Matt Barnett launched his career in the liquor industry at the tender age of 18 in the beautiful-bohemian Byron Bay of northern NSW.
In 2007 Matt joined the ranks at Suntory where he travelled extensively throughout Australia presenting the premium spirits portfolio at exhibitions, conferences, restaurants, bars and boardrooms presenting to bartenders, businesses, corporates and consumers.
Matt is an accomplished drink stylists and cocktail creator, his drinks and recipes are published in cookbooks, magazines, bartender handbooks and YouTube channels.
He has judged at many cocktail competitions around the world including the Australian Bartender of The Year competition in Sydney and other cocktail competitions on Hamilton Island, Auckland, Shanghai and Salzburg.
Matt has travelled to over 30 distilleries around the globe to countries including Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Scotland, Spain and the United States to immerse himself in the mysterious alchemy behind many global brands. He has picked grapes in Bordeaux, harvested agaves in Tequila, malted barley on Islay and drank from the most pure water source for making whisky in Japan.
Matt has led many product launches for premium liqueurs and whisky brands in Australia and New Zealand. In 2014, he played a pivotal role in the launch of Suntory Japanese Whisky into the Australian market, currently the market leader for Japanese Whisky in Australia.