Diageo Reserve’s globally renowned bartender competition, World Class, is now open for entries in the UK.
The competition, which is in its 14th year, will see talented bartenders from across the UK submit an entry of up to two serves to be in with the chance of making it into the Top 100.
Those Top 100 contenders will then be invited to take part in mentoring opportunities, with World Class judges visiting all 100 bars, providing one-on-one feedback, and connecting with bartenders across Scotland, England, and Wales.
New this year, World Class will be offering prizes throughout the competition, with individual achievements and mentoring opportunities awarded throughout each stage of the programme, providing both seasoned and new bartenders alike a chance to hone and progress their mixology skills, and also get valuable feedback from leading industry figures.
The Top 50 will be invited to compete in a fully immersive experience and present their creations in order to secure a spot in the Top 10 finalists, before a GB winner is crowned at Johnnie Walker Princes Street, Edinburgh. The overall winner will represent GB in the World Class Global Final taking place in Sao Paulo, Brazil in September 2023.
An esteemed line-up of industry figures will be taking part in the competition’s judging, including Maura Milia, Bar Manager at The Connaught bar, World Class Global Winner 2010; Erik Lorincz, Sandrae Lawrence from The Cocktail Lovers; Deano Moncrieffe, Founder of Equal Measures; Iain Mcpherson, owner of some of Edinburgh’s favourite bars; and the wonderful team from BarLifeUK.
World Class GB ambassador Pippa Guy commented: “World Class GB 2023 is set to be an extremely special programme and we cannot wait to get started. We have so much talent across the UK, so it feels great to be able to showcase the community’s creativity and skill. I can’t wait to see the serves everyone comes up with.”
Those wishing to enter the competition this year will be tasked to design a cocktail based around either Tanqueray No.TEN or Seedlip. ‘Balanced Botanicals’ will require bartenders to create a four ‘element’ cocktail containing: Tanqueray No. TEN, one citrus inspired element, one floral inspired element and one other element of their choice. For those choosing to create a Seedlip serve, the ‘Back Yard Bartender’ task asks entrants to develop one non-alcoholic cocktail using one of the Seedlip expressions, inspired by the beauty of nature.
To enter, bartenders will need to submit one or both cocktails by 23:49 on 20th January, 2023, on www.diageobaracademy.com/worldclassgb/.
The Top 100 shortlist will be announced 27th January and those listed will be invited to present their cocktail to the judges for a taste-test. The judges will be travelling around the country to meet the bartenders shortlisted as well as judge the cocktails that made it into the Top 100. This year, the semi-finals will take place at Birch, Cheshunt, and the GB finals will be taking place at Johnnie Walker Princes Street.
