Wandering the world to satisfy her wanderlust, Janna Lintunen, like most backpackers, has loved travelling around our beautiful country. The young Finis has attributed learning most of her bar skills and mixology from her work at various venues throughout Melbourne and the Northern Territory, to finally find herself unexpectedly planting roots in the quaint and quirky capital city of Darwin. Janna has been living in Darwin for the last two ...

Liquor store owners, restaurant owners, beverage managers, sommeliers and caterers will have the opportunity to taste, trial and buy some local and uniquely cool climate wines from the Orange region when they attend The Drinks Industry Show in November this year. With over a century of combined winemaking history, Orange region based wineries Ross Hill Wines, Angullong Wines, Philip Shaw Wines and Printhie Wines will be showcasing their vintages to ...

After three gruelling days of challenges, the WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year top six finalists for 2015 have been announced. Starting with a field of the world’s best 54 bartenders, the numbers have been whittled down to just six, with Australia’s Jack Sotti taking one of the coveted spots. Sotti secured his spot by delivering the competition’s first levitating cocktail during the Retro, Disco, Future challenge with his Bulleit Rye creation, the ‘Stealth ...

Visitors can expect a stellar line up of industry professionals at the upcoming Drinks Industry Show, taking place on Monday 16 to Tuesday 17 November at Luna Park Sydney. Master Classes run by the ‘explore Drinks’ publication will put drinks professionals up close and personal with some of the most recognised names in the business of beverages. Group Publishing Editor, HIP Media and ‘explore Drinks’, Ashley Pini expressed his anticipation for ...

The Drinks Industry Show has announced the addition of a number of new domestic & international exhibitors to its one stop industry event at Luna Park. Event Director, Exhibitions and Trade Fairs, David McCarthy expressed his delight for the way the show has shaped up in its first year by saying, “It’s great to see a diverse range of exhibitors adding value to the show. This diversity is already translating ...

New Zealand based Villa Maria Wine has claimed high honours at the 2015 Spiegelau International Wine Competition, receiving the title of ‘Champion Producer of the Show’, as well as two varietal trophies and an additional 12 gold medals across Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Noir. “It’s a great night out when our North and South Island winemaking and viticulture teams can walk away with a trophy each. That teamed ...

Wrapping up Tequila Herradura’s ‘Mi Casa Su Casa’ world-first initiative in Australia, nine of the country’s leading tequila bars flew out to the spirit’s motherland in July. Celebrating these bars’ hard efforts over the prior 12 weeks, in what was a push to engage consumers in new and innovative ways with the versatility of the ultra-premium tequila, successful bartenders from each received an all expenses paid, week-long immersive trip to ...

St Agnes has launched into the luxury market with the release of two ultra-premium XOs – the XO Imperial 20 Year Old and XO Grand Reserve 40 Year Old. The two XOs will be officially released 8 August, a date which marks the brand’s 90th anniversary. The XOs join the already widely available XO 15 Year Old. Richard Angove of St Agnes Brandy, says the company is excited to raise ...

Formed from the spicy sweet flavour combination that has long been a staple of Mexican cuisine, Patrón’s latest SKU, Patrón XO Cafe Incendio, recognises a growing enthusiasm for intense pairings with an innovative fiery-hot chile chocolate liqueur. Still true to a Mexican heritage, Patrón XO Cafe Incendio combines the distinctive flavour of arbol chile with Criollo chocolate, both set to Patrón Silver tequila. Chile de arbol is a small and ...

Australian producers of chardonnay and shiraz were extremely pleased during the announcement of the 2015 Royal Queensland Wine Show Awards on Friday, 3 July. Topping a total 2,186 entries, the two varietals, received the show’s most prestigious accolades, including the Courier-Mail Grand Champion Wine of Show and the historic Stodart Trophy. First Creek Wines Winemaker’s Reserve 2014 Hunter Valley Chardonnay and Houghton Wines 2014 Bandit Shiraz from Western Australia were ...