Cantina OK! owners talk micro mezcal, and the 'vanity project' that landed on the World's 50 Best Bars

The folks at Sydney bar, Cantina OK!, have had quite the time of it over the last few weeks.

First came the news that they not only landed on the World's 50 Best Bars list one and a half years into trade, but they also landed quite high on the list at number 28. A position on the annual list, which was announced earlier this month, can mean a huge boost in trade for a bar as it becomes a destination for savvy punters to tick off their lists.

They've also had heavy demand for their mezcal-based seltzer collaboration with Grifter Brewing Co — if you managed to get your hands on some, then you're very lucky.

Below, lightly edited and condensed for clarity, is our interview with owners Jeremy Blackmore and Alex Dowd (who also own Sydney tequila bar, Tio's Cerveceria) to dig into the origin story of Cantina OK!, find out what it feels like rubbing shoulders with the world's best bars, and explore the way they source mezcal — and romance — for Cantina OK!.