Hindley Street bar takes out Australia’s Best Cocktail List at Wine List of the Year Awards

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An Adelaide bar has been recognised among the best in the country, with Hindley Street’s Canopy taking home Australia’s Best Cocktail List at the 2026 Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

The Adelaide CBD venue was named the national winner in the cocktail category at the awards ceremony in Sydney, placing its drinks program among the standout offerings in Australia’s hospitality scene.

For Canopy’s sommelier Henry Bampton, the recognition came as a surprise, but also as a welcome reward for the hours of work that go into creating its menu.

“We put a lot of work into those cocktails,” shared Henry. “It’s a really pleasant and affirming thing.”

For Henry, the difference comes down to giving every drink a reason to exist, rather than simply adding another cocktail to the menu.

“When we were designing these sorts of cocktails, we sort of just set out to not just make another cocktail,” he said. “It had to be about something. It had to be inspired by a story, or inspired by a flavour, or mostly, honestly, childhood memories.

“There’s real intention behind every cocktail on that list. They’re not just there to make money, they’re not just there to be tasty drinks. They have a reason and a purpose.”

That philosophy is backed by plenty of experimentation, with Canopy making its cocktails in-house and some components taking days to prepare through processes including infusions, freezing, thawing and clarification.

One example is 50 Shades of Citrus, a cocktail that brings together more than 12 ingredients, each with its own preparation process.

“It just takes days and days,” said Henry. “It’s step upon step upon step, which just builds texture and flavour, and all those sorts of things.”

Henry says the drink is a personal favourite, explaining that the spirit provides body and richness while citrus elements help soften its flavour.

For first-time visitors, however, he recommends Tea on the Beach, a vodka-based cocktail featuring Earl Grey tea, peach and raspberry.

The drink is already on its second iteration, with a third version recently completed and expected to arrive on the menu soon.

“We just keep tinkering and just keep making it better, just keep making it different,” he said.

That willingness to revisit and refine existing drinks is central to Canopy’s approach, with each new creation needing to deliver on flavour, technique and presentation before earning a place on the list.

The team also draws inspiration from ingredients and producers beyond South Australia, choosing products based on what works best for each drink rather than limiting the menu to local ingredients alone. Local fruit, vegetables and herbs still feature, alongside spirits from producers including Never Never Distilling Co.

The award win is also arriving at an exciting time for the bar, with Canopy preparing to introduce a weekly cocktail special that will give the team a chance to test ideas that have been sitting in development.

The plan is to release a new special each week, inviting customers to try it and share their thoughts.

“We have so much sitting in drafts,” said Henry. “That’s an exciting little program. I think we’ll have more fun with that than we think.”

The national award adds to a strong year for South Australian venues at the 2026 awards, with 2KW Bar & Restaurant named Best Wine List SA, The Crafers Hotel winning Australia’s Best Pub Dining Wine List and Australia’s Best Listing of South Australian Wines, and A Prayer for the Wild at Heart taking out Australia’s Best Wine List (Max. 200 Wines).

For Canopy, the win puts a national spotlight on the craft happening behind the bar, and the work that goes into turning a cocktail list into something worth travelling for.