And just like that, we’re back. 2026 has arrived. After a short break this issue looks ahead to what’s shaping bars right now – and where the energy is coming from next.
Which brings us to the cover. Espolòn Tequila Cocktail Fights is officially coming to Australia, and it’s exactly the kind of chaos the industry needs. Think fight camps, regional battles and a national final to crown the country’s top bartender. It’s loud, competitive, and unapologetically high-energy – get the full story on page 22.
A big theme running through the issue is ritual. Conversations sparked at Suntory Oceania’s Rituals event and echoed by Grey Goose Global Director of Brand Experience Joe McCanta point to a shift that feels obvious once you see it: people aren’t just choosing drinks first anymore. They’re choosing moments. Occasions, emotions, celebrations. After years of caution and uncertainty, fun is back on the menu, and bars are perfectly placed to deliver it.
Elsewhere in the issue, Brad Wright from the Single Malt Whisky Club takes us through the evolution of world whisky (page 28), while Alessandro Nardini breaks down what working inside a hospitality consultancy actually looks like – beyond the buzzwords (page 46). We also unpack what’s opening around the country (page 14), profile the people shaping the industry right now, and spotlight venues worth knowing, including Sydney’s Ravenspur (page 40).
There’s nostalgia too. A proper look at the Piña Colada (page 33), three spritzes built for summer (page 34), and a new addition to the magazine: The Bar Exam – ten questions designed to test your knowledge and quietly sharpen your edge for the year ahead.
This issue is about momentum. About shaking off the serious stuff, leaning into moments that matter, and remembering that hospitality, at its core, is meant to be fun.