This week I sit down with Leah Dunnigan, Bar Manager at Savile Row in Brisbane; a bar that’s equal parts thousand-bottle whisky temple, high-volume cocktail machine, and late-night dance party. Leah’s story is wild: from anxious uni student with a stutter to Baxter Inn head bartender, Bar Planet AVM, and now the woman steering one of Australia’s most-loved bars... all while being a mum and a recent Bartender of the Year winner.

We talk about the real stuff: night shifts with a toddler, what supportive employers actually look like, the pressure to perform, burnout, sobriety resets, and why “silly” cocktails absolutely have a place on serious menus. It’s honest, energising, and very Leah.

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

  00:47 Leah's Journey into Hospitality

  02:21 Transition to High-End Bartending

  06:13 Balancing Motherhood and Career

  08:23 Challenges and Support in Hospitality

  15:51 Future Aspirations and Industry Challenges

  21:53 The Excitement of Hospitality

  22:38 Creative Drink Innovations

  26:51 Memorable Bar Experiences

  29:48 Handling Burnout in Hospitality

  31:36 Quickfire Questions and Fun Stories

  39:10 Leaving a Legacy in Hospitality

• This episode includes discussion of mental health, burnout, abusive dynamics, and sexual assault within the hospitality industry.

  • Find Leah at Savile Row, Brisbane

  • Keep an eye out for Leah’s upcoming conversation series

  • Follow Overproof and hit ★★★★★ on Spotify/Apple

  • Share the episode with a friend in hospo who needs permission to set a boundary

  Host: Sarah Dawn Mitchell — Overproof
  Guest: Leah Dunnigan — Bar Manager, Savile Row (Brisbane)
  

  Here’s to slowing down and still having fun behind the bar.