Diageo announces second phase of World Class bartending competition

By Mathew Lyons

Published: 17 March, 2016

Diageo Reserve has announced the launch of the second half of its World Class UK 2016 competition, which aims to find the best bartender in the UK.

World Class phase two - Fruits and Plants - will be open for entries between Friday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 30.

Bartenders are being challenged to think of someone who has made a difference to the environment in some way, and to design a cocktail around them.

The individual in question can be a anyone from a musician, artist or activist to someone in the bartender's personal life.

Entrants' must build their cocktails and the story of the cocktail around their chosen individual, while remaining true to the theme and delivering fresh, vibrant, light flavours with a strong seasonal sense of spring or summer.

The choice of spirits must come from Diageo Reserve's World Class selection, which includes Cîroc Vodka, Tanqueray No. 10, Ketel One Vodka and Don Julio, and use a minimum 30ml measure.

Bartenders can only use basic tools that can be found in the home.

Dan Dove, head of World Class UK, said: "We are incredibly excited to open the second phase of this year's UK World Class competition. The first phase, Mindful Drinking, was a huge success and we already have five very strong contenders through to the UK final.

"Fruits and Plants is structured in a way that we're able to identify different talents to those we were strictly looking for in Mindful Drinking.

"My advice for entrants is to not be too technical. We're looking for a human touch at this stage, so bartenders should create a drink and build a story for people who are not bartenders or from the industry.

"In stripping it back to the basics, competitors have the chance to showcase raw creativity and a true understanding of flavour. It also means we can celebrate the winner's drink by replicating it in trade and importantly, in the home too."

To enter, bartenders should visit www.theworldclassclub.com and submit their cocktail recipe before the competition deadline.

Dove will be lead a panel of judges, including World Class brand ambassadors, industry experts, leading influencers and previous competitors, who will announce a shortlist of 50 bartenders to be invited to the semi-final event, on Tuesday, May 3.

The winning bartender with then represent the UK at the global final, to be held in Miami in September 2016.

The UK winner will also have the opportunity to travel worldwide to identify new talent, and to become a mentor or judge in the following year's competition.

The owner of the bar in which the UK winner works will receive a £10,000 marketing fund to create their own World Class serve.

The semi-finalists already through from the first half of the competition, which was held in December, are Liam Broom of Callooh Callay; Tim Laferla from City Social; Sean Fennelly at Milk & Honey; Kyle Wilkinson from Blind Pig; and Scott Gavin of the Rosewood Hotel.

Click here to view a World Class video with further detail and guidance for entrants.

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