Here is the 2026 Drinks 100 Australia full list and winners

Despite our distance from the world’s other cocktail capitals — or indeed because of it — Australia’s bars offer an experience unlike any other in the world. Australian bartenders share a laidback sense of hospitality, an easy way of making one feel welcome, and a distrust of the pomp and status signifiers that characterise some scenes elsewhere in the world.

The Drinks 100 Australia marks its second year with its annual celebration of the 100 people who are shaping the drinks culture in Australia in 2026, presented by Bartenders’ Weekender and Boothby. This year’s Drinks 100 Australia features more figures from more places around the country, with people from each state and territory throughout the list. 

Unlike other lists, the Drinks 100 Australia is a considered look at those people working to make the bar and drinks industry in Australia more vibrant, more exciting, and more creative every day. Regardless of one’s social media following or clout, we’re recognising those people who do great work — the kind of people to whom we can all look for inspiration. This is about the wider Australian drinks industry, looked at from the perspective of the bar, which is still the best place to showcase the creative and delicious work of producers, bartenders, designers, and communicators.

Congratulations, and thank you, to the people making up this year’s Drinks 100 Australia — you’ve made the country a nicer place to drink at.

The Ambassadors

Brand ambassadors are not just the bar industry’s introduction to a brand, but they serve the broader public as well. They’re on the road, spreading the word, and the best of them do this all the while supporting the industry to grow.

Alice Newport, Jim Beam
The James B. Beam ambassador for Club Suntory has settled in as one of the country’s most popular and ever-travelling ambassadors, with nearly 10 years of advocacy under her belt and a passionate advocate for the work of bartenders.

Andy Tsai, Brown-Forman
The popular NSW-based brand ambassador for Brown-Forman brings energy and enthusiasm to the role of brand ambassador, as someone whose love for the craft of the bar, spirits, and the bartenders who bring it all together is seemingly boundless.

Carmen Hartwich, Starward
In 2024, Carmen became the first woman to be named a master of bourbon; she was also named the Boothby Best Bars 2024 Queensland Person of the Year. Today, she continues to play a high profile and vocal role in the advocacy space as the lead for Australian whiskymaker Starward.

James MacRae, Hendrick’s
Affectionately referred to as Wee James, the Scottish export is the face of Hendrick’s in Australia, and his enthusiastic championing of Australia’s bars and bartenders, along with his pursuit of exciting and always curious Hendrick’s activations around the country has seen James become one of Australia’s best loved bar personalities.

Kayla Grigoriou, Bacardi-Martini
The Bacardi-Martini national brand ambassador has had a busy year, supporting a number of the business’ campaigns and working closely with partners in the bar trade around Australia to make things happen, fronting a suite of brands including Bacardí, Patrón, Grey Goose, Angel’s Envy, and more.

Natalie Ng, Club Suntory
With experience running and owning award-winning bars, Natalie Ng joined Suntory in 2025 as the House of Suntory national brand ambassador, and has hit the ground running as the face for one of its most in-demand brands.

Zach Mynott, Campari Australia
Zach Mynott has been front-and-centre at Campari Academy education events and competitions, and since stepping up from the NSW brand ambassador role into the role of national trade advocacy manager, has grown Campari Academy’s ambassador team and is delivering ambitious, large scale programs for bartenders across the country.

The Designers

What you taste, what you feel, and what you see all depends on where you are. A great bar is designed well; this award celebrates those designs that say something new about the drinking occasion and take us to previously unexplored surrounds.

Thandi Stirling — Three Horses
The architect — and sister of Caretaker’s Cottage co-owner Matt Stirling — led the design for Three Horses, which opened a stone’s throw from the Cottage on Little Lonsdale St in September of 2025. It’s a welcoming, comfortable space, as desirable when the doors have just opened as it is when the bar is in full flight later in the night; behind the back bar hangs a painting of three colourful galloping horses by Matt Stirling’s aunt, Liz Stirling.

Ben Edwards, Studio Edwards — Hands Down
The architect behind Studio Edwards designed the Hands Down fit-out, which opened in Fitzroy in October last year — the bar from Dominic Xavier, Hayden Lambert and Manu Potoi is a beauty, with the original timber-panelled bar retained and a touch of mid-century glamour worked in for one the best considered new bar fit-outs of the year.

Clare Markwick-Smith — Honeydripper
Fans of Adelaide’s hi-fi listening bar from Sean Howard and company have this designer to thank for Honeydripper’s luxes and sumptuous surrounds. The two-level, 200-capacity space channels Laurel Canyon energy, was named among Adelaide’s Best New Bars of 2025 by Broadsheet, and features on the 2026 Boothby Best Bars SA Top 30.

Tynan Sidhu — Silver’s Motel
We were waiting for Silver’s Motel to open for a long time, but one look inside at the room tells you: it was worth the wait. That’s thanks to Tynan Sidhu, who along with Michael Chiem (PS40) owns Silver’s, is also the driving force behind the design of the bar. There are beautiful design touches throughout the space, which draws inspiration from the mystery of Australian motels of yesteryear.

Victoria Hampshire — Bar Demo
Newtown’s Bar Demo has quickly established itself as favourite of Sydney hospitality types, in no small part thanks to the neatly designed space courtesy of designer Victoria Hampshire.

The Communicators

These are the writers, social media creators, photographers and persuasive types who have best explained the drinks industry to the world at large.

Kate McGraw, Content Creator @katelikescocktails
Kate leads trade advocacy for Diageo and World Class Australia, and has seen her following and influence grow with smart, engaging and passionate video tutorials on social media at @katelikescocktails, inspiring new generations of bartenders with her clever content.

Becca Wang, Writer (Boothby, Broadsheet)
As Boothby’s Brisbane briefing writer for much of the last year, Becca has kept the city — and the rest of the country — up to date with the people and places that constitute the country’s third biggest bar scene, and exploring bar culture in-depth in print.

Chris Pearce, Photographer
It’s fair to say that Christopher Pearce has probably shot more cocktails than any other photographer working in Australia today. He’s a photographer who specialises in food and drinks, and his work has appeared in Boothby, Good Food, and more.

Dexter Kim, Photographer
You have seen Dexter Kim’s work; the Sydney-based photographer has been responsible for shooting some of the city’s best bars and restaurants — and cocktails — for agencies, venues, and for publications like Broadsheet.

Fred Siggins, Writer (Boothby, Halliday)
Fred’s hospitality career has run the gamut from chef, to bartender, ambassador, writer, and in 2024 with the opening of Goodwater, co-owner of a bar. Fred’s writing has appeared everywhere from Time Out, The Age, Broadsheet, Punch, Boothby; he is also Starward’s Victorian ambassador.

Kim Berry, Editor (Australian Bartender)
As the current editor of Australian Bartender, Berry has overseen both the print and digital offering of the longstanding publication’s first full year under the ownership of Yaffa Media.

Molly Nicholas, Journalist (Bars & Cocktails, The Shout)
Molly is the senior journalist at Intermedia’s bar and spirits-focused publications, The Shout, and Bars & Cocktails. Molly has put an emphasis on spotlighting women in the bar game, and has had a large hand in making the publication’s social pages more engaging for the trade.

Myffy Rigby, Writer (Good Food)
With over two decades writing about food and drinks, Rigby has returned to writing Sydney-focused bar reviews for Good Food; the freelance writer also regularly contributes to Qantas magazine.

Tom Yau, Photographer
Tom Yau is one of the country’s preeminent drinks photographers, capturing bartenders and their creations for numerous cocktail competitions over the years, for brands, and in bars, with a passion for his subjects that can only come with a background in hospitality.

Tess Hayley, Content Creator (Maybe Group)
The Maybe Group always has a lot going on: several venues of their own, a collaboration with Accor, and the annual Maybe Cocktail Festival. If it feels like they’re doing a lot, it’s because their communication online on social media is as good as it gets, and that’s thanks to Tess Hayley, the group’s marketing director and social media maven.

Daniel Shipley, Content Creator (Old Mate’s Group)
With an extensive background in food and drink media, Shipley has given the storytelling of the Old Mate’s Group in Sydney a boost with engaging and humorous behind the scenes videos on social media. 

Jess Prowse, Content Creator (Mucho Group)
The Mucho Group’s social media game is one of the best in the country; Jess Prowse is their in-house graphic designer and content creator, and responsible for their venues’ distinct and attention-grabbing presence online.

The Distillers

The homegrown distilling industry has exploded in recent years, with new waves of distillers coming in and crafting the future of Australian spirits. These are the Australian distillers who have had an incredible year making quality spirit.

Tim Boast, Never Never
Never Never is no stranger to awards. The bartender-favourite brand is also something of a darling of international spirits competitions. Its distiller, Tim Boast, can claim the lion’s share of the credit — he did after all pick up the trophy for Distiller of the Year at the Drinks 100 Australia Awards in 2025.

Carlie Dyer, Starward
Carlie Dyer has been with Australian whisky distillery Starward for seven years, starting as a distiller before moving into the blending team, and in 2024, taking over as head distiller at the award-winning distillery.

Chris Thomson, Lark
Lark’s master distiller was named Master Distiller/Blender — Rest of World at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards, no small feat, and is kept busy at Lark with new releases and a renewed push under new CEO Stu Gregor.

Dave Withers, Archie Rose
Sydney distillery Archie Rose began producing whisky in 2014, and Dave Withers — now the brand’s master distiller — was there at day one. Over a decade later, the distillery is one of Australia’s most awarded brands, with plenty of gold medals at international spirits competitions.

David Fesq, Red Mill Rum
The sixth generation of his family in the liquor business, Fesq brought the Red Mill Rum marque back to life, with the distillery’s White Bay cellar door opening in Sydney in May 2025, and a number of collaborative bottlings with bars on the books.

Hugh Leech, Marionette
As the head distiller for Marionette Liqueurs, Hugh Leech is at the helm of one of Australia’s best loved and most awarded brands. Bartenders love the stuff, and spirits competitions regularly recognise the gold medal worthy products in their line up.

Jason Chan, Burdekin
The Burdekin head distiller took out the World’s Best Rum at the 2025 Top Shelf Awards for the Burdekin Coral Sea Strength, and continues to rack up the accolades at spirits competitions around the world. North Queensland cane in a bottle.

Sarah Prowse, Four Pillars
Taking over the reins of the Australia’s biggest home-grown gin brand from its co-founder, Cameron Mackenzie, is no easy task, but Sarah Prowse is the person for the job: she’s been with the distillery since 2020, after having spent 15 years in the winemaking business — a background Mackenzie also shares.

The Bartenders

The best showroom for Australian spirits will always be the bar, and a seat at the bar with a great bartender is an experience that is timeless. These are some of the very best in the business, a mix of creative bartendery, and rising stars — ones to watch in the future.

Alex Gondzioulis, Bar Bellamy
The Gondz, as he’s known, moved to Melbourne after running the drinks program across Liquid & Larder’s bars, and having run the much-awarded Bulletin Place before its closure in 2021. At Bar Bellamy, he creates impressive drinks, regularly landing on the Top 50 at the Drink of the Year.

Andie Bulley, The Waratah/Joy
The creative Andie Bulley is one of the country’s finest bartenders, a deep thinker and responsible for some delicious decisions from her tenure running The Waratah in Sydney; Bulley has now returned to Brisbane, to focus on creative projects at the intersection of hospitality and culture.

Darren Leaney & Kitty Gardner, Caretaker’s Cottage
The drinks are great at Caretaker’s Cottage, and that’s thanks to this duo. Whilst Darren leads the development of new drinks — the menu changes monthly, so there is always work to do — Kitty is the bar’s go to prep master. Their work also saw them take out the number one spot on the 2025 Drink of the Year Top 50.

Eduardo Conde, El Primo Sanchez
The experienced award-winning cocktail impresario saw El Primo Sanchez, where he was the general manager until April, successfully relocate from Paddington to Crown Street in Surry Hills in October 2025, taking over the former Four Pillars Lab space; Conde also picked up the trophy for Bartender of the Year at the Boothby Drink of the Year Awards late last year.

Evan Stroeve
Stroeve opened his second venue, Sakura House in November 2025 with The Waratah business partner Cynthia Litster; The Waratah has continued to collect accolades (including the Best Hospitality Team in NSW at the 2025 Boothby Best Bars NSW Awards); in May, Stroeve finished up with Pollen Hospitality, with his next steps yet to be revealed. 

James Irvine, Merivale
The group drinks creative for the sprawling Sydney hospitality empire that is Merivale, James’ mastery of flavour and technique in the cocktail world is second to none; it’s his gregarious attitude and punny banter that endears him to the industry. 

Jeremy Blackmore, Mucho Group
The Mucho Group might be the most idiosyncratic bar group in Australia right now. The driving force behind the group’s creative output is co-owner and creative director, Jeremy Blackmore. He is responsible for the drink menus throughout each of their now seven bars, with Bar Bridge as their latest. 

Kayla Saito, The Mulberry Group
When Kayla isn’t making drinks for guests, there’s a good chance she’s fermenting something somewhere. As a self-described fermentation geek, Kayla is one of the country’s foremost experts when it comes to technique, and generous with her considerable knowledge.

Luke Whearty, Byrdi
Few people have pushed the envelope as much as Luke Whearty has. From his award-winning bar in Singapore, Operation Dagger, to returning to Australia and opening Byrdi, a bar that is distinctly Victorian in the produce it uses and the growers it champions, Luke has been the advance guard in the drinks world for over a decade.

Sam Thornhill, Byrdi
As head bartender at Byrdi, Sam oversees all the research and development that goes into each seasonal menu change. But it’s Sam’s affable nature that has won him fans outside of the bar, as he imparts his considerable knowledge and way of working to bartenders eager to learn. 

Tom Opie, Pilot
A regular fixture at the pointy end of any cocktail competition he takes part in, Tom’s humility belies an exceptional talent with flavour, and a strong curiosity about drinks and the broader world that surrounds them; he is also one of the country’s most adept bartenders playing in the non-alcoholic space.

The Ones To Watch

The Australian drinks and bar industry is only as good as its next generation, and that’s who the Rising Star award seeks to discover. Here are the ones to watch, those who’ll lead the industry into the future.

Callum Marra, Old Love’s
The Old Love’s general manager has got attention for the welcome he gives and the team culture he’s built at the Sydney rum bar, which took out #1 Bar in NSW and Best Cocktail Bar NSW at the 2025 Boothby Best Bars NSW.

Ben McCarthy, One Or Two
The bartender has lit up Melbourne CBD bar, One Or Two, since his arrival, and his dedication to the craft, energy, and positive style of hospitality is winning him fans industry-wide.

Carter Stacey, Savile Row
If you’ve met Carter Stacey at the bar, you’ll be sure to remember her for her infectious enthusiasm and dedication to hospitality; she has recently moved from Savile Row to Frog’s Hollow Saloon and picked up more responsibility.

Charlie Coates, Nextdoor
Nextdoor Perth’s head bartender — who has the ambitious (and sadly departed) Sydney bar Re on his resume — was recognised in the WA Good Food Guide in August 2025, picking up the trophy for WA’s bartender of the year.

Holly Grimshaw, Maybe Sammy
The Manchester native has continued to develop at Sydney’s Maybe Sammy, with responsibility for prep at the bar — an ever present fixture on The World’s 50 Best Bars list — now resting on her shoulders.

Hunter Simpson, Cantina OK!
The talented bartender stepped up as Cantina OK!’s venue manager in February 2026, taking the micro mezcal bar on takeover tours to Shanghai and beyond, and upholding the bar’s appeal well into its eighth year of trade.

Marnie Bugeja, Black Pearl
The gregarious bartender made the move from Brisbane to join the team at Black Pearl in Melbourne — a serious vote of confidence in one of Australia’s most rigorous bartender training grounds.

Navarre Fenwick, Three Horses
After wrapping up a successful stint at Black Pearl in 2025, Nav joined the opening team at Three Horses, where you’ll find him sharing his passion for hospitality and warm, welcoming service.

Omar Alvarez, El Primo Sanchez
As the bar manager of El Primo Sanchez, you’ll find Omar putting his considerable talents to work in service of the bar’s famously exuberant hospitality.

Paige Chabert, Above Board
Paige Chabert has made an impact on the Melbourne bar scene, and with the responsibility of being the lead bartender at Above Board, Paige has stepped up to the high standards at one of the world’s very best cocktail bars; her Topolino cocktail landed on the 2025 Boothby Drink of the Year Awards Top 50, and nabbed the title of Breakout Bartender of 2025.

The Changemakers

These are the determined individuals working to make the hospitality industry a more welcoming, inclusive, and ultimately delicious place to be.

Andres Walters
Co-owner of Sydney bars Old Mate’s Place and Old Love’s, Walters oversaw Old Love’s leap from #2 to #1 on the Boothby Best Bars NSW Top 50 in 2025 — also picking up Best Cocktail Bar NSW — while its West Side Rumos landed on the Drink of the Year Top 50 for the second year running. But it’s his advocacy for a better deal on spirits excise tax for hospitality venues that sees him finding a wider voice among the industry.

Alexandra Hooker & Jenna Hemsworth
Co-founders of now-disbanded Sorry, Not Sorry, Hooker and Hemsworth are behind drinks consultancy Real Good Drinks. They followed their 2025 Drinks 100 Most Impactful win with an international tour in June and July 2025; Hemsworth was also highly commended for Best Bartender at the 2025 ALIAs.

Corby Small
The Gresham general manager picked up Queensland Person of the Year at the 2025 Boothby Best Bars Awards — recognised as much for mentoring younger Brisbane bartenders as for her own bar work. Small spent four weeks staging at in vogue Paris bar De Vie in early 2026, after guest shifts in Mexico City, Berlin, Dubai and Singapore alongside Gresham alumna Millie Tang.

Leah Dunnigan
Savile Row’s venue manager had a big year, picking up the best bartender gong at the 2025 ALIAs, seeing Savile Row named the best cocktail bar at the Boothby Best Bars QLD Awards, and leading the Savile team in the development of their ambitious new menu, Tailored.

Shirley Yeung
The Mix Haus co-founder had a big 2025, with a second straight appearance in the national final of World Class; she also saw Mix Haus partner with Rhubi for their national bartender competition, along with hosting events around the country, and mentoring up and coming bartenders.

The Internationals

We live in a global world, and thanks to the ubiquity of social media, the influence of high-flying international bar talent is felt around the world — these are overseas bartenders having the biggest influence on Australian shores.

Harrison Kenney, Maison Mahjong, Paris
Once a mischievous enfant terrible of the Australian bar scene, Kenney, as he is known, is well into his inspirational era. 

Iain McPherson, Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
Iain McPherson opened the lively Edinburgh bar back in 2013, and is a regular fixture on the global bartending circuit, putting on Panda parties that make people feel good, and dishing his considerable knowledge in education seminars while on tour.

Lorenzo Antinori, Bar Leone, Hong Kong
The face of the current number one bar in the world, Bar Leone, Lorenzo Antinori and his generous approach to hospitality has proved influential for bartenders in Australia; in the past year, he has opened his second Hong Kong venue, Bar Montana, and an outpost of Bar Leone in Shanghai.

Millie Tang, Maison Mahjong, Paris
Millie is proof that if you follow your passions and interests and work hard to produce good work, you can make a career that satisfies you. Millie’s own career has led her from her home in Brisbane to Paris; Millie is a bartender and all-round creative — and an inspiration to bartenders in Australia and beyond.

Sam Ross, Attaboy
A second straight appearance on the list, it is hard to understate the influence Sam Ross has had on Australian bartenders (look at the number of Penicillins and Paper Plane cocktails on cocktail lists around the country). His New York bar, Attaboy, is a must-visit for any bartender visiting the city.

The Operators

These are the people with vision — those who are setting the standard with great bars that please the public and critics alike, and who create spaces in which bartenders can do their best work.

Alexandra Percy & Loic Mouchelin (Santé, QLD)
Their little Toowoomba bar punches well above its weight; Santé was named the 2025 Best Cocktail Bar in Queensland at Boothby Best Bars QLD Awards,  proof that you don’t need a capital city postcode to make a national-calibre bar. Alex and Loic have called time on their run in Toowoomba, with plans in motion to reopen in Sydney later in the year.

Andy Chu (One Or Two, VIC)
The 26-seat Chinatown bar turns four this year, and he is one of Melbourne’s defining bar operators; the continued demand for One Or Two, and regular international travel for takeovers, means that the talented bartender’s influence only grows.

Anneliese Grazioli (Hanky Panky Lounge, Kokomos, NT)
The Darwin powerhouse continues to play a pivotal role in the Darwin bar scene and the country more broadly; Hanky Panky and rum-focused Kokomo continue to set the bar for what’s possible up north.

Charlie Lehmann & Sebastian Soto (Two Takes Three, NSW)
The Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern co-owners (with Dardan Shervashidze) closed Double Deuce Lounge in 2026 after six years of Doris Martinis and Full Bushes; Ramblin’ rolls on as the dive bar that helped define Sydney small-bar culture.

Daisy Tulley, (Mucho Group, NSW)
The Mucho CEO has had quite the year — they flipped Herbs Taverne from a Negroni bar to a Martini bar, and this year opened Bar Bridge, in the space where Double Deuce Lounge once lived; their next bar, Super 44, is opening soon.

Dimitri Rtshiladze (Foxtrot Unicorn, Edward & Ida’s, WA)
The Foxtrot Hospitality Group owner is a Perth bar veteran who runs two of Perth’s best — Foxtrot Unicorn in the CBD and Edward & Ida’s in Northbridge — and we’re waiting with anticipation for the return of Nieuw Ruin.

George Curtis (Milquetoast, Before + After, QLD)
The award-winning Brisbane operator opened venue number three in February 2026: Venner, a new-Nordic restaurant, with Blume’s Jack Stuart and Milquetoast partner James Horsfall. His CBD wine bar Milquetoast picked up the best bar eats title at the Boothby Best Bars QLD Awards this year.

Gordon Purnell & Ross Purnell (Disco Pantera, Bar Tigra, NSW)
The Scottish brothers (ex-Hawksmoor, Panda & Sons) opened twin venues Disco Pantera and Bar Tigra in Sydney’s Circular Quay in September 2024, and in October were awarded the global accolade of the world’s best bar design at the 2025 World’s 50 Best Bars in Hong Kong. 

Dominic Xavier, Hayden Lambert, Manu Potoi (Hands Down, Above Board, VIC)
The trio opened Hands Down in Fitzroy, in the old Bad Frankie space, in October — one of the year’s most talked about openings. The Studio Edwards-designed bar serves up pastis, Kalimotxos and 50/50 Martinis, and picked up a top 10 nomination for best new international cocktail bar at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards in 2026.

Jason Williams (House Made Hospitality, NSW)
The beverage director for House Made Hospitality has had a stellar career to date, and is a key part of the group’s continued success across its 11 Sydney venues, responsible for overseeing all menus and concepts and the team culture behind the stick.

Luca Baioni (Latteria, SA)
The ex-Campari ambassador’s bar — opened with Nicola Pau, Rhys Nicholson and Max O’Callaghan under Simon Kardachi — sees its third year of trade in 2026; Baioni plays a big role in the bar community in Adelaide, making some of the city’s best drinks.

Marcus Motteram (Hains & Co., SA)
‘The Admiral’ celebrated 10 years of Hains & Co. in 2025 and has made the bar an integral part of the Adelaide bar world; upstairs bar Ralph Louis Frederick, his invitation-only whisky and cigar bar, hits three years of trade this year.

Martin Lange (Cuatro Group, QLD)
The Cuatro Group co-owner (with wife Wiebke and Blake and Belinda Ward) keeps Brisbane watered with whisky and cocktail bar Death & Taxes, gin-focused Dr Gimlette, and the Italian-inspired Antico; his original bar, Cobbler, was named the Queensland All Time Great this year.

Michael Chiem (PS40, Silver’s Motel, NSW)
The PS40 owner — better known as MC — opened Silver’s Motel on Enmore Road last year with co-owner Tynan Sidhu, with creative cocktails and Sidhu’s rare whisky collection. PS40 celebrated 10 years of trade in 2026, and is still home to the Africola, Drink of the Year in 2022 and 2024.

Nick Corletto (Maybe Mae, SA)
The long-standing steward of one of Australia’s best cocktail bars, Corletto is a fixture of Peel Street, with many a talented bartender having worked behind the Maybe Mae bar being appreciative of his calm and thoughtful approach.

Nick & Ryan Smith (Bar Rochford, ACT)
The Smith brothers are the driving force behind Bar Rochford, Canberra’s best bar for many, with excellent cocktails, smart wine, and some of the best bar eats anywhere — it’s a must visit for anyone stopping in the nation’s capital. A classic.

Dani & Oska Whitehart (Bar Bellamy, Melitta’s Next Door, VIC)
The Carlton couple opened second venue Melitta Next Door in 2025, designed for a younger crowd than its sibling, Bar Bellamy, which continues to rack up accolades: won Best Cocktail Bar for 2025 Time Out Melbourne, and two major awards at the 2025 Boothby Best Bars Victoria Awards.

Peter Hollands (Front Bar Group, QLD)
The 2026 Boothby Queensland Person of the Year, Pete Hollands is the driving force behind Frog’s Hollow Saloon (which took out Best Bar in Queensland at the 2026 Boothby Best Bars QLD Awards for the third time in four years), rock and roll boozer Alice, and Shaman, a basement cocktail bar that was the Best New Bar in Queensland this year.

Pippa Dowden (Bar Love, WA)
The Mix Haus co-founder and ex-Mechanics Institute bar manager opened Bar Love with Murray Walsh in late 2024, and it has quickly become a lynchpin of the Perth bar community, and a first stop for any travelling bartender.

Matt Stirling, Rob Libecans, Ryan Noreiks (Fancy Free Group, VIC)
The trio’s Caretaker’s Cottage landed at 19 on The World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2025, and opened its sherry-led sequel Three Horses on Little Lonsdale; the Cottage continues to collect accolades, with Three Horses scoring a Top 10 for Best New International Bar at the Spirited Awards, and Libecans among the Top 10 for International Bartender of the Year.

Rohan Massie (Punch & Ladle, TAS)
As co-owner (with Khayla Massie, and Campbell Nicol) of Hobart’s Rude Boy, Rohan continues to set the agenda for Hobart bars and provide inspiration to the next generation.

Scott Quick (Cantina Group, SA)
As the constant between various ownership structures of Peel Street favourites Jennie, Malt & Juniper and Alfred’s, Quick added a fourth bar to his collection in 2025 with Bar Bar, a tiny agave-focused spot on Pirie Street built around a 15-seat bar with great drinks.

Sean Howard (Gonzo Group, SA)
The influential co-owner of the Gonzo group bars — Memphis Slim’s, Shotgun Willie’s, Cry Baby — branched into the hi-fi world in late 2025 with Honeydripper; it has quickly become Adelaide’s most sought after bar.

Stefano Catino & Vince Lombardo (Maybe Group, NSW)
The co-founders of the Maybe Group don’t slow down. The last year has seen their flagship bar Maybe Sammy land on The World’s 50 best Bars list for a seventh straight year, they launched hotel F&B group Table For with Accor, opening Bar Allora and El Vista, with Catino landing at 15 on the Drinks International Bar World 100.

Xander Stucken (Terrarium, WA)
The Terrarium owner-operator opened the multi-level, plant-filled bar in mid-2022 after a decade behind the stick;the bar has become a staple of the Perth bar scene, much like the man himself.