Heineken has crowned its 2026 Star Quality National Champion, with Jorja Salt (The Boat – Mindarie) taking out the top honour for best pour.

Held at the Heineken Fan Zone during the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix 2026, Salt was recognised for their flawless execution of all five steps of Heineken’s five-step Star Serve ritual: rinse, pour, skim, check and serve.

Salt’s perfect pour saw the foam sit precisely on the shoulders of the star, a detail unmatched by other finalists.

Finalists were selected from a pool of over 1000 bartenders nationwide, bringing together the country’s top bartending talent. The event showcased the best in beer craftsmanship, as participants competed for the title by demonstrating mastery of

Established as a cornerstone of Heineken’s premium quality standards, the Star Serve ritual sees consumers twice as likely to repurchase a Heineken® when a bartender complies with all five steps, supported by more than eight years of mystery shopping insights.

Salt was joined on the podium by Belle Ritchie (Normanby Hotel, Brisbane) in second place, and Will Lincoln-Price (BearBrass, Melbourne) in third.

The competition forms part of Heineken’s broader Star Quality Program, which has trained thousands of bartenders across hundreds of venues nationwide on the Star Serve. Designed to elevate the beer experience, the program reinforces the importance of perfect execution at every stage of the pour, which, alongside being served in Heineken® branded glassware, is a key driver of consumer satisfaction and repeat purchase.

“The Star Quality Program is about more than just pouring the perfect beer, it’s about delivering a consistently premium experience for every Heineken® served,” said Dino Bozzone, Heineken Country Manager. “Our National Final is a celebration of the venues and bartenders who bring this to life every day.”

Additional finalists included Matthew French (Warradale Hotel, Adelaide), Kathy Liu (Hotel Nacional, Melbourne), Tayla Brown (Scarborough Beach Bar, Perth), Chris Hodges (Finn McCool’s, Fortitude Valley), and Fred Wadkins (formerly of The International, Sydney), who also took home the Wild Card award for theatre and presence.