April Outturn 2025 Feature Interview
In February, Leah Dunnigan, the Bar Manager of our Brisbane Partner Bar Savile Row, was crowned the #1 bartender in Australia at the T25 Bartenders Awards, a stunning accolade as voted by fellow bartenders (after an initial Top 100 list is provided by several Brand Ambassadors). I reached out to Leah shortly after the awards ceremony, and they were kind enough to offer some insight into their career and what it felt like to receive such a prestigious honour.
AI: So, T25 winner — the #1 top bartender in Australia as voted by your fellow industry legends — what was going through your mind in the moments leading up to the announcement vs. just after you’d been crowned?
LD: I think the day of the awards I had talked myself completely out of the possibility — after meeting and speaking to all of the amazing people on the list, it felt extremely unlikely I would win. Despite knowing how much work I had put into the project, classic imposter syndrome got the better of me. However, because of that I definitely felt much more at ease talking about harder topics in the interview sections because I knew I would only have a small opportunity to touch on them and they were too important for me not to bring up.
I think it was pretty clear how taken aback I was when my name was called out! My emotions overwhelmed me and I felt so grateful to win an award that was not only voted by my peers but the wonderful guests I get the pleasure of meeting every day. It became a wave of years of myself and others doubting me, hurdle after hurdle and years of hard work coming to fruition, and feeling like I maybe finally had a place in this whirlwind of an industry.
AI: Are you able to provide a brief snapshot of your career for our readers?
LD: I started off in the hospitality industry when I was 19 at my local pub in Western Sydney, I had become very isolated and socially anxious after I lost my dad and wanted to meet new people and come out of my shell. At first, it was just a way to get through University but like most of us I fell absolutely in love with the craft — so one Bachelor’s (degree) and half a Master’s later, here I am! I worked up the ranks across many of their venues and even started a side hustle of training venues and young bartenders on the basics, classics and service.
Classic, stubborn me always wanting to learn more, thankfully got offered to help open a new venue in the city “The Barrie” and definitely got a wake-up call on the standards within cocktail bars in the city, but they taught me so much within my year there, I left as their Assistant Manager! Thankfully with my passion and admiration for Whisky, I eventually got a job at The Baxter Inn and was the Head Bartender for two years — during that period I got nominated for Rookie of the Year and had a baby! With life and schedules being very different with a 6-month-old, I followed the incredibly talented Rocky Hair over to the Mucho Group and became the Assistant Venue Manager of Bar Planet (or as the resident Scorpino Chick and Martini Goblin haha!) and focused heavily on the training and the growth of our team.
Still struggling with the balance of being a mother within this industry but determined more than ever to prove it was possible, after a takeover in Brisbane — I fell in love with the bar scene up there. I reached out to Savile Row and they helped me move and gave me a place as Bar Manager. That was eight months ago and a lot has happened since and boy oh boy have I loved every second.
AI: You’ve been incredibly vocal in thanking and dedicating the award to all the people around you, how do you feel Savile Row and these people in your life have inspired your creative journey recently?
LD: I have been incredibly blessed to have been surrounded and mentored by some huge talents within this industry and I have loved learning different aspects from every single one of them so it made it very, very hard to pick a few, so why not thank them all!? Savile Row has made the biggest impact in helping me manage being a mother and being so unbelievably motivated to keep pushing. They lead with such empathy and healthy communication within their team, they have understood that despite my daughter being the ultimate priority to me, that does not detract from my ability to do my job to the best of my ability and if anything continuously motivates me to do better.
If I were to summarise what my creative journey is; it would be that every drink is authentically me. As much as I take inspiration from techniques and talents within the industry, I like to be creative in the ways that are true to me — unique and wild. I love to give drinks an identity and a whole service experience (we all know I love to yap) and believing in my capability is what inspires my process. However, I wouldn’t be like that if it wasn’t for the belief system William Beverley and Jacob Cohen have provided me at Savile Row.
AI: Moving from Sydney to Brisbane was a bit of a whirlwind, impulsive decision, correct? How do you feel the Brisbane bar scene compares to Sydney’s looking through your creative lens, and how has Savile Row played a hand in it all?
LD: Absolutely impulsive but the best decisions are (don’t quote me on that hahaha)! Well, size definitely plays a huge part in the difference between the two, the sense of community and support between venues I found a lot closer. I am originally from a very small town in Scotland so I definitely found the hustle and bustle overwhelming at times. At The Baxter Inn, we were busy seven days a week from open to close and it took a lot out of you. I love the variety in service in Brisbane, the people you experience during the week are so different from the weekend — it provides new experiences and you can get totally creative in the style of service you provide day to day.
I have found a huge difference when it comes to takeovers and events, it often feels like the whole city shows up to every event! Savile Row for me was a bar that could provide all the things I loved: in-depth and personalised service, knowledge-intensive and variety of spirits (especially whisky — YUMMY), high-volume cocktails and on the weekends I could have a bit of a boogie behind the bar and get everyone laughing. I no longer had to choose and could do every aspect of that with my all. However, I will add that it was the best move for me and for what I wanted, different people thrive in different environments.
AI: This award is an incredible recognition of your skills, passion, and dedication to the craft, how do you think this new accolade will better position you as a role model for other non-binary people and females in the hospitality industry?
LD: First and foremost, representation. I’m queer, non-binary and a mother — like, what? I want these spaces to be an opportunity for everyone but more importantly, be SAFE SPACES. There have been times in my career when I had no idea who to ask for advice because I genuinely didn’t know anyone in my situation — and that has almost made me quit. I have been told multiple times that I only got a job or opportunity for a quota or have been asked if I am trying to fulfil a “brand”, completely robbing me of the hard work I have put into everything I have done and I was just being my authentic self. So, winning an award voted by peers and guests felt incredible. I don’t know if role model is a term I am familiar with yet, but I am always an open ear for anyone and will always make time for people who care and just want advice. If anything, just keep going, always keep going.
AI: What is some advice you’d give to aspiring bartenders just beginning their hospitality journey?
LD: Do this because you love it. Do this because you love the interaction of making a guest’s day better because at the core that is hospitality. I know so many young bartenders come into this wanting to be the best bartender and be a huge name, but don’t enjoy actually working on the bar and speaking to guests. When you love this, you get so much fulfillment every single day and that’s why I love this job so much. Also, accept the fact you are never at the ceiling of your learning and neither are your mentors and idols. The beauty of this industry is that it is ever-growing and always evolving — lean into that and enjoy the ride.
Be sure to drop past Savile Row, our Brisbane Partner Bar, at 667 Ann Street in Fortitude Valley (behind the orange door) for some incredible hospitality from Leah and the team (and don’t forget that Society membership card for 20% off the entire backbar)!
This article is featured in the April 2025 issue of Outturn Magazine — bottles will be available to purchase from Friday the 4th of April at midday AEDT exclusively to members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Not a member? Click here to learn more about the world’s most colourful whisky club.
