Diageo World Class has announced that its 2020 Bartender of the Year Final will take place in Sydney, Australia.
Next September, Sydney will transform into a vibrant hub of events, experiences and celebrations as an elite group of bartenders from across the globe battle it out to be crowned the world’s best.
The news was just revealed during this year’s World Class event, held in Glasgow.
It’s a huge coup for Sydney and a testament to the quality of the local drinks industry. The Australian final of the competition is recognised as one of the best in the world, having produced two global winners – Tim Philips (2012) and Orlando Marzo (2018) – in the past decade. This year’s finalist Alex Boon (pictured main with Marzo) also impressed the global judges with his unique flair, passion and creativity during the event.
Andrew Oughton, Diageo Australia Marketing & Innovation Director, said: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome the world’s biggest and best bartending competition to Sydney in 2020. A vibrant food and drinks scene is at the heart of any great city’s culture and we can’t wait to showcase ours next September.
“Australia’s bartenders are going to show the world why we’ve produced two World Class winners in the competition’s 11-year history, leading the charge with creativity, innovation and expertise. It’s going to be a brilliant celebration of Australian hospitality and our diverse and innovative drinks culture”.
Simon Earley, Head of Diageo World Class, said: “At first glance, Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year is all about inviting the world’s finest bartenders to take part in a huge competition using the very best spirits. But it’s also about getting all these incredible talents working and learning together, so they can inspire each other to elevate drinks culture globally.
“Australia has consistently punched well above its weight in the global competition, and we cannot wait to see the city come alive with the world’s best in 2020”.
The 2019 World Class competition saw more than 10,000 bartenders from six continents craft cocktail creations using spirits from Diageo’s Reserve portfolio, before being whittled down through a series of national heats to a group of 55 of the world’s best bartenders.
Over the past week, the finalists competed in a series of challenges in Amsterdam and Scotland including:
- Making a Ketel One Vodka cocktail that had a positive environmental impact and sense of community at its core
- Mixing up a Talisker masterpiece, using a mystery box of ingredients and bar tools
- Creating a drink that respected, enhanced and complemented single malt The Singleton
- Devising a cocktail flight of three small drinks that explored the fresh citrus heart of Tanqueray No. Ten
- Excelling at a Johnnie Walker ‘highball in a can’ challenge
- Plus, a final speed round where they were judged by industry legends on the quality of their cocktail-making under immense time pressures.
Singapore’s Bannie Kang was crowned the World’s Best at an exclusive event in Glasgow’s famous west end last night. She will spend the next 12 months as a global ambassador for Diageo’s Reserve brands, travelling the world and judging World Class national heats; inspiring 2020’s hopefuls and crowning regional champions; completing guest shifts in the world’s best bars; and playing a role in Diageo’s global partnership with IMG’s Taste Festivals.
