Jason Crawley has experienced every facet of the bar industry from mixing cocktails in some of the world’s best bars, to stepping over the counter to train thousands of Australian bartenders. We caught up with him recently to chat about a few of the projects he’s got in the pipeline and to get the lowdown on the recently released Formula app: formulaapp.com.au
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Jonathan Driver made a short trip to Australia recently and this time there were a few new products just added to the Johnnie Walker whisky portfolio. We took some time to chat to him about one of their most special creations, the Diamond Jubilee.
Will has been behind the bar at Eve for quite a stint now and recently made it down to Sydney for the Australian Bar Awards to see Eve take out Nightclub of the Year – finally! A huge supporter of the bar industry and Australian Bartender, we thought we’d better get him into the mag!
They came. They leased. And they’re in the process of conquering the Melbourne scene. Owen and Paul from the Collection Bar are also doing more that just serving up drinks, with their recently released range of bartender syrups set to hit bars soon.
Working his way from Northern Ireland’s mean streets to operate one of the most awarded Hotels doing the rounds, Sean Muldoon has never shied away from adversity. After years of working for the ‘man’ Sean is set to launch The Dead Rabbit Community Tavern in New York City – the final realisation of his dream to own and operate his own venue. Head to 4bars.com.au to read the full, unedited interview and check out his new venue at thedeadrabbittavern.com
Fraser Campbell can be found tending bar at the Fitzroy hanut, The Alchemist. If he’s not there he might be refining his bottle opening technique, watching The Lost Boys or reading tips for the modern man in Man Up: Skills for the Modern Guy. If you catch him on his break, he’ll appreciate a pint of Negroni. If you get the chance too, then check out The Alchemist’s sweet website, it’s certainly worth a look.
Natasha Conte has been the face and driving force behind Black Pearl for over a decade. In that time her Melbourne institution has picked up numerous accolades, including most recently the Australian Bar Awards’ Bar Team of the Year in 2011
Salvatore ‘The Maestro’ Calabrese recently hosted an exclusive night at the Playboy Club (London) using vintage and rare spirits to recreate classic cocktails while reading recipes from a first edition copy of Jerry Thomas’ 1862 cocktail book The Bartender’s Guide: How to mix Drinks or The Bon Vivant’s Companion.
“I have always been fascinated with history and began collecting vintage spirits many years ago,” Calabrese told Bartender, “and came up with the idea to create a Unique Vintage Cocktail list that would offer the lucky few an opportunity to actually taste a little bit of cocktail history.”
Jeff Arnett is the latest in an esteemed line-up of whiskey men to hold the position of master distiller at the iconic Jack Daniel’s distillery. While he spends most of his time in Lynchburg, USA looking after the world famous Tennessee whiskey, Australian Bartender magazine was fortunate enough to grab the exclusive interview with him in preparation for his first trip to Australia.
Small is beautiful when it comes to successive bar openings for this Sydney based duo, and their latest digs – Button – is certainly going to cement their good reputation around town. In between opening new venues, and maintaining the high standards that they keep at the current ones, Christophe and Karl took some time out to chat about their experiences as multi-venue operators.
Tara Steele hold court at Brisbane favourite Laruche Bar & Supper Club and will do her best to talk you into a Tequila – and one for her too! If she wasn’t serving up drinks for a living Tara counts herself as a potential environmental crusader – she previously worked as a horticulturalist. She’d like to have a sit down with Sir David Attenborough and is also right into antiquing, so much so she considers it a sport.
Tim Philips, bar manager at what is one of Australia’s most exclusive locations – Ivy’s Level 6 – has hit a bit of a green patch when it comes to competition success. Over the past few years he has claimed the 2009 CLASS UK Bartender of the Year, 2011 Diageo’s World Class Australia Bartender of the Year and more recently claimed the crown of Bartender magazine Bartender of the Year at this year’s Australian Bar Awards. We decide it was high time to catch up with the amiable Mr Philips to learn the secrets of his bartending success.