The Oxford Hotel’s Ash Lyons and a team of the hotel’s managers were in Sydney on Tuesday to hear the Oxford named as the winner of the best country burger category in the Australian Hotels Association NSW Awards.

There were 20 finalists in the category, which covered all the hotels in the state outside Sydney.

“To the best of our knowledge, it [the award] is not for one specific burger. You are recognised as being the best burger venue in country NSW,” Mr Lyons said.

He said he doesn’t know if the judges came to the hotel and tried a number of the Oxford’s burgers or just the one as they did their research before making a decision.

“But we think our signature B Town BBQ burger is the one they might have tried,” he said.

Made with a 100 per cent brisket patty, it features 150 grams of 15-hour hickory-smoked brisket pieces, melted American cheddar, beetroot and in-house, maple-cured, hickory-smoked bacon.

Mr Lyons said Great Race visitors from all over Australia have been enthusiastic about the hotel’s fare over the years.

“They often tell us that’s the best burger they have ever had,” he said.

“It’s pleasing that the judges feel the same way.”