The best/most favourite bartender in regional Victoria competition 2024: Winner and finalists announced

HAPPY HOUR: The votes are in and regional Victoria’s favourite bartender and finalists have been revealed. Find out who took the crown.

HAPPY HOUR: The votes are in and regional Victoria’s favourite bartender and finalists have been revealed. Find out who took the crown.

The votes have been counted, and it’s time to reveal who is regional Victoria’s favourite bartender, as well as the finalists.

These bartenders received the highest amount of votes from the audience in a tough competition where many every contender had fans.

Whether it’s bartenders striking up a conversation, their fast service, humble nature, creativity, generosity, dancing to the beat of the surrounding music or their talents behind making the best alcoholic beverage — all these qualities make a successful bartender.

See below if your nominated bartender was crowned the winner, and you can celebrate their success with a drink or two.

FINALISTS (6 VOTES EACH) — Kelly Crapper (Tysons Reef Hotel: Bendigo), Liam Watt (Deadwood: Dromana), Riley Timmers: Glengarry Hotel: Glengarry) & Beau Matthews sip.cocktail bar & eatery: Mildura)

These four bartenders all scored equally.

LIAM WATT: DEADWOOD — DROMANA

Liam Watt from Deadwood Dromana is a finalist in the competition.

Bartender Liam Watt from Deadwood Dromana. Picture: Supplied

RILEY TIMMERS: GLENGARRY HOTEL — GLENGARRY

Glengarry Hotel’s Riley Timmers is a finalist in the competition.

Bartender Riley Timmers from the Glengarry Hotel. Picture: Supplied

KELLY CRAPPER: TYSONS REEF HOTEL — BENDIGO

Kelly Crapper from Tysons Reef Hotel in Bendigo is a finalist in the competition.

Bartender Kelly Crapper from Tysons Reef Hotel in Bendigo. Picture: Supplied

BEAU MATTHEWS: SIP. COCKTAIL BAR & EATERY — MILDURA

Beau Matthews from sip.cocktail bar & eatery in Mildura is a finalist in the competition.

4TH PLACE

KYE BRERETON: SEANCHAI IRISH PUB & HOTEL WARRNAMBOOL — WARRNAMBOOL (7 VOTES)

Kye Brereton is a bartender at both the Seanchai Irish Pub and Hotel Warrnambool.

Mr Brereton received the fourth most amount of votes in the competition.

One of his fans said he was a lover of sport, travelling and passionate about making drinks.

Bartender Kye Brereton from Seanchai Irish Pub and Hotel Warrnambool has placed fourth in the competition. Picture: Supplied

Get the latest news straight to your inbox. Subscribe to our email newsletters.

DUAL 3RD PLACE

GARETH WILLIAMS: JOYCITY — MILDURA (9 VOTES)

Gareth Williams from Joycity Mildura has placed third in the competition.

Joycity is a venue with private karaoke rooms.

Bartender Gareth Williams from Joycity Mildura placed third in the competition. Picture: Supplied

MEGAN SHELLCOT: ROYAL STANDARD HOTEL TOORA & FOSTER RSL — GIPPSLAND (9 VOTES)

Bartender Megan Shellcot works at both the Royal Standard Hotel in Toora and the Foster RSL.

Ms Shellcot also placed third in the competition.

The 33-year-old said she had been a bartender since she was 20, having always wanted to work in the industry in her teenage years.

She said her favourite drink to make was any kind of layered shot, like a cowboy or a mint slice.

“It takes practice and patience and it looks so cool when you get it right,” Ms Shellcot said.

“I also love the feeling when you pour the perfect beer, there is something very satisfying about that every time.”

Bartender Megan Shellcot has placed dual third in the competition. Picture: Supplied

She said the skills a bartender required were being able to pour a “great beer” and make a “tasty drink”.

“But it’s also about people skills, making people feel welcome and comfortable, being social and have a chat and a laugh while serving them drinks,” Ms Shellcot said.

“Because you are always wanting their experience to be a positive one.

“Smiling and engaging is key.”

Ms Shellcot said she felt “very humbled” and “grateful” for everyone who voted for her.

“It means a lot that you all think so highly of me,” she said.

2ND PLACE

LIAM SMITH: LAKE VIEW HOTEL — BALLARAT (11 VOTES)

Bartender Liam Smith from Lake View Hotel in Ballarat has claimed the runner up spot in the competition.

Mr Smith has been a bartender for six years and his favourite drink to make is a lemon slice, with limoncello and a vodka base, using lemon curd to give the drink that “old school lemon slice taste”.

He said a great bartender was someone who loved providing customers with an enjoyable experience.

Bartender Liam Smith from Lake View Hotel in Ballarat has placed second in the competition. Picture: Supplied

“Whether it’s a chat with your local patron or new guest walking through the front door,” the 24-year-old said.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s pouring a beer or making cocktails, it’s all part of being a good bartender.”

Mr Smith said it was a “pretty cool feeling” to be named one of the top three.

“There’s lots of talented bartenders out there so I’m humbled to have been given a bit of support,” he said.

1ST PLACE

LILY JOHNSTON: PANTON HILL HOTEL — PANTON HILL (33 VOTES)

Panton Hill Hotel’s bartender Lily Johnston has been named regional Victoria’s best bartender.

The 20-year-old has been a bartender for two years and her favourite drinks to make are any beverages with sour.

“It’s delicious and there’s something so satisfying about a dry shake,” Ms Johnston said.

Bartender Lily Johnston from Panton Hill Hotel has won regional Victoria's best and favourite bartender competition, receiving the most votes from the audience. Picture: Supplied

She said a successful bartender paid attention to detail and worked well under pressure.

“And always finding the customer’s jokes funny,” Ms Johnston said.

She added she was honoured to be one of the top three.

“Shout out to all the regulars for supporting me,” Ms Johnston said.

OTHER BARTENDERS WHO WERE NOMINATED/RECEIVED VOTES

There were many other bartenders nominated who also received a number of votes — see below who they were in no particular order.

ALBURY WODONGA REGION

— Dave McKnight: Dederang Hotel, Dederang

— Molly Collingridge: The Boat Shed Lake Hume, Lake Hume

BALLARAT REGION

— Jake Coverdale: Royal Mail Hotel, Sebastopol

— Jonas Thomson: Royal Oak Hotel, Ballarat

— James Kearney: Red Lion Hotel, Ballarat
— Savannah Stevens: The Crypt Ballarat, Ballarat

— Brett Aspland: Millers Arms Hotel, Soldiers Hill

— Evan Elliott: Red Lion Hotel, Ballarat

— Joe Hirons: Midtown Cellars, Ballarat

— Luke Evans: The Park Hotel, Ballarat

— Anthony Koop: Meagher’s Hotel, Ballarat

— Mitchell Morton: Flying Horse Entertainment Venue, Ballarat

— Tayla Jarvis: Freight Bar, Ballarat

— Pat McRostie: Boatshed Restaurant, Ballarat

GIPPSLAND & BASS COAST REGION

— Tash Stenson: Boutique Weddings & Events, Cape Paterson

— Kass Smith: Exchange Hotel, Foster

— Sarah Bennett: Palace Hotel, Lang Lang

— Katelyn Duffin: Hotel Phillip Island, Cowes

— Curt Petroff: Foster Golf Club, Foster

— Kate Heywood: The Lost Cowe Phillip Island, Cowes

— Emily: Hotel Phillip Island, Cowes

— Alfie Brown: Hotel Phillip Island, Cowes

— Michael Willcocks: Fish Creek Hotel, Fish Creek

— Liam Easton: The Cally Hotel, Wonthaggi

— John Wilson: Archaic & Wonthaggi Workmens Club, Wonthaggi

— Andra Blatala, Inverloch

— Doug Landers: Royal Standard Hotel, Toora

BENDIGO REGION

— Fraser Sait: Hibernian – HIBO Hotel, Golden Square/Bendigo

— Finn Vedelsby: The Dispensary Bar & Diner, Bendigo

— Ethan Young: The Deck/The Courthouse, Bendigo

— Jake Malone: National Hotel, Bendigo

— Grace Howard: The Courthouse, Bendigo

GOULBURN VALLEY REGION

— Chris O’Dwyer: Shamrock Hotel, Numurkah

— Alex Clark Honcho, Mansfield

— Marjory Madden: Overlander Hotel, Shepparton

— Nadine Harmeston: The White Hart Hotel, Longwood

— Sam Brown: Cellar 47, Shepparton

— Billy Smith: Cobram Hotel & Telegraph Hotel Numurkah

— Shannon Miller: The Grand Central Hotel, Cobram

MILDURA/SUNRAYSIA REGION

— Hayley-Rae Easton: Rumours Night Club/The Corporate Moose, Mildura

— Kellie Cohrs, Irymple

— Jeremy Russell: The Setts, Mildura

MORNINGTON PENINSULA REGION

— The Dubliner in Mornington, Mornington

NILLUMBIK REGION

— Missing Gorilla, Eltham

WARRNAMBOOL REGION

— Garrin Williamson: Frolic Lane, Warrnambool

— Archer Gavin: The Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool

— Nicholas Dillon: Hotel Warrnambool, Warrnambool

THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS & VOTES

Congratulations to all the finalists and winner of the competition.

Stay tuned for the finalist announcements in the upcoming comps.