It’s been a big year for the Australian bar industry, and we’ve been fortunate to share many of the stories that have come out of it along the way. We profiled newcomers and old hands of the industry, broken the news about new bars, and published some great images along the way. Here we take a look at the year, from January through to December, in pictures.

January

Sydney bar PS40 figured prominently in the nominations for the 2017 Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards, and in our coverage this year thanks to their popups with Nico de Soto, Luke Whearty, Michael Callahan and Celia Schoonraad. But we kicked off the year talking to Livia Lima, the bar’s design director.

We love our contributors to the magazine, and Tom Egerton’s story about chasing Charles H. Baker’s legacy in Hong Kong was one of the big highlights.

We profiled up and coming bar operator Jared Merlino in January, and he would go on to win the title of Bar Operator of the Year at the 2017 Bar Awards.

February

We had a great chat with Kittyhawk manager, Adam Cork, early in the year.

One of our favourite events this year was the What Women Drink event organised by Rachael Hand (above) and bar business big boss, Alex Ross.

The first What Women Drink story, a Q&A by Rachael Hand with Hannah Lawson, was one of the biggest stories of the year.

Dave Kerr, owner of Melbourne bar The Beaufort, would go on to be the Australian Bacardi Legacy champ.

March

Rachael Merritt, from Jangling Jack’s in Sydney, was one of the great bartending finds of the year.

The Indie Spirits Tasting headed west for the first time in March.

April

We caught up with travelling bartender, Nico de Soto.

Our Day in The Life series proved a popular one this year, and this chat with Kurtis Bosley was one of the standouts.

May

The Indie Spirits Tasting returned to Brisbane this year, with a great day out for trade and consumers alike.

Martin Lange’s new bar Savile Row was much anticipated; we broke the news here first.

Ollie Margan is as at the vanguard of the new breed of bartenders doing exceptional things.

June

Phil Bayly is simply the man when it comes to all things agave, m and he took a back road journey through Mexico to discover more about its ancestral spirit, mezcal.

Luke Whearty offered some insight into his creative process in one of the biggest videos we had online this year.

We profiled award-winning cocktail bar, Bulletin Place, five years into operation.

July

The Everleigh has long been one of the most beautiful rooms in the country, and it got even better this year.

Kate McGraw is one of the industry’s most creative, and she shared insights into her process with us in July.

We went on tour with Sailor Jerry to Las Vegas this year, and it was a hell of a trip.

August

We celebrated 200 issues of Australian Bartender in August — no small feat.

This was the year that drinking vinegars went mainstream, and it was great to speak with USA chef Andy Ricker about them.

The former Ramblin’ Rascal bartender has now joined the Kittyhawk ranks; expect big things from the Rookie of the Year finalist in 2018.

September

The 2017 Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards was the biggest yet.

The Indie Spirits Tasting returned to Sydney Bar Week for a third year.

The biennial list of the Most Influential in the industry returned to Sydney Bar Week.

Old Mate’s Place is set to be one of the best openings of 2018.

October

Melbourne bar, Arlechin, has been one of the most talked about openings of the year.

What’s it like to run the 2017 Bar of the Year? Stuart Morrow from the great Baxter Inn knows.

Tiki is back with a vengeance thanks to bars like Jacoby’s.

November

The Bartender of the Year, Daniel Gregory.

We were stoked to hear of the return of Coleman’s Academy this year.

Black Pearl’s Matt Linklater took out the title for the Woodford Reserve Cocktail Competition.

Helvetica, Perth, had a great year at their Small Bar of the Year Awards.

It was a pleasure to speak with tiki author and bar owner, Jeff Berry.

December

The guys. The Most Influential operators of the Swillhouse group, Jason Scott and Anton Forte.

A great look into what it takes to be an owner-operator came from Erin Orlan Raleigh at Jangling Jack’s.

One of the biggest stories of the year, the much anticipated new bar from The Barber Shop owners arrived when The Duke of Clarence opened in November.

The New Bar of the Year, Above Board, one year in.