IT SEEMS the Australian bar tending industry is realising what those in the Whitsundays already know - the Rum Bar is a top spot for a yum rum.

Named as one of 10 finalists in the 2016 Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards for Rum Bar of the Year, the local watering hole is drawing national attention to the region.

"It's not just great for the bar, it's showing that Airlie Beach is coming of age and that people are starting to recognise it's quality over quantity," owner Mark "Dr Rum" Wyatt said.

"It's quite unusual for these specialty awards to be awarded to fairly small towns.

"Normally these things go to bars in Sydney, Melbourne and occasionally Brisbane."

With the Rum Bar being the only category finalist from Queensland and the only finalist not in a major city, it appears "Dr Rum" is right.

Mr Wyatt said they were already a stop on the Airlie Beach tourist trail and he hoped the latest in a long list of accolades would help bring people to the area.

"Because we're members of the Ministry of Rum and the Global Rum Club, it's certainly on quite a few people's To Do List," he said.

"It's one more offering for the area (and) part of the overall package."

With the bar going from strength to strength, Mr Wyatt said they were now looking to expand their catering and private bar tending services.