Lume Gin × The Female Gaze — The Search
Every week, one more Sydney bar gets put to the test.
Paulina from The Female Gaze is working her way through the city, one martini at a time — scoring every pour on temperature, balance and the full experience at the bar. Lume Gin is behind the search and the trophy that closes it out.
Hosted by @thefemalegaze.au — powered by Lume Gin, Sydney's award-winning small-batch distillery
The Brief
A city-wide taste test, one venue at a time.
Sydney has no shortage of people who'll tell you where to find its best martini. This search puts that claim to an actual test — bar by bar, glass by glass, filmed and judged in the open, so the audience can follow the case as it builds.
The Criteria
Three things separate a good martini from Sydney's best.
Properly cold
Chilled all the way through, never softened by a slow pour or a rushed shake.
Gin meets vermouth
Spirit, vermouth and garnish working as one — nothing shouting over the other.
More than the glass
The pour, the glassware, the moment at the bar — the whole thing has to hold up.
The Search So Far
A new venue, every week.
Updated weekly as new episodes go live.
The Prize
It ends with a trophy, not just a mention.
The winning venue doesn't just get a shoutout — it gets hardware. Lume Gin is sponsoring a trophy carrying both names, handed over in person on a final visit when the search wraps.
Behind The Bar
The gin backing the search.
Lume Botanical Gin is distilled in small batches in Sydney. If the search has you craving a martini, you can stir one at home.
Gold · 2025Bartender Spirits Awards
Gold · 2026London Spirits Competition
Silver · 2025Australian Gin Awards
Join The Search
Think your bar makes Sydney's best?
Nominate your venue and Paulina will be in touch about a visit.