It’s been a long wait. You, the Australian bar industry, have had your say over three months of voting (and a year’s hiatus), and now the results are in: these are the finalists for the 20th annual Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards.
These are strange times, that’s for sure, so we hope that this list of finalists (with 12 in most categories) brings a smile to many faces around the country.
The Bar Awards will take place on Tuesday the 21st of September this year at Doltone House, and is just one of the 30-plus events in store for Sydney Bar Week this year, which takes place from September 19th to 21st — click here to visit the barweek.com.au and check out the full timetable.
And if you’re a finalist in this year’s awards, you can book your tickets now, by simply clicking here and downloading the form. Tickets are exclusively available for sponsors and the bar trade. And if, for COVID-related reasons, the Bar Awards can’t go ahead, tickets will be fully refundable.
To all the finalists: congratulations! We’ll see you in September at the Bar Awards.
Bar Operator of the Year Proudly sponsored by The Exchange by CCAAlex Dowd & Jeremy Blackmore, Tio’s & Cantina OK!, NSW Barrelhouse Group, NSW Dimitri Rtshiladze, Foxtrot Unicorn, WA Drunken Monkey Group, QLD Jacob Goss, Rum Diary & Hooch, VIC/ Rum Diary Newcastle, NSW Made in the Shade, VIC Martin Lange, Cobbler, Death & Taxes, Savile Row, QLD Natalie Ng, Door Knock, NSW Speakeasy Group, NSW & VIC Stefano Catino, Maybe Sammy, Sammy Jnr, Dean & Nancy on 22, NSW Swillhouse, NSW The Hospo Group Cairns, QLD
Alex Dowd & Jeremy Blackmore, Tio’s & Cantina OK!, NSW
Barrelhouse Group, NSW
Dimitri Rtshiladze, Foxtrot Unicorn, WA
Drunken Monkey Group, QLD
Jacob Goss, Rum Diary & Hooch, VIC/ Rum Diary Newcastle, NSW
Made in the Shade, VIC
Martin Lange, Cobbler, Death & Taxes, Savile Row, QLD
Natalie Ng, Door Knock, NSW
Speakeasy Group, NSW & VIC
Stefano Catino, Maybe Sammy, Sammy Jnr, Dean & Nancy on 22, NSW
Swillhouse, NSW
The Hospo Group Cairns, QLD
Cocktail List of the Year Proudly sponsored by Moet HennessyAbove Board, VIC Byrdi, VIC Cantina OK!, NSW Death & Taxes, QLD Double Deuce Lounge, NSW Maybe Mae, SA Maybe Sammy, NSW Nick & Nora’s Melbourne, VIC PS40, NSW RE, NSW The Cumberland Manly, NSW The Everleigh, VIC
Above Board, VIC
Byrdi, VIC
Cantina OK!, NSW
Death & Taxes, QLD
Double Deuce Lounge, NSW
Maybe Mae, SA
Maybe Sammy, NSW
Nick & Nora’s Melbourne, VIC
PS40, NSW
RE, NSW
The Cumberland Manly, NSW
The Everleigh, VIC
Cocktail Bar of the Year Proudly sponsored by De KuyperAbove Board, VIC Black Pearl, VIC Byrdi, VIC Charlie Parker’s, NSW PS40, NSW The Everleigh, VIC Maybe Mae, SA Maybe Sammy, NSW Apollonia, NSW The Cumberland, NSW RE, NSW Romeo Lane, VIC
Above Board, VIC
Black Pearl, VIC
Byrdi, VIC
Charlie Parker’s, NSW
PS40, NSW
The Everleigh, VIC
Maybe Mae, SA
Maybe Sammy, NSW
Apollonia, NSW
The Cumberland, NSW
RE, NSW
Romeo Lane, VIC
Bar of the Year Proudly sponsored by Campari AustraliaBar Margaux, VIC Beneath Driver Lane, VIC Burrow Bar, NSW Double Deuce Lounge, NSW Fortunate Son, NSW Foxtrot Unicorn, WA Jangling Jacks, NSW Memphis Slims, SA Nick & Nora’s Melbourne The Baxter Inn, NSW The Duke of Clarence, NSW The Gresham, QLD
Bar Margaux, VIC
Beneath Driver Lane, VIC
Burrow Bar, NSW
Double Deuce Lounge, NSW
Fortunate Son, NSW
Foxtrot Unicorn, WA
Jangling Jacks, NSW
Memphis Slims, SA
Nick & Nora’s Melbourne
The Baxter Inn, NSW
The Duke of Clarence, NSW
The Gresham, QLD
New Bar of the Year Proudly sponsored by Hendrick's Gin
Apollonia, NSW Bar Margaux, VIC Dean & Nancy on 22, NSW Double Deuce Lounge, NSW Fortunate Son, NSW Foxtrot Unicorn, WA High Jinks, ACT Nick & Nora’s Melbourne, VIC Re, NSW The Cumberland, NSW The Gidley, NSW Will's at Coogee Pavilion, NSW
Rookie of the Year Proudly sponsored by The Blend by Beam SuntoryDane Solly, 18th Amendment Bar Ballarat, VIC Edoardo Braci, Will’s at Coogee Pavilion, NSW Fred Mundy, El Grotto, WA Grace Rawlins, Memphis Slims House of Blues, SA Jacob Ransom, NOLA Smokehouse & Bar, NSW Jay Heart, Evolve Spirits Bar, TAS Johnny Truong, Smoke & Oak, NT Julie Restrepo, Hains & Co., SA Kate Bartlett, Cobbler, QLD Liam Gavin, Door Knock, NSW Meg Litherland, PS40, NSW Storm Evans, Cantina OK!, NSW
Dane Solly, 18th Amendment Bar Ballarat, VIC
Edoardo Braci, Will’s at Coogee Pavilion, NSW
Fred Mundy, El Grotto, WA
Grace Rawlins, Memphis Slims House of Blues, SA
Jacob Ransom, NOLA Smokehouse & Bar, NSW
Jay Heart, Evolve Spirits Bar, TAS
Johnny Truong, Smoke & Oak, NT
Julie Restrepo, Hains & Co., SA
Kate Bartlett, Cobbler, QLD
Liam Gavin, Door Knock, NSW
Meg Litherland, PS40, NSW
Storm Evans, Cantina OK!, NSW
Best Sustainable Bar Program Proudly sponsored by ecoSPIRITSBirths & Deaths, NSW Byrdi, VIC Charlie Parker, NSW Ends & Means, VIC Maybe Mae, SA Re, NSW
Births & Deaths, NSW
Byrdi, VIC
Charlie Parker, NSW
Ends & Means, VIC
Maybe Mae, SA
Re, NSW
Pub of the Year Proudly sponsored by Campari Academy
Host of the Year Proudly Sponsored by Monkey ShoulderAna Mitchell, 18th Amendment Bar Geelong, VIC Carmen Ianni, Palmer & Co., NSW Chau Tran, Burrow Bar, NSW Daniel Hilton, The Lobo, NSW Ethan Taitoko, Old Mate’s Place, NSW Hayden Lambert, Above Board, VIC Isabella Larcombe, High Jinks, ACT Kayla Grigoriou, Bar Torino, SA Olivia Rockwell, Continental Deli CBD, NSW Pete Ehemann, The Cumberland, Manly, NSW Stefano Catino, Maybe Sammy, NSW
Ana Mitchell, 18th Amendment Bar Geelong, VIC
Carmen Ianni, Palmer & Co., NSW
Chau Tran, Burrow Bar, NSW
Daniel Hilton, The Lobo, NSW
Ethan Taitoko, Old Mate’s Place, NSW
Hayden Lambert, Above Board, VIC
Isabella Larcombe, High Jinks, ACT
Kayla Grigoriou, Bar Torino, SA
Olivia Rockwell, Continental Deli CBD, NSW
Pete Ehemann, The Cumberland, Manly, NSW
Stefano Catino, Maybe Sammy, NSW
Small Bar of the Year Proudly sponsored by Moet Hennessy
Bar Manager of the Year Proudly sponsored by FORDS GINDamien Kos-Beckwith, 18th Amendment Bar, VIC Emma Crisp, El Grotto, WA Evan Stroeve, Re, NSW Jacob Cohen, Savile Row, QLD James Irvine, Four Pillars Laboratory, NSW Kayla Reid, Nick & Nora’s Melbourne, VIC Mary White, The Lobo, NSW Noriel Calub, High Jinks, ACT Ollie Howe, Mindil Beach Casino, NT Petr Dvoracek, The Cumberland, NSW Shirley Yeung, Fotrot Unicorn, WA Steve McDermott, The Duke of Clarence, NSW
Damien Kos-Beckwith, 18th Amendment Bar, VIC
Emma Crisp, El Grotto, WA
Evan Stroeve, Re, NSW
Jacob Cohen, Savile Row, QLD
James Irvine, Four Pillars Laboratory, NSW
Kayla Reid, Nick & Nora’s Melbourne, VIC
Mary White, The Lobo, NSW
Noriel Calub, High Jinks, ACT
Ollie Howe, Mindil Beach Casino, NT
Petr Dvoracek, The Cumberland, NSW
Shirley Yeung, Fotrot Unicorn, WA
Steve McDermott, The Duke of Clarence, NSW
Regional Bar of the Year Proudly sponsored by The Blend by Beam Suntory18th Amendment Bar Geelong, VIC Births & Deaths Wollongong, NSW Blue Kahunas Newcastle, NSW Coal & Cedar Newcastle, NSW Dulcie’s Cottage Merimbula, NSW Flamingo’s Tiki Bar Cairns, QLD High Jinks Canberra ACT Hooch & Fellow Townsville QLD Howlin’ Wolf Wollongong, NSW Rosella’s Gold Coast, QLD The Rum Diary Bar Newcastle, NSW Three Wolves Cairns, QLD
18th Amendment Bar Geelong, VIC
Births & Deaths Wollongong, NSW
Blue Kahunas Newcastle, NSW
Coal & Cedar Newcastle, NSW
Dulcie’s Cottage Merimbula, NSW
Flamingo’s Tiki Bar Cairns, QLD
High Jinks Canberra ACT
Hooch & Fellow Townsville QLD
Howlin’ Wolf Wollongong, NSW
Rosella’s Gold Coast, QLD
The Rum Diary Bar Newcastle, NSW
Three Wolves Cairns, QLD
Bar Team of the Year Proudly sponsored by The ExchangeAbove Board, VIC Black Pearl, VIC Burrow Bar, NSW Cantina OK!, NSW Door Knock, NSW Double Deuce Lounge, NSW Maybe Mae, SA Maybe Sammy, NSW Mechanics Institute, WA Old Mate’s Place, NSW Re, NSW The 18th Amendment Bar Geelong, VIC
Best Specialty Beer Venue Proudly Sponsored by Young HenrysBeer Mash, VIC Bitter Phew, NSW Bloodhound Corner Bar, QLD Boilermaker House, VIC Brewski Bar, QLD Cookie, VIC Frankie’s Pizza, NSW Keg & Brew, NSW Mr West, VIC NOLA, SA Petition Beer Corner, WA The Local Taphouse, NSW
Beer Mash, VIC
Bitter Phew, NSW
Bloodhound Corner Bar, QLD
Boilermaker House, VIC
Brewski Bar, QLD
Cookie, VIC
Frankie’s Pizza, NSW
Keg & Brew, NSW
Mr West, VIC
NOLA, SA
Petition Beer Corner, WA
The Local Taphouse, NSW
Brand Ambassador of the Year Proudly sponsored by Bartender magazineAlice Newport, Pernod Ricard Brendan Scott Grey, The Exchange Cameron Pirret, CCA Garth Foster, Moet-Hennessy Georgina Mann, Bacardi Martini Australia Geraint David, Southtrade International Grant Shearon, Brown-Forman Hayley Dixon, Proximo Spirits James Irvine, Four Pillars Krystal Hart, Diageo Luke Sanderson, Hendrick’s Gin Ross Blainey, Glenfiddich & The Balvenie Sai Merchant, Diplomatico Rum Tristram Lilburne-Fini, Campari Australia
Alice Newport, Pernod Ricard
Brendan Scott Grey, The Exchange
Cameron Pirret, CCA
Garth Foster, Moet-Hennessy
Georgina Mann, Bacardi Martini Australia
Geraint David, Southtrade International
Grant Shearon, Brown-Forman
Hayley Dixon, Proximo Spirits
James Irvine, Four Pillars
Krystal Hart, Diageo
Luke Sanderson, Hendrick’s Gin
Ross Blainey, Glenfiddich & The Balvenie
Sai Merchant, Diplomatico Rum
Tristram Lilburne-Fini, Campari Australia
Training Program of the Year Proudly presented by Bartender magazineAnanas Campari Academy Diageo Bar Academy Fine Drinks Movement Rums of the Caribbean by Bacardi Martini The Blend/ The Exchange by Beam Suntory & CCA JERRY by Proof & Company
Hotel Bar of the Year Proudly Sponsored by De Kuyper
Bentley Bar at The Radisson, NSW
Evolve Spirts Bar at Macq01 Hotel, TAS
Flaggerdoot, Jackelope Hotel, VIC
Grain, Four Seasons, NSW
Hennessy Bar, Mayfair Hotel, SA
IXL Long Bar, Henry Jones Art Hotel, TAS
Lui Bar, The Rialto, VIC
Miss Moneypenny’s Broadbeach, Avani Hotel, QLD
Monster Kitchen & Bar, Ovolo Nishi, ACT
Rooftop Bar at QT, VIC
Shadow Wine Bar, The Alex, WA
Zeta Bar at Hilton Hotel, NSW
Tequila Bar of the Year Proudly sponsored by ArquitectoBarrio Cellar, NSW Bodega Underground, VIC Caballitos, WA Cantina OK!, NSW El Grotto, WA Esteban, NSW Hot Tamale, NT Mamasita, VIC Mejico, NSW Mesa Verde, VIC Pancho Villa, TAS Tio’s Cerveceria, NSW
Barrio Cellar, NSW
Bodega Underground, VIC
Caballitos, WA
Cantina OK!, NSW
El Grotto, WA
Esteban, NSW
Hot Tamale, NT
Mamasita, VIC
Mejico, NSW
Mesa Verde, VIC
Pancho Villa, TAS
Tio’s Cerveceria, NSW
Whisky Bar of the Year Proudly sponsored by GlenfiddichBar Lafayette, WA Boilermaker House, VIC Cobbler, QLD Death & Taxes, QLD Evolve Spirits Bar, TAS NOLA Smokehouse & Bar, NSW The Baxter Inn, NSW The Doss House, NSW The Elysian Whisky Bar, VIC The Gresham, QLD Varnish on King, WA Whisky & Alement, VIC
Bar Lafayette, WA
Boilermaker House, VIC
Cobbler, QLD
Death & Taxes, QLD
Evolve Spirits Bar, TAS
NOLA Smokehouse & Bar, NSW
The Baxter Inn, NSW
The Doss House, NSW
The Elysian Whisky Bar, VIC
The Gresham, QLD
Varnish on King, WA
Whisky & Alement, VIC
Rum Bar of the Year Proudly sponsored by Bacardi RumBurrow Bar, NSW Flamingo’s Tiki Bar, QLD Grandma’s, NSW Hains & Co., SA Hula Bula, WA Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, NSW Rude Boy, TAS Rum Bar Airlie Beach, QLD Sneaky Tony's, WA The Lobo, NSW The Palm Royale, VIC The Rum Diary Bar, VIC
Burrow Bar, NSW
Flamingo’s Tiki Bar, QLD
Grandma’s, NSW
Hains & Co., SA
Hula Bula, WA
Jacoby’s Tiki Bar, NSW
Rude Boy, TAS
Rum Bar Airlie Beach, QLD
Sneaky Tony's, WA
The Lobo, NSW
The Palm Royale, VIC
The Rum Diary Bar, VIC
Gin Bar of the Year Proudly sponsored by FORDS ginBar Torino, SA Covent Garden, QLD Dutch Courage, QLD Frisk, WA Gin Lane, NSW Gin Palace, VIC Hains & Co, SA Moya’s Juniper Lounge, NSW Society Salamanca, TAS The Barber Shop, NSW Union Electric, VIC W Churchill, WA
Restaurant Bar of the Year Proudly sponsored by Drambuie LiqueurAlberto’s Lounge, NSW Bar Margaux, VIC Big Poppa's, NSW Bistecca, NSW Capitano, VIC Continental Deli Bar & Bistro CBD, NSW Dead Ringer, NSW Long Chim, WA Mjolner Sydney, NSW NOLA Smokehouse & Bar, NSW Restaurant Hubert, NSW The Gidley, NSW
Alberto’s Lounge, NSW
Bar Margaux, VIC
Big Poppa's, NSW
Bistecca, NSW
Capitano, VIC
Continental Deli Bar & Bistro CBD, NSW
Dead Ringer, NSW
Long Chim, WA
Mjolner Sydney, NSW
NOLA Smokehouse & Bar, NSW
Restaurant Hubert, NSW
The Gidley, NSW
Best Live Music Venue Proudly Sponsored by Bacardi RumBeneath Driver Lane, VIC Black Bear Lodge, QLD Brooklyn Standard, QLD Cherry Bar, VIC Cry Baby Bar, SA Donny's Manly, NSW Frankie’s Pizza, NSW Lefty's Music Hall, QLD Memphis Slims House of Blues, SA Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern, NSW Shady Pines Saloon, NSW Suzie Wong’s Good Time Bar, QLD
Best Bartenders' Bar Proudly sponsored by JägermeisterBlack Pearl, VIC Brooklyn Standard, QLD Cantina OK!, NSW Cry Baby Bar, SA Hats & Tatts, VIC Heartbreaker, VIC Howlin’ Wolf Wollongong, NSW Mechanics Institute, WA Old Mate’s Place, NSW Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern, NSW Shady Pines Saloon, NSW Spleen, VIC
Black Pearl, VIC
Brooklyn Standard, QLD
Cantina OK!, NSW
Cry Baby Bar, SA
Hats & Tatts, VIC
Heartbreaker, VIC
Howlin’ Wolf Wollongong, NSW
Mechanics Institute, WA
Old Mate’s Place, NSW
Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern, NSW
Shady Pines Saloon, NSW
Spleen, VIC
Wine Bar of the Year Proudly sponsored by Unico Zelo10 William St, NSW Annata, NSW Arlechin, VIC Bar Liberty, VIC Bar Rochford, ACT Big Poppa’s, NSW City Wine Shop, VIC Dear Sainte Eloise, NSW Embla, VIC Hellbound, SA Poly, NSW Willing Bros Wine Merchants, TAS
10 William St, NSW
Annata, NSW
Arlechin, VIC
Bar Liberty, VIC
Bar Rochford, ACT
Big Poppa’s, NSW
City Wine Shop, VIC
Dear Sainte Eloise, NSW
Embla, VIC
Hellbound, SA
Poly, NSW
Willing Bros Wine Merchants, TAS
Bar of the Year State ACT – High Jinks, Bar Rochford, Hippo Co., Molly NSW – The Baxter Inn, Old Mate’s Place, Fortunate Son, Duke of Clarence, Jangling Jacks NT – Hot Tamale, Snapper Rocks, Sandbar, Smoke & Oak QLD – The Gresham, Cobbler, Alba Bar & Deli, Brooklyn Standard, Savile Row SA – Memphis Slims House of Blues, Maybe Mae, Hains & Co, Bar Torino, Cry Baby TAS – Rude Boy, Gold Bar, Evolve Spirits Bar VIC – Bar Margaux, Bad Frankie, Black Pearl, Rum Diary Bar, Union Electric WA – Mechanics Institute, Foxtrot Unicorn, Neon Palms, Varnish on King
Cocktail Bar of the Year State ACT – Molly, Bar Rochford, Highball Express, High Jinks NSW – Maybe Sammy, Charlie Parker’s, PS40, The Cumberland, Apollonia, Re, Burrow Bar, Double Deuce Lounge NT – Smoke & Oak, Hot Tamale, Chow QLD – Death & Taxes, Savile Row, Maker, Cielo Rooftop SA – Maybe Mae, Hains & Co, Anchovy Bandit, Bar Torino TAS – Evolve Spirits Bar, Void Bar @ MONA, The Story Bar, Rude Boy, IXL Long Bar VIC – Byrdi, Above Board, Romeo Lane, The Everleigh, Eau de Vie Melbourne, Nick & Nora’s Melbourne WA – Neon Palms, Bar Lafayette, Foxtrot Unicorn
Covid Hero Award Proudly presented by JägermeisterCOVID-19 EAD The Melbourne-based team, founded by Jason 'Jackie' Chan, have supported the hospitality community through COVID
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION Proudly presented by William Grant & SonsNatalie Ng, Door Knock
Natalie Ng, Door Knock