Don Kavanagh tries to steady his nerves for a gig and some tasting at the Celtic Inn.

Chase Bickerton - from the The Naughty Penguin Bar in Queenstown - beat 370 entrants to win the biggest bartending competition in NZ history - the Beam Bar Legend. Contestants were tasked with six rounds including a formal interview, a blind tasting, an aperitivo challenge, a masterclass with Ago Perrone and two cocktail invention challenges. Check out images from the gruelling two-day final in Auckland.

Don Kavanagh mourns the demise of the traditional Irish pub in his homeland.

For what seemed like a millennium, New Zealand beer was brown fizzy stuff that tasted of, well, nothing. But no longer ...

Old habits catch up with Don Kavanagh as he does the rounds in Kuala Lumpur.

Don Kavanagh questions the logic in ruling out one-bottle alcohol sales.

Don Kavanagh samples new beers to sort the sippers from the session-suppers.

Don Kavanagh welcomes the return of the cocktail-mixing theatrics in bars.

The first time I entered the Tyler Street Garage I thought I'd walked into an Irish police station. It was hectic.

Purists who say don't mess with malt should think again, says Don Kavanagh.

I was worried when I stepped into The Villager, mostly because I saw two suits near the bar.

Independent brewers are making fine beers. Don Kavanagh's interest is piqued.

'Are you talkin' to me?' Don Kavanagh asks why cellphone junkies hang out in bars.