Simon McGoram

Editor of Australian Bartender Magazine. Bartending since 2001, Simon won NZ Bartender magazine Bartender of the Year in ‘06. Contributing editor for a year in NZ, he moved to Sydney where he worked at the Bayswater Brasserie. Now settled into office life, Simon finds that the immature sheep jokes are wearing thin.

Pretty in Pink

Moët Hennessey Australia have announced the arrival of Belvedere Pink Grapefruit to Australian shores. This new luxury flavoured vodka makes use of Belvedere’ proprietary artisanal process of maceration.

The Ketel One Hundred Club – Winner’s Videos

The Ketel One Hundred Club is a new initiative by the luxury Dutch vodka brand that has been formed of 10 bartenders from each of the 10 key Ketel One markets around the world. In Australia, Diageo’s Reserve Brands invited the top entrants from the World Class Vodka Martini Awards to join.

Drinks With: David Cordoba

4bars.com.au catches up Bacardi’s Global Brand Ambassador before his visit to Sydney BarShow in September

Mamasita

Opening its doors in February this year Mamasita occupies the site that once held the café/bar Recorded Music Salon. This authentic Mexican bar and restaurant – read no burritos or nachos – is a meeting of the minds between Matt Lane (ex-owner of The Poinciana and ex-GM of New York’s La Esquina) and Jason Jones (former executive chef at Orange in Windsor).

Last Chance to Win a Trip to London!

The entries for Schweppes’ Australia’s Best G&T competition are set to close this Sunday. Schweppes has asked bartenders to take the classic G&T and use their genius to create something special – Australia’s Best G&T.

Miss Marley’s

Manly’s burgeoning bar scene is welcoming a stylish new addition to its ranks thanks to the opening of Miss Marley’s. This new venue is brought to you by Adam Clarke and Kieran Baily (formerly of Henry Afrikas) and is their unique take on the much talked about ‘small bar concept’.

Der Raum Fends Off Winter Chill

Der Raum have fended off winter’s chill by running hot in this year’s Australian Bar Awards nominations and by releasing more smoking additions to their cocktail program.

Mick Formosa Moves to Moet-Hennessy

After more than three years with Suntory, Mick Formosa, the Brand Ambassador of the Year at the Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards 09 , has decided to move on. Mick will be joining the team at Moet Hennessy Australia in the Victoria as in an account manager/brand ambassador role made vacant by Robb Sloan’s migration to Behind Bars in Sydney.

Garden Brasserie

Sydney’s new Garden Brasserie opened its doors on Anzac Day this year. The new venture occupies a Neutral Bay site that has been vacant for the past six months but which once held an Italian restaurant. The trio of owners – Sebastian Gallery, Stephen Gellert and Glenn Ferguson – come from various backgrounds. Gallery is the ex- manager of Watershed and Cohi Bar in Darling Harbour whilst Gellert also owns Cantina Bar and Grill, and Pizza Mario. Ferguson on the other hand is the owner of ISEC and HALO security.

Bar Tunes Bespoke Music Solutions

Bar tunes are Australia’s newest and most cutting edge suppliers of digital bespoke music libraries. With its HQ based in London they have a direct link to the latest releases and trends across UK, US and Europe. This puts bartunes at the forefront of the continuous music systems available in the southern hemisphere. Managed by one of Sydney’s top DJs within the hospitality industry – DJ Somatik lends his 20 years of expertise behind the decks to personally profile your venue, creating custom playlists that suit any time of day or night.