Who | Leah Dunnigan
Where | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Current Bar | Savile Row
Past Bar(s) | Bar Planet (Sydney), The Baxter Inn (Sydney), The Barrie, Momento Hospitality
Favourite Spirit | Scotch Whisky
Favourite Juice | Mandarin
Favourite Classic Cocktail | Manhattan
First Classic Cocktail you ever had | Old Fashioned
Favourite Part of the Job | Genuine guest interaction with guests and making their day better, getting to educate not only guests but staff as well brings me so much joy.
Favourite After Work Drink | Pint of Guinness
Favourite bar in the world | Old Loves (Sydney)
Best known for | I am most well known for my extravagant service, my expansive whisky knowledge and more than anything my strive for helping make change for queer, non-binary people and creating a safer work space environments.
Favourite “at work” memory | Honestly, every shift is amazing with an incredible bar team.
What’s the most popular cocktail in your city? Espresso Martini
Favourite thing about your city | The hospitality is so consistent throughout Brisbane, and it is such a supportive community.
Who is your favourite fictional bartender? Moe – The Simpsons
What was the last photo that you took? Of my daughter!
Where is one place that you have never been but would like to travel to? South America!
Any claims to fame? I won Australian Bartender of the Year with Drinks World T25, Brisbane’s Jameson Bartender of the Year, Rookie of the year 2022 Nominee! Also run a lot of events to support Sorry Not Sorry Collective, The White Ribbon Foundation and The Burnt Chef Project. I also in my free time like to write articles and training programs. Probably known for being a Non-Binary Bartender in Australia.
Aperitivo or Digestivo? Digestivo
Sparkling or Flat? Flat
Paper Plane or Penicillin? Paper Plane!
Sherry or Vermouth? Sherry
Are you available for freelance gigs? Yes
Find them: Instagram and Instagram
Media: THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY – #1 Bartender in Australia — Leah Dunnigan, Savile Row
BARS & COCKTAILS – Chat at the bar with… Leah Dunnigan
BOOTHBY – Leah Dunnigan on making the bar you work at work for you
DRINKS TRADE – Interview: Leah Dunnigan is Australia’s #1 bartender for 2025
