Sydney speakeasy crowned Australia's Best Bar at the Oscars of the bar industry
Photographer: Christopher Pearce The Baxter Inn win Bar of the Year at the 2017 Australian Bar Awards
Sydney venues clean up at this year's bar industry night of nights.
No doubt there's a lot of sore heads this morning following last night's 17th Bartender Magazine's Australian Bar Awards ceremony, held at Sydney's Doltone House at Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont.
The awards night saw Sydney dominate the medals tally, with whisky Mecca The Baxter Inn taking out the prestigious Bar of the Year gong.
Owners Anton Forte and Jason Scott must be running out of space for their trophies – the Swillhouse group venue has seen more than its fair share of accolades since opening in 2011, having featured on the coveted World's 50 Best Bars list for five years running, most recently in 2016 nabbing a #12 spot.
Stealing some of Sydney's thunder, the top prize of the night Best Bartender went to a Brisbane native, Dan Gregory (Canvas), with Sydney boys Jimmy Irvine (Restaurant Hubert) and Jonathan Carr (Kittyhawk) coming in second and third place respectively.
Bartender of the Year 2017 Dan Gregory, Canvas
The awards are widely considered the Oscars of the bar industry, with overall winners voted in by fellow finalists.
Some more honourable mentions of the night: Melbourne's Black Pearl took out Cocktail Bar of the Year, Sydney's The Dolphin nabbed New Pub of the Year, and late-night darling Big Poppa's was voted in Best Bartender's Bar.
The 2017 awards saw the addition of two new award categories: Restaurant Bar of the Year (Restaurant Hubert) and Best Sustainable Bar Program (Charlie Parker's).
Australia Bar Awards 2017 winners
Bartender of the Year
Winner: Dan Gregory, Canvas
Second Place: Jonathan Carr, Kittyhawk
Third Place: Jimmy Irvine, Restaurant Hubert
Bar of the Year
Cocktail Bar of the Year
Small Bar of the Year
Pub of the Year
Best Bartender's Bar
Restaurant Bar of the Year
Best Specialty Beer Venue
New Bar of the Year
New Pub of the Year
Tequila Bar of the Year
Gin Bar of the Year
Best Live Music Bar
Lefty's Old Time Music Hall, Brisbane
Wine Bar of the Year
Nightclub of the Year
The Emerson, Melbourne
Cocktail List of the Year
Hotel Bar of the Year
Whiskey Bar of the Year
Best Sustainable Bar
Rum Bar of the Year
Rookie of the Year
Ella Rhodes, Cobbler, Brisbane
Bar Operator of the Year
Jared Merlino
Bar Team of the Year
The Gresham, Brisbane
Bar Manager of the Year
Dimitri Rtshiladze, Mechanics Institute, Perth
Best Regional Bar
Best Bar Food
Seymour's Cocktails & Oysters, Brisbane
Outstanding Contribution
Mike Enright
Pub Operator of the Year
Training Program of the Year
The Exchange/The Blend, CCA & Beam Suntory
Brand Ambassador of the Year
Samuel Ng, Four Pillars Gin
