Nearly 700 industry professionals packed Doltone House in Pyrmont last night for the announcement of the 21st Annual Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards. It was a long time coming and the industry was visibly excited to be able to dress up and join their peers in a night of celebration and congratulations on the back of more than two years of COVD lockdowns.
Bar Awards founder, David Spanton said: “The goodwill and positive energy that has surrounded Sydney Bar Week 2022, really ramped up for this final event. We couldn’t have been prouder to see the way the bar industry came back together to celebrate a triumphant return after what has been a brutal few years.”
While winning is always great fun, the joy of being back together was really the highlight of the event. With that being said, there are always some great celebrations, when people get to take home the silverware. Just some of the highlight winners on the night included Jay Cozma from The Baxter Inn taking out the Bar Manager of the Year award, Dylan Howarth and his team from Fortunate Son winning Bar of the Year and the folks from Rude Boy in Hobart taking out the Rum Bar of the Year award. It was also great to see the response to Loic Mouchelin and his team from Santé Cocktail Bar in Toowoomba winning best regional bar.
The top three competitors in the Bartender of the Year competition sponsored by Hendrick’s & Monkey Shoulder also competed live on stage. Priscilla Leong, just the second woman to take out the title, was triumphant after many years of competing.
For a full list of winners, see below and check out all the action from the event on our Instagram @australianbartender and @sydneybarweek for speeches, photos and more.
Outstanding contribution
Proudly presented by Bartender magazine
Martin Lange, Cobbler, Death & Taxes & Dr Gimlette
Bartender of the Year
Winner: Priscilla Leong, The Flowing Bowl
2nd Place: Liam Shephard, Bar Brutus, Brisbane
3rd Place: Kate Bartlett, Cobbler, Brisbane
Bar of the Year
Sponsored by Jagermeister
Fortunate Son, Enmore, NSW
Pub of the Year
Proudly sponsored by ALM
Goldy’s Tavern, Melbourne, VIC
Nightclub of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Patron
Bar Bambi, Melbourne, VIC
New Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Lyre’s
Bar Planet, Enmore, NSW
Wine Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Unico Zelo Wines
Sonny, Hobart, Tas
Bar Operator of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Campari Academy
Swillhouse, NSW
Best Specialty Beer Venue
Proudly sponsored by Young Henry’s
Odd Culture, Newtown, NSW
Bar Team of the Year
Proudly Sponsored by FORDS Gin
Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne, VIC
Brand Ambassador of the Year
Proudly presented by Bartender magazine
Shay Chamberlain, Never Never Distilling Co.
Host of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Glenfiddich
Natalie Ng, Door Knock, Sydney
Best Bartenders Bar
Proudly sponsored by De Kuyper
Hats & Tatts, Melbourne
Best Live Music Venue
Proudly Sponsored by Sailor Jerry
Memphis Slims House of Blues, Adelaide, SA
Training Program of the Year
Proudly presented by Bartender magazine
Campari Academy
Cocktail List of the Year
Proudly presented by Moet Hennessy
Maybe Sammy ‘Stardust’, Sydney, NSW
Cocktail Bar of the Year
Proudly presented by Campari Academy
Above Board, Collingwood, Melbourne
Hotel Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by The Blend by Beam Suntory
Dean & Nancy on 22, Sydney, NSW
Gin Bar of the Year
Proudly presented by Hendrick’s Gin
Moya’s Juniper Lounge, Redfern, NSW
Best Distillery Bar
Proudly presented by Fever-Tree
Hickson House Distilling Co, Sydney, NSW
Best Bar Food
Proudly presented by Moet Hennessy
Alba Bar & Deli, Brisbane
Best Brewery Bar
Proudly sponsored by Jagermeister
BODRIGGY BREWING COMPANY, MELBOURNE
Bar Manager of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Pernod Ricard
Jay Cozma, The Baxter Inn, Sydney
Whisky Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Glenfiddich
The Baxter Inn, Sydney, NSW
Small Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Ketel One
Double Deuce Lounge, Sydney
Rum Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Bacardi Rum
Rude Boy, Hobart, TAS
Tequila Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Tequila Patron
Cantina OK!, Sydney, NSW
Restaurant Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Hendrick’s Gin
Pearl Diver Cocktails & Oyster, Melbourne, VIC
Rookie of the Year
Proudly sponsored by The Blend
Martin McConnell, Frog’s Hollow, Brisbane OR
Regional Bar of the Year
Proudly sponsored by Bacardi Rum
SANTÉ, Toowoomba, QLD
STATE AWARDS
Bar of the Year
Sponsored by Lyre’s
ACT: Bar Rochford
NSW: Fortunate Son
NT: Smoke & Oak
QLD: Alba Bar & Deli
SA: Memphis Slims House of Blues
TAS: Sonny Bar
VIC: Caretaker’s Cottage
WA: Foxtrot Unicorn
Cocktail Bar of the Year
Sponsored by FORDS
ACT: High Jinks
NSW: Double Deuce Lounge
NT: Hanky Panky Lounge
QLD: Death & Taxes
SA: Maybe Mae
TAS: Rude Boy
VIC: Above Board
WA: Bar Rogue