big Gin, Small Gin Seminar was created for Tales of the Cocktail 2016 and is coming to Sydney for Bar Week.
Raj Nagra (Global Bombay Brand Ambassador) will be Moderating a panel of Gin Experts (TBC) to find out If size does really matter! Topics discussed will include: Craft/Boutique vs Large Scale Distilleries, Botanical usage, Experimental Gins, Sustainability and more. Tickets are $45.
Click here to book your tickets before they sell out.
Bar Week Launch Party hosted by ‘The House of Bombay’
6pm – 8pm, September 17, 2016
THE BARBER SHOP, York Street, Sydney
Join us to celebrate the launch of Bar Week 2016. We’ll be sharing the Juniper love with 2 Complimentary Cocktails served by a stellar line up: Special guest Raj Nagra (Bombay Global Brand Ambassador), Loy Catada (Brand Ambassador), Sean Forsyth (Brand Ambassador), Mike Enright (The Barber Shop Director), David Nguyen-Luu (The Barber Shop General Manager).
Email rsvp@thisisthebarbershop.com for tickets.
Sunday 18 September
Tio’s Bartender Brunch
10.30am – 12.30pm, September 18, 2016
TIO’S CERVECERIA, Foster Street, Surry Hills
Think Dutch still life meets Oaxacan palenque. We’ll be working with our newest incumbent, Ghostboy Cantina, to put on a share-style feast. 10 to a table and a few whole beasts is the brief. Consider it a little thanks for everyone for pushing agave for the last the year.
RSVP: Invite only, contact Tio’s and visit the Facebook page here.
Indie Tasting Sydney
12pm – 4.30pm, September 18, 2016
FRANKIE’S PIZZA BY THE SLICE, Hunter Street, Sydney
Come down to Frankie’s and check out more than 40 suppliers & 120 different artisan and independent spirit brands. With 6 free seminars and tickets for only $40 online, this event is not to be missed. Open to both trade and consumers.
Book your Indie Tasting tickets here — limited tickets available.
Tiki Face Off Challenge
4pm – 8.30pm, September 18, 2016
CLIFF DIVE, Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
The Rum Club Australia presents Tiki Face Off Challenge. If your bar team things you have the pineapples to challenge for the tastiest and most outrageous tiki drinks, then this is the competition for you. Give Tom Bulmer a holler at tom@thesocialspirits.com if you want to get involved.
The Aperitivo: An Italian tale
5.30pm – 8pm, September 18, 2016
MAYBE FRANK, Bourke street, Surry Hills
Join the most incredible panel of experts in italian Drinking culture discuss the history of the Italian aperitivo and the families and brands that made Italy great in the world. Oh, forgot to mention, drinks are on us! Kindly brought to you by Carpano, Disaronno, Campari, Martini, Aperol, Fernet, Oscar697 & Montenegro.
RSVP: matt.fabbris@gmail.com
Idiot Savant Prizes
8pm – late, September 18, 2016
LOCATION: Stay Tuned! Announce on the FB Page soon.
Celebrating the inglorious and unsung hero’s of our industry for the fourth year, join us while we praise and persecute some of our dearest and most talented colleagues, our Idiot Savants of the industry
RSVP info: No Vote, No Entry. Keep updated by liking the FB page.
Monday 19 September
Bartender of the Year Rounds 1 & 2
Round 1 – 10.30am – 1pm; Round 2 – 2pm – 5pm, September 19, 2016
RAMBLIN’ RASCAL TAVERN
Head down to Ramblin’ Rascal for the written exam followed by the mystery round of the Bartender of the Year Competition sponsored by Bacardi and De Kuyper. More than 100 bartenders will be whittled down to 8 who will compete live on stage at the Bar Awards. Email sam@spantonmedia.com if you haven’t entered.
Business of Bars Conference
12pm – 4.30pm, September 19, 2016
THE WHISKY ROOM @ THE CLOCK, SURRY HILLS
The annual Business of Bars Conference has gained a loyal following over the years and repeatedly sells out. Join bar industry professionals and operators and discover the secrets of running a successful bar business. Tickets on sale now — click here to get yours.
Inaugural Bottled Cocktail Invitational
12pm – 3pm, September 19, 2016
DEAD RINGER, Bourke Street, Surry Hills
The IBCI will be held to celebrate the nominees for Australian Cocktail Bar of the Year. Each nominee (besides Dead Ringer and Bulletin Place) will have the opportunity to submit their pitch for the best bottled cocktail in the country.
Entry on the day: $20 – includes voting tokens and a beer.
RSVP: to tim@deadringer.wtf or 0430 820 220 by 26th August if you want to be a part of the event.
Coleman’s Academy Panel
2.30pm onwards, September 19, 2016
RESTAURANT HUBERT, Bligh Street, Sydney
Launched in 2015, the Coleman’s Academy is a mentoring program where women in the hospitality industry come together once a month to communicate, inspire and educate. The doors will be open to both women and men to listen to a collective of strong females across several industries discuss a broad range of issues – both gender related and not. Guests are welcome to become a part of the discussion during the Q&A following the panel’s discourse. Tickets will be $10 a pop — click here to get yours.
Premiumisation of Rum & Exclusive Facundo Range Tasting
5pm – 6.30pm, September 19, 2016
THE LOBO PLANTATION, Clarence Street, Sydney
Join the Bacardi Martini team for a tasting of the premium Facundo range, with an emphasis on some premium drops such as the Bacardi Grand Reserva Ocho Anos which was previously reserved for the Bacardi Family. The Top 8 of the Bartender of the Year will also be announce here.
RSVP by invitation only. Numbers are strictly limited.
Disaronno presents: Simon Difford
6pm – 8pm, September 19, 2016
THE CHAMPAGNE ROOM @ THE WINERY, Crown Street, Surry Hills
Simon Difford, author of the Difford’s Guide, is the world’s most famous bar critic. Join him and the Disaronno team in discovering what makes “great bars great”, what the “next style of mixing is going to be” and meet the most promising drink offering from the winners of the Mixing Star program 2016.
RSVP: mfabbris@spiritsplatform.com.au
Bourbon Street presented by The Blend by Beam Suntory
8pm – 10pm
September 19, 2016
Location: TBC
Bourbon St comes alive, Live music, Bourbon delights, New Orleans inspired food matched with a night of bartending shenanigans.
RSVP: FB Page is on the way… stay tuned.
28 Hong Kong Street at Henrietta
10pm till 3am, September 19, 2016
HENRIETTA SUPPER CLUB, Victoria Road, Darlinghurst
Maison Ferrand & Plantation Rum are proud to present the team from 28 Hong Kong
Street in Sydney for one night only! Join the 28 HKS team at Henrietta Supper Club (nominatedfor Bartender’s Bar at this year’s bar awards) for a true taste of Singapore!present the team from 28 Hong Kong Street in Sydney for one night only! Join the 28 HKS team at Henrietta Supper Club (nominated in for Bartender’s Bar at this year’s bar awards) for a true taste of Singapore! Entry is free.
Tuesday 20 September
Academy of Bartenders 2016 in association with Bartender Magazine
12pm – 4pm
September 20, 2016
VENUE TBC
Academy of Bartenders is proud to present our first event as part of Sydney Bar Week. We’ll be presenting four amazing speakers talking about the world of Whisky, Rum, Tequila and Gin. Join us for an unforgettable day of learning!
More info coming soon.
Tequila and Stories from South of the Border by Tomas Estes
2pm – 4pm, September 20, 2016
BIG POPPA’S, Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
Internationally renowned Tequila aficianado, Tomas Estes will introduce Ocho tequila’s new 750ml packaging and talk about the latest and upcoming vintages. Accompanied by a cheese matching from Big Poppa’s larder. Numbers strictly limited.
RSVP: Essential. Email andy@vanguardluxurybrands.com
Bartender of the Year Final Round, 7pm – 11pm
September 20, 2016
DOLTONE HOUSE
The final round of the Bartender of the Year Competition sponsored by Bacardi and De Kuyper will be held live on stage at the 16th Annual Bar Awards. Eight of Australia’s finest bartenders will have to prep two signature drinks in front of 600 people. Fasten your seatbelts!
16th Annual Bartender Magazine Bar Awards
5.30pm – 11.30pm, September 20, 2016
DOLTONE HOUSE
Known as the ‘Oscars’ of the bar industry, more than 600 of the industry’s leading professionals gather at Sydney’s Doltone House in Pyrmont for some general congratulations, a lot of mingling and of course, the distribution of some pretty important awards, as voted by the trade for the trade.
Make sure you get your tickets early by clicking here for the form — it’s always a sell out event!
Bar Awards After Party – Disco Fever
11.30pm till late, September 20, 2016
CLIFF DIVE, Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
The Bar Awards never ends with the final award. Prepare yourself to kick on until the wee hours of the morning at the official Bar Awards After Party. And this year the theme is disco. With a disco dance competition and a chance to be crowned Australian 2016 Disco Champ, the awards just don’t stop!
More info to come.