Five top bartenders, five unique takes on the creative process

Inspiration comes from many places, but what do you do once you’ve got a good idea? How do you develop it, nurture it? How do you take that idea from imagination to reality?

And if it’s a cocktail recipe idea, the most important question is this: how do you make it delicious?

You might have seen bartenders around the country sharing their drinks in the Espolòn Afterlife To The Bone cocktail competition on social media; maybe you have stopped by one of their bars — there are 25 finalists showcasing their wares around Australia this month — to sample the drinks for yourself.

Well, I was fortunate enough to travel the country, visiting the talented top 25 bartenders in nine cities across two weeks, and talked to them about where they get their ideas from, how they turn them into reality, and why it is they do what they do.

It was an enlivening trip — it’s wonderful to know that the bar industry is in such smart, passionate and creative hands. And we got some really great stories from it.

So today, here’s a first taste of what five of the top 25 have been up to — you’ll get their recipes, see their drinks and can watch them talking about their process at the individual links below.

And don’t forget to get along to the national final taking place in Sydney on Tuesday 10 September during Sydney Bar Week. The top six will compete to take home the big prize of $10,000 — to RSVP click here.

For Anneliese Grazioli, it starts with the spirit

The ‘Queen of the North’ talks creativity, and her two Darwin bars.

Boothby.Sam Bygrave

‘It’s a cocktail a lot of bartenders know, but probably never made’ says Ben Hardy

The Black Pearl bar manager talks about his Crusta riff, creativity and more.

Boothby.Sam Bygrave

“I like to tell stories,” says Christian Kang

The talented and gregarious Darwin bartender shares a look into the creative process.

Boothby.Sam Bygrave

The creation process is ‘a collective effort’ says Callum McKay

The Bar Brutus bartender is one of the top 25 bartenders in the Espolòn Afterlife - To The Bone cocktail competition.

Boothby.Sam Bygrave

‘We’re in the business of making memories,’ says Bertie Boekemann

The Now & Then bar manager is one of the top 25 finalists of the Espolòn Afterlife To The Bone cocktail competition.

Boothby.Sam Bygrave