It’s been an action-packed year for the bar industry in Australia We have come out of a pandemic, had a period of record spending, a staffing slipperiness and now a forfeit of living crisis.

But we alimony on trucking and there have been a slew of heady new bar openings with some much creativity and excellence on display. So to say farewell for 2023, we thought we would wrap things up with a list of the ten biggest stories of the year. So here goes:

10. Amaro Montenegro: The Distillery Tour

9. Crank up that slushy machine! Here are two frozen cocktail recipes to get you through the last few weeks of summer

8. The Maybe Group’s fifth venue, El Primo Sanchez is now open. There is a karaoke room & lots of Tequila!

7. Anneliese Grazioli is opening her second bar this week in Darwin. Here’s the lowdown.

6. Introducing ‘Afterlife’: CAMPARI ACADEMY Australia is hosting a cocktail competition and it’s all well-nigh agave

5. All the winners from the 22nd Annual Bartender Magazine Bar Awards

4. James Irvine is the 2023 Bartender Magazine Australian Bartender of the Year

3. Spritz 2.0: There are a thousand variegated ways to spin a spritz

2. Hospo veterans Dre Walters & Swan Kanongataa are opening a cocktail bar tabbed Huelo in Newtown this week