The Australian Bar Awards Finalists

It does seem as though it has rolled around much faster this year, but the as they say in the movies, Bar Show cometh. In it’s tenth year in 2010, the Bar Show and the associated awards represents the night of nights for Australian hospitality and drinking.

The awards are a great night out, kind of like the Logies, but with less chicks. This year, there’ll be three new awards categories at the awards. First, the rookie award, giving props to those new to the game and the other two focusing on marketing, first product launches and then venue marketing.

Despite my horrible prediction accuracy last year, I’ll take another stab this time round. In italics…  I have been asked to be a part of the judging panel, so I’ve removed my favourites, you’ll just have to pick your own.

Rookie of the Year sponsored by Mozart *NEW*

• Adam Divardo, The Bowery, Brisbane

• Alex Boon, X & Y, Brisbane

• Cameron Jones, Hugos Lounge, Sydney

• Elyssia Wormald, Eau-De-Vie, Sydney

• Kash Wall, Golden Monkey, Melbourne

• Mitchell Kings, Byblos, Brisbane

• Natasha Sorensen, The Victoria Room, Sydney

Bar Manager of the Year

• Evan Gamkrelidze, Hugos Manly, Sydney

• Daniel Gregory, The Bowery, Brisbane

• Julian Damjano, Goldfish, Sydney

• Sebastien Derbomez, Hemmesphere, Sydney

• Russ McFadden, Match Bar & Grill, Melbourne

• Petr Dvoracek, Lotus, Sydney

• William Oxenham, Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney

Operator of the Year (Single Venue)

• Elizabeth Green, Lisa Kelly, Sebastian Reaburn, 1806, Melbourne

• Gary Beadle, 399, Perth

• John Toubia, Martin O’Sullivan, Belinda Lai and Richard Duff, Grasshopper, Sydney

• Natasha Conte, Black Pearl, Melbourne

• Perry Scott, The Lark, Brisbane

• Phil Bayly, Cafe Pacifico, Sydney

• Sven & Amber Almenning, Eau-De-Vie, Sydney

Operator of the Year (Multiple Venues) sponsored by Customers ATM

• Elie Moubarak, Brisbane

• Hugos Group, Sydney

• Keystone Hospitality, Sydney

• Merivale, Sydney

• Sarah Howell and Walter Ventura, Adelaide

• Tally Konstas, Melbourne

• Vernon Chalker, Melbourne

Small Bar of the Year sponsored by CCA

• 399, Perth

• Grasshopper, Sydney

• Nihonshu, Melbourne

• Pocket, Sydney

• Sangria, Adelaide

• Sticky, Sydney

• The Laneway, Brisbane

Bar of the Year sponsored by OrderMate

• Botanic Bar, Adelaide

• Golden Monkey, Melbourne

• Goldfish, Sydney

• Hugos Bar Pizza, Sydney

• Hugos Manly, Sydney

• Madame Brussels, Melbourne

• Match Bar & Grill, Melbourne

Cocktail Bar of the Year sponsored by Mixxit

• 1806, Melbourne

• Black Pearl, Melbourne

• Der Raum, Melbourne

• Lotus, Sydney

• Seamstress/SweatShop, Melbourne

• The Bowery, Brisbane

• The Victoria Room, Sydney

Wine Bar of the Year sponsored by Windowrie

• 5ifth Element, Brisbane

• Gazebo, Sydney

• Manly Wine, Sydney

• Melbourne Supper Club, Melbourne

• Must Wine Bar, Perth

• Ash Street Cellar, Sydney

• The Winery, Sydney

New Bar of the Year sponsored by Schweppes

• Eau-De-Vie, Sydney

• Garden Brasserie, Sydney

• Laruche Bar & Supperclub, Brisbane

• Shady Pines Saloon, Sydney

• Sou Soul, Melbourne

• The Galley Room, Melbourne

• Tokonoma, Sydney

Best New Venue Design

• New Guernica, Melbourne

• Laruche Bar & Supperclub, Brisbane

• The Galley Room, Melbourne

• The Greenhouse, Perth

• The Winery, Sydney

• Shady Pines Saloon, Sydney

• Tokonoma, Sydney

New Hotel of the Year

• Archive, Brisbane

• Baden Powell, Melbourne

• Benjamin on Franklin Hotel, Adelaide

• Flinders Hotel, Sydney

• Hart’s Pub, Sydney

• Mr B’s, Sydney

• Royal Saxon, Melbourne

Hotel of the Year associate partner BATA

• Cloudland, Brisbane

• Collins Quarter, Melbourne

• Crown & Sceptre, Adelaide

• Golden Sheaf, Sydney

• Ivy, Sydney

• The Beresford Hotel, Sydney

• The Brisbane, Perth

Cocktail List of the Year sponsored by Reserve Brands

• 1806, Melbourne

• Black Pearl, Melbourne

• Der Raum, Melbourne

• Eau-De-Vie, Sydney

• Sou Soul, Melbourne

• The Bowery, Brisbane

• The Galley Room, Melbourne

Best Specialty Beer Venue

• Biero, Melbourne

• Cookie, Melbourne

• Epoque Belgian Beer Café, Sydney

• The Local Taphouse, Sydney

• The Local Taphouse, Melbourne

• The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba

• The Wheatsheaf, Adelaide

Best Bar Food Selection sponsored by S

• Gingerboy Upstairs, Melbourne

• Laruche Bar & Supperclub, Brisbane

• Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney

• Sangria, Adelaide

• Sou Soul, Melbourne

• The Lark, Brisbane

• Tokonoma, Sydney

Best Drinks Selection

• Baranows Lounge, Melbourne

• Byblos, Brisbane

• Crown & Sceptre, Adelaide

• Der Raum, Melbourne

• Eau-De-Vie, Sydney

• The Bowery, Brisbane

• Tokonoma, Sydney

Nightclub of the Year sponsored by Australian Venue Services

• Change Room, Sydney

• Electric Circus, Adelaide

• Eve, Melbourne

• Hugos Lounge, Sydney

• Kit & Kaboodle, Sydney

• Sorry Grandma!, Melbourne

• X&Y, Brisbane

Best Music Offering sponsored by APRA

• Blue Diamond, Melbourne

• Ellington Jazz Club, Perth

• Eve, Melbourne

• Hugos Lounge, Sydney

• Limbo, Adelaide

• Sorry Grandma!, Melbourne

• X&Y, Brisbane

Best New Launched Product sponsored by Bartender Magazine *NEW*

• Beefeater 24, Pernod Ricard

• Domaine De Canton, Think Spirits

• José Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Platino, Diageo

• Mount Gay 1703 Old Cask Selection, Suntory

• Russian Standard Vodka, Beam Global

Training Program of the Year sponsored by 4bars.com.au

• Club Suntory’s CocktailClass, Suntory

• Deconstructing Cocktails, Mixology Management

• Diageo’s Alchemy, Diageo

• Mixxit, Coca-Cola Amatil/ Beam Global

Bar Team of the Year sponsored by Think Rewards

• 1806, Melbourne

• Black Pearl, Melbourne

• Der Raum, Melbourne

• Eau-De-Vie, Sydney

• Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney

• Seamstress/SweatShop, Melbourne

• The Lark, Sydney

Best Marketed Venue sponsored by Bundaberg Rum *NEW*

• 1806, Melbourne

• Der Raum, Melbourne

• Hugos Lounge, Sydney

• Luxe Bar, Perth

• Pool Club, Ivy, Sydney

• The Victoria Room, Sydney

• The Winery, Sydney

Brand Ambassador of the Year sponsored by 4bars.com.au

• Ben Davidson, Pernod Ricard

• Dylan Howarth, Mixxit

• Georgia McDonnell-Adams, Pernod Ricard

• Jared Plummer, Beam Global

• Mick Formosa, Club Suntory

• Nick Van Tiel, Diageo’s Reserve Brands

• Oliver Stuart, Mixxit

Outstanding Contribution sponsored by Bartender Magazine

• Naren Young, Aussie Drinks Writer & Bartender