Back with a stir
Our national bartending challenge returns in full colour
Step Into The Never Never returns with more winners, bigger prizes, and a helicopter ride or two.
Step into the Never Never is all about showing the versatility of our
Triple Juniper, Ginache and Oyster Shell Gin.
Whether it’s a bright and refreshing highball or a perfectly balanced classic, our gins are
built to deliver exceptional flavour. You’ll create two drinks, one gin & mixer, and one three-ingredient cocktail and promote them in your venue using a physical menu
throughout the promotional period.
Step 1 | Long & Bright
This is your invitation to brighten up a gin & mixer, the bread and butter of the bar world. Create a “Long & Bright” serve using either Triple Juniper, Ginache, or Oyster Shell Gin. This year you aren't restricted to using tonic, but if you are it must be a commercially available one. Must contain 30mL of gin, (no more than 1 standard drink.)
Step 2 | Cause A Stir
Create a cocktail using Triple Juniper or Ginache or Oyster Shell Gin that aims to ‘Cause a Stir’ with only THREE ingredients. It needs to contain a minimum of 30ml of gin. The following do not count towards your total ingredients: garnish, water, CO2, unflavoured salt, unflavored sugar, yeast, acid, stabilisers (citric & malic acid only.)
Step 3
Both drinks must feature on a physical menu and be available throughout August. How you present it is up to you; an insert, a menu section, chalkboard, butcher’s paper, projection, pinboard, hologram, even a tattoo. As long as guests can read and order from it, it counts. The only rule? NO VERBAL MENUS.
Step 4
Submit your drinks and a photo of your menu via the Never Never website from 1-31 July.
The big shift for 2025? A return to seven winners from across Australia – one each from every state and territory (with TAS and ACT combined) - plus an extra wildcard spot for the competitor who creates the best overall menu. This will make 8 winners in total.
“We’re going big again – helicopter transfers, great accommodation, curated dinners, wild bartending challenges and some unforgettable moments shared with some of the best hospo talent in the country,” says Sean.
Participating venues will also benefit from a scavenger hunt-style campaign, with customers encouraged to visit bars and seek out featured Never Never menus – with great prizes on offer.
“We know it’s tough out there. That’s why we’re driving customers into bars and rewarding them for supporting our industry,” says Sean.
Entries open July 1st, with menus to run throughout August. Winners will be flown to South Australia for the October Long Weekend (October 4–7) to compete for glory – and a few jaw-dropping surprises along the way.
Our Brand Ambassador Team will be going around the country on the following dates for a guided trade masterclass.
Adelaide | Bank Street Social, 2nd July, 1pm - 3pm. RSVP to cody@neverneverdistilling.com.au
Brisbane | Frog's Hollow Saloon, 7th July, 1pm - 3pm. RSVP to liam@neverneverdistilling.com.au.
Melbourne | Pendant Public Bar, 8th July, 1pm - 3pm. RSVP to teandra@neverneverdistilling.com.au.
Sunshine Coast | Wat Den, 10th July, 1:30 - 3:30pm. RSVP to liam@neverneverdistilling.com.au.
Geelong | 18th Amendment, 10th July, 1pm - 3pm. RSVP to teandra@neverneverdistilling.com.au.
Mornington Peninsula | The Bon Vivant’s Companion, 14th July, 1pm - 3pm. RSVP to teandra@neverneverdistilling.com.au.
Sydney | Palomino Lounge, 14th July, 1pm - 3pm. RSVP to shay@neverneverdistilling.com.au.
Gold Coast | Loose Moose, 15th July, 1pm - 3pm. RSVP to liam@neverneverdistilling.com.au.
Perth | Terrarium, 16th July, 1pm - 3pm. RSVP to cody@neverneverdistilling.com.au.