Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner. Australian Bar Awards Winners

While we wait for someone at Bartender Magazine to peel their face from the pillow and cobble together a press release, here’s what I’ve been able to glean from the social medias.

Bar of the Year: Shandy Pines, Sydney

Best Cocktail Bar:  Eau de Vie, Sydney

Best Bar Food: Hinky Dinks, Sydney

Best New Product Launch: Havana Club Aneo 3 (nice work papi)

Best New Venue Design: Palmer & Co, Sydney

Brand Ambassador of the Year: Sebastian Reaburn, 666 Vodka

Training Program of the Year: Mixxit

Bar Team of the Year: Black Pearl, Melbourne

Best Bartender’s Bar: Black Pearl, Melbourne

Small Bar of the Year:  The Collection, Melbourne

Best Drinks Selection: The Baxter Inn, Sydney

New Bar of the Year: The Baxter Inn, Sydney

Wine Bar of the Year: Cabiria, Brisbane

Best Speciality Beer Venue: The Local Tap House, Sydney

Bar Manager of the Year: Mike Enright, Merivale, Sydney

Rookie of the Year: Sean Chow, Press Club, Brisbane

Hotel Operator of the Year: Keystone Group, Sydney

Hotel Operator of the Year: Anton Forte and Jason Scott, Sydney

Outstanding Contribution: Michael Delaney, Melbourne

Cocktail List of the Year: Canvas, Brisbane

Best Music Offering: Oxford Art Factory, Sydney

Pub of the Year: The Norfolk Hotel, Sydney

New Pub of the Year: The Bottom End, Melbourne

And the big one, BOTY is……

Bartender of the Year: Greg Sanderson, EDV, Melbourne (here’s a photo, if you don’t know who he is already)

Win! Your chance for a free double pass to DrinksFest this weekend!

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about the coming excellence that is Sydney Bar Week.

For the first time the experience is open to the general public on Sunday the 23rd, and Dave Spanton has been kind enough to offer 50 double passes to my readers (valued at $50).

It’s a great chance to experience some of the wonderful brands that are established or entering the market, there’ll also be a discounted store where you can buy a couple of bottles to take home.

The first 50 people to email Dave at david@spantonmedia.com with the ingredients that make up a Last Word cocktail will win, he’ll probably want your name and number too. You’ll need to be over 21, and have the photo ID to prove it to gain entry on the day.

Head over to barweek.com.au for more info on the day and the other great events that make up the week.

If you need some help answering the question, you can find the ingredients listed here.