We’re just a little over three months away from the Bartenders’ Weekender festival in Adelaide, which takes place from June 14 to 16. And we’re very pleased to say that the Drinks 100 Australia Awards Gala will be making its return to the three day weekender — and nominations are now open.
That’s right — the Drinks 100 Australia is back for its second year, to celebrate the 100 people shaping the drinks culture in Australia right now, presented by Bartenders’ Weekender and Boothby.
Unlike other lists, the Drinks 100 Australia is no popularity contest. It is a considered look at those people who are working to make the drinks industry in Australia more meaningful, more exciting, and more creative every day — the people who inspire us on to bigger and better things.
And it’s not just open to bartenders. The Drinks 100 Australia celebrates the creative and delicious work of the distillers, operators, bartenders, communicators, designers, and ambassadors who make the Australian scene one of the world’s best.
Here’s how it works.
Thursday 5 March. Nominations are open now. In the form, nominate people in as many categories as you like — one nomination is all that is required for that person to be considered by the expert panel in the following voting round. Self-nominations are encouraged. Multiple nominations for one candidate will have no impact on whether they are selected in the next round. Nominations close Tuesday 31 March.
Wednesday 1 April. The expert panel voting round begins. The panel will review the nominations in each category and make their selections of who they think are most worthy of recognition. The expert panel voting round closes on Tuesday 21 April.
These votes determine the finalists in each category and the makeup of the Drinks 100 Australia list of the 100 people shaping Australian bar and drinks culture. The finalists will be revealed on Monday 27 April on Boothby and social media.
The winners are revealed at the black tie Drinks 100 Australia Awards Gala on Tuesday 16 June at the Bartenders’ Weekender in Adelaide.
Important dates
Thursday 5 March: nominations open.
Tuesday 31 March: nominations close.
Wednesday 1 April: expert panel voting begins.
Tuesday 21 April: expert panel voting finishes.
Monday 27 April: awards category finalists announced via Boothby and social media. Invites to the Drinks 100 Australia Awards Gala sent out.
Tuesday 16 June: the Drinks 100 Australia Awards Gala takes place in Adelaide.
The awards categories
RISING STAR PRESENTED BY STARWARD
The Australian drinks and bar industry is only as good as its next generation — the Rising Star award seeks to discover the ones to watch, those who’ll lead the industry into the future.
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY ANGEL'S ENVY
This is for the ones who spark new ideas, create new ways of drinking, push our tastes in new and delicious directions, or improved ways of working.
MOST IMPACTFUL PRESENTED BY GREY GOOSE
Who has been a force for good across the last 12 months? Who are these people in the drinks industry pushing for change, making waves, and leading the way to a better industry?
DRINKS CREATIVE OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY MONIN
This one is for cocktail technicians, the drinks designers, the creative leads — this is for those bartenders and drinks creatives who have opened our eyes to new delicious drinks with stories to tell.
HALL OF FAME PRESENTED BY PATRÓN
This award recognises the people that have built a career making Australia a better place to drink, whether that’s through the bars or in your glass, those who have inspired us.
BAR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY CLUB SUNTORY (STATE AWARDS) & CRAWLEY'S SYRUPS (NATIONAL AWARD)
This is for the person or group of individuals that have set the standard with great bars that please the public and critics alike, and who create spaces in which bartenders can do their best work. Please nominate an operator in each state.
AUSTRALIAN DISTILLER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY ALM
The homegrown distilling industry has exploded in recent years, with new waves of distillers coming in and crafting the future of Australian spirits. This recognises a distiller who has had an incredible year making quality spirit.
AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY BOOTHBY
Brand ambassadors are not just the bar industry’s introduction to a brand, but to the broader public as well. They’re on the road, spreading the gospel, and the best of them do this all the while supporting the industry to grow.
DRINKS COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY BARTENDERS' WEEKENDER
This award celebrates those writers, social media creators, photographers and persuasive types who have best explained the drinks industry to the world at large.
BAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY THE HOUSE OF ANGOSTURA
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.
INTERNATIONAL DRINKS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY BOOTHBY
We work in a global industry, and this award seeks to recognise those people from across the seas whose work and talent have had a meaningful effect on the industry here in Australia.
PERSON OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY ESPOLÒN
This recognises those people who have stood up, who have led the way, who serve as an inspiration to the rest of us in the industry and who have been instrumental in making the country a better place to drink at over the course of the last year.
