{"id":110315,"date":"2025-02-26T02:33:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T02:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/alcohol\/this-brisbane-young-gun-is-making-a-mark-on-the-cocktail-scene\/"},"modified":"2025-02-26T02:33:27","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T02:33:27","slug":"this-brisbane-young-gun-is-making-a-mark-on-the-cocktail-scene","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=110315","title":{"rendered":"This Brisbane young gun is making a mark on the cocktail scene"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Georgia Gresham<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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We always love the Rookie of the Year category in the Bartender Magazine<\/em> Bar Awards. It highlights a whole bunch of new names\u2014young people who are working hard, doing well, and trying to make their mark. Maybe they\u2019re doing their \u2018apprenticeship\u2019 at an excellent cocktail bar or entering every cocktail competition they can. Whatever the case, they\u2019re putting themselves out there and giving us all hope for a great new generation of bartenders and bar owners.<\/p>\n

Here, we chat with Rookie of the Year finalist for 2024, Georgie Gresham. She was formerly at Maker but has recently taken on a new role at Before & After Bar.<\/p>\n

Tell us a little bit about how you got into the bar industry.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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ADVERTISEMENT<\/small>
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I would say it was almost an accident that I fell into bartending. I found myself working in a restaurant bar not long after the end of COVID. I was introduced to The Gresham, and it was immediately my goal to work there. It\u2019s like my name was written all over that place. I did my first Greenhorn comp and fell in love with drink creation.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve had lots of success, and your profile is on the rise. Why do you think that is?<\/strong><\/p>\n

2024 was a big year. As much as I could, I tried to post what I was doing throughout the year\u2014keeping people as excited as I was. I will admit, social media still baffles me. It\u2019s crazy how much my profile has grown in just one year. There\u2019s more to come this year!<\/p>\n

What have been some of the highlights of the journey so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Mix Haus events are definitely a highlight. Every single one I\u2019ve worked has been insanely fun, supportive, and just the right amount of chaotic. Some insanely awesome women are part of our industry.<\/p>\n

On top of that, the Espol\u00f2n Afterlife comp\u2014getting to know the people in the top six was incredible.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve recently accepted a role at Before & After. Tell us a little about the new venue\u00a0and your role.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be starting at Before & After at the beginning of February, and I\u2019m super excited. I\u2019ll be taking on more responsibility in drink and menu creation, which is really cool. Get ready for more tasty drinks!<\/p>\n

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Who have been some of your mentors?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have so many! Pretty much everyone I\u2019ve worked with has taught me how to be a better bartender.<\/p>\n

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  • Scrat the squirrel-rat, teaching me to never stop chasing my dreams.<\/li>\n
  • Darryl Crowhurst, who let me make an absolute mess in his bar at the very beginning and encouraged my crazy ideas.<\/li>\n
  • The Gresham crew\u2014amazing to learn from.<\/li>\n
  • Corby Small\u2014her determination and care have always inspired me.<\/li>\n
  • Zane\u2014making sure every mocktail had the same amount of excitement as the cocktails.<\/li>\n
  • Jacob Geaney\u2014for convincing me to do that first Greenhorn comp and believing in me.<\/li>\n
  • Sgregs\u2014for being Sgregs and teaching me how to boatrace a Sunnyboy.<\/li>\n
  • Ellery Low\u2014definitely a big one over the past year, giving me an appreciation for the finer details.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    The list goes on! I struggled to narrow it down this much.<\/p>\n

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    \u201cI was introduced to The Gresham, and it was immediately my goal to work there. It\u2019s like my name was written all over that place. I did my first Greenhorn comp and fell in love with drink creation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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    What does a great bar shift look like to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Prep done. Good music. Regulars and hospo friends popping in all night. The potential of a metal horse flying through the air. Closing the bar to the sound of Nickelback<\/em>.<\/p>\n

    Who is the best person to be in the trenches with on a busy night?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Sgregs\u2014James Gregory. The dance moves keep you going.
    Blade Deegan\u2014when he\u2019s not wearing a banana costume.<\/p>\n

    Where do you see yourself in five years?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Surviving the apocalypse and finding a way to craft cocktails in the new age. Opening a bar for all kinds. Using mutant turnips to make spirits and yeast from the soil of Mars to create flower fermentations.<\/p>\n

    What\u2019s the best bar you\u2019ve been to and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Some bars that have amazed me:<\/p>\n

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    • Rosella\u2019s<\/strong>\u2014such a tight concept, and the drinks reflect it. I love that I can go there and see what Australia is doing, what we have to offer the bar world.<\/li>\n
    • RE<\/strong>\u2014a bar that blew me away. All the small details. Reducing waste is something I\u2019m passionate about but terrible at. Seeing sustainability executed so well in our industry was inspiring.<\/li>\n
    • The Gresham<\/strong>\u2014the bar that started it all for me. I fell in love with The Gresham from the first sip.<\/li>\n
    • Family Mart<\/strong>\u2014because, well, it\u2019s Family Mart.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      What are you drinking right now?<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Big glass of cold milk.<\/p>\n

      Actually\u2026 two glasses of milk, please.<\/p>\n

      What do you love about the Brisbane bar scene?<\/strong><\/p>\n

      It\u2019s a community. We\u2019re there for each other. I\u2019ve really been enjoying how much it\u2019s been growing\u2014expanding in terms of venues and opportunities.<\/p>\n