Bartender’s 24th Annual Bar Awards are back, and voting is now open!

Australian Bartender’s annual Bar Awards are back for its 24^th year running, showcasing the best of the best within each given category.

Awards founder, Dave Spanton, said, “These awards are your awards; you have to be in it to win it. This is not about the opinions of bar reviewers and critics. The winners are determined by your votes, the votes of the Australian bar industry.”

HOW VOTING WORKS

• The finalists in each category will be determined by the bar industry’s vote. Only those who work in bars and for brands may vote.
• Make sure you read the T&Cs clearly before you vote.
• The finalists will be announced in the July issue of Australian Bartender and online here at australianbartender.com.au.
• The top 10 finalists in each of the categories will then be reviewed and voted on by their peers — that is, the other finalists — to determine the winners in each category.
• How does this work? Once the finalists have been announced in the July issue of the magazine, we’ll be in touch with all finalists to ask them to rank the bars and operators in the next round of voting. In this round, sponsors will also cast another vote.
• The winners in each category will be awarded on Wednesday 17 September, at the Australian bar industry’s night of nights, the Bar Awards, at Doltone House in Sydney, during Sydney Bar Week (13-17) September. Visit sydneybarweek.com.au for updates.
• Voting opened today Friday, 28 February and goes until 11:59pm AEST on May 30 2025. Voting is open to bar industry professionals only (so no, the general public doesn’t get a vote).
• Voting works best on a desktop or laptop.

Please note – if you would like to register your interest to compete in the Bartender of the Year Competition, please email [email protected] as this category is not nominated!

Australian Bartender editor, Kim Berry, said, “There are few occasions for us to recognise and celebrate the skills and creativity of our peers. We are so excited to be a part of that opportunity, so get voting!”

VOTE NOW  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BQBGTZV

The Bar Awards have always been about the people, we want YOU, to vote for who you think should be awarded in the following categories.

1. Cocktail List of the Year
2. Bar of the Year
3. Cocktail Bar of the Year
4. New Bar of the Year
5. Best Rookie Bartender of the Year – Proudly Sponsored by Club Suntory
6. Pub of the Year – Proudly Sponsored by ALM
7. Host of the Year
8. Small Bar of the Year
9. Nightclub of the Year
10. Bar Manager of the Year
11. Regional Bar of the Year
12. Bar Operator of the Year
13. Bar Team of the Year
14. Best Speciality Beed Venue – Proudly Sponsored by Estrella Damm
15. Wine Bar of the Year – Proudly Sponsors by Unico Zelo
16. Best Bar Food
17. Best Bartenders’ Bar
18. Best Live Music Bar of the Year
19. Restaurant Bar of the Year
20. Best Distillery Bar
21. Best Brewery Bar
22. Gin Bar of the Year – Proudly Sponsored by Fever-Tree
23. Rum Bar of the Year
24. Whisky Bar of the Year
25. Tequila Bar of the Year – Proudly Sponsored by 1800 Tequila
26. Hotel Bar of the Year
27. Bar of the Year – State Awards
28. Cocktail Bar of the Year – State Awards
29. Training Program of the Year – Proudly Sponsored by Bartender Magazine
30. Brand Ambassador of the Year – Proudly Sponsored by Bartender Magazine