Congratulations to Alex Boon from Mjølner in Melbourne on winning T25 Bartender of the Year for 2019.
It’s been a huge year for Boon who was also crowned Diageo World Class Australian winner for 2019 and travelled to Scotland last month to compete against 55 other nations for the title of Diageo World Class Global Bartender of the Year.
The industry’s best bartending talent converged on Sydney for the T25 party at Marble Bar last night.
Voting for the 2019 T25 Bartender Awards started in April as 20 of the most respected industry professionals, including educators, trainers, brand ambassadors and venue operators, nominated 100 bartenders into T100 list. Over the next couple of months, based on strict voting criteria, bartenders voted to bring the number down to 25.
The top 25 bartenders presented their drinks on October 14, giving their best bar banter a run across a five-hour period starting at 6pm, resulting in the No.1 bartender being announced to the crowd at 10:30pm.
Industry legend Alex Ross was the master of ceremonies for the evening and said: “So many talented bartenders come together for these awards to celebrate our industry and of course… it’s always brave to put a Ross behind the mic.”
Talent from across Australia were represented with bartenders flying in from every state and territory, a first for the awards.
Boon’s winning drink was the Nusa Banana featuring Nusa Caña, pineapple and anise hyssop verjus and banana honey.
The Top 25 Bartenders are:
Alex Boon – Mjolner, VIC
Alex “Happy” Gilmour – Tio’s, NSW
Andrea Gualdi – Maybe Sammy, NSW
Anneliese Grazioli – Hot Tamale, NT
Antonello Arzedi – Scout, NSW
Daniel Gregory – Evolve Spirits Bar, TAS
Darren Leaney – Capitano Carlton, VIC
David Robertson – Hot Tamale, NT
Dean Buchanan – Long Chim, WA
Elliot Pascoe – Finney Isle, QLD
Emma Crisp – El Grotto, WA
Evan Stroeve – Bulletin Place, NSW
Hayden Lambert – Above Board, VIC
Jenna Hemsworth – Swillhouse Group, NSW
Jessica Arnott – Tiny’s Liquor Emporium, WA
Joseph Chisholm – The Boom Boom Room, QLD
Joseph Sinagra – Halford Bar, WA
Kayla Grigoriou – Bar Torino, SA
Michael Chiem, PS40, NSW
Millie Tang – The Gresham, QLD
Nick Corletto – Maybe Mae, SA
Nick Tesar – Bar Liberty, VIC
Ollie Margan – Maybe Mae, SA
Shay Chamberlain – Black Pearl, VIC
Tom Kearney – Panama Social, WA
Marble Bar, Hilton hotel, Sydney. 14 October 2019
