As we head into the second half of the year and what is usually one of the industry’s busiest times for events, the pandemic has made our calendars unusually bare.
For Melbourne bars even more so, currently in the midst of a Stage Four lockdown that has not only made physical events impossible but also shut down regular on-premise operations.
But the community of the city’s industry is strong, and even in these incredibly difficult times, they banded together to bring some much needed positive energy into Melbourne’s second lockdown.
The Real Melbourne Iso Awards was the result – an online awards night complete with a virtual red carpet, lockdown and isolation-related awards, special guests and even a bartender competition. Plus, the event operated a virtual tip jar in support of the legendary work of Jason Chan and Henry Le’s COVID-19 EAD (Employee Assistance Directive), which makes free meals and care packs for unemployed hospo workers in the city.
It was created by the industry, for the industry, with all award nominations and voting being democratic from the community. In fact, the idea for the awards developed as the group of organisers went out for the last night bars were allowed to open before Stage Three Restrictions were reinstated.
The organising committee members included, Trish Brew from Fever Tree, Henery Hammersla from Applewood/Okar, Serekha Krishnan from Gin Palace, Jimmy Snelgrove from Mr Black, Sasha Nourse and Derek Senseney from Beneath Driver Lane, Hamish Goonetilleke and Daniel Monk from Rum Diary Spiced and Zac Matassoni (recently back to Melbourne and yet to find a home).
Taking place through the magic of technology last Saturday, Goonetilleke and Monk told Bars and Clubs how the event was intended to be an inclusive way to bring some light hearted fun back into the industry, and give people a break mentally from the challenges of the lockdown.
Monk said: “It was a way to keep everyone in hospo together and combined with something more community driven.”
Goonetilleke added: “It was just fun… and I guess the whole the whole preface of the awards was around mental health, and it was to keep bartenders who were about to go into a second lockdown, not knowing when this thing was going to end – let’s just give them some fun.”
Over the course of the night, awards were presented in some pretty unique categories that you wouldn’t typically see at awards nights before the pandemic. Individual things like the Best Iso Hair and Best Iso Bod were recognised, as well as venue and brand recognition for things like the Best Bar Closure, Best ‘We Have Sections’ and Best Rep Who Didn’t Force You To Buy Stock.
The winner of the latter was Trish Brew, who said she thought the event was quite successful.
“The aim was to brighten the mood and keep the Melbourne hospitality community connected during these trying times. There was plenty of engagement and positivity towards all of the nominees and competitors. Additionally I was able to enjoy a drink with many of my favourite bartenders without having to ‘find my way home’ afterwards,” Brew told Bars and Clubs.
It certainly got lots of people involved – Goonetilleke and Monk said there were 380 individual voters who nominated over 70 recipients, and hundreds of people tuned in on the night. Plus, over $1000 was raised in the COVID-19 EAD tip jar alone, with many more donators also being directed to donate from another link.
Mixed in with the awards was top notch banter, live head shaving and the Iron/Iso Bartender face-off, where Chelsea Lamperd and Andrew Joseph battled it out with a package of mystery beetroot ingredients to create a cocktail live on air.
Not to be forgotten was the iconic cameo of international super star Carol Baskin of Big Cat Rescue in the US and the hit Netflix show Tiger King. Baskin called out the work of COVID-19 EAD and its hospo heroes Chan and Le.
Goonetilleke said: “On the night, it was just priceless – we didn’t tell anyone [that we got Baskin] – kept it a total secret.”
But this isn’t the last you’ll hear from the team behind the Real Melbourne Iso Awards – there’s more ideas in the works to support the city’s industry soon too. Until then, Goonetilleke and Monk described how everyone around the country can show their support.
“We are doing something again… we’re about 24 hours into the planning so far and have a few ideas that we’re going to sprout. But if we can get more people following the page, that would be excellent,” Monk said.
Goonetilleke added another suggestion: “Shop local… go to the small bars who set up a wine shop, go to your favourite bars’ Facebook pages and see if they’re doing a whisky flight or a cocktail they’re doing themselves, and buy direct from them.”
“That covers overheads because everything is so skinny right now. But also, when we do see sales come in, it actually really gives you a lot of hope too. It’s really nice to see people engaging with the brand.”
You can catch up with what you missed on the Real Melbourne Iso Awards Facebook page, and donate to COVID-19 EAD here.
The full list of winners on the night are below:
- Best 20 Seater: Bar Ampere
- Best Bar Closure: Loch & Key
- Best Rep That Didn’t Force You To Buy Stock: Trish Brew, FeverTree
- Best Brand Sponsored Content: Never Never Have I Ever Bartender Challenge
- Best Brand Freebie: Jameson Gift Sets and Merch
- Best ‘Come See Ya Gurl’: Kiem Nguyen
- Best Dry July Attempt: Taylor Matthews
- Best Home Bar Manager: Cara Devine
- Best Iso Bod: Alejandro Archibald
- Best Iso Hair: Ashleigh Tennant
- The Who Left Melbourne Superstar: Jez Spencer
- Best Person To Drag You To Loch & Key: Hayley Dixon
- Best ‘We Have Sections’: Loch & Key
- Best Live Stream: Beneath Driver Lane
- Iron Bartender: Chelsea Lamperd
