Matt Arnold takes top spot in the UK leg of Diageo’s World Class bartending contest

SLTN was in the thick of it last month when Diageo held the GB final of its World Class bartending competition in Edinburgh. 

The culmination of this year’s British contest – which attracted 500 entries from bartenders around the UK – saw ten of the country’s top mixologists facing off in two very different challenges across two days in Edinburgh’s Johnnie Walker Princes Street. 

On the first day, each bartender was challenged to create a cocktail using Diageo’s Singleton whisky which would pair with a dish created by chef Mark Moriarty. 

Birmingham bartender Matt Arnold, owner of cocktail bar Passing Fancies, wowed judges with his serve, The Happy Accident, which paired Singleton of Dufftown 12 year old with plum whey and Aztec sweet herb. 

The judging panel for the first day included Scottish bar owner Iain McPherson of Panda & Sons, Hoot the Redeemer and Nauticus, as well as Diageo brand ambassador Jo Last, Maura Milia of The Connaught, Adrian Michalicik – the World Class global winner from 2022 – and Moriarty. 

The following day saw the finalists split into pairs and tasked with creating and presenting a Highball or Old Fashioned serve to a 44-strong panel of judges that included SLTN editor Gordon Davidson and assistant editor Dave Hunter. 

For the second challenge Matt paired with fellow finalist Emanuele Mensah to create the Hauf & Hauf Highball. 

The serve combined Johnnie Walker Black with butternut squash, soda and Champagne. 

The event culminated in Matt being named the World Class GB Bartender of the Year, which will see him representing the UK at the global finals of World Class in São Paulo in September. 

Winning the GB championship also means he will team with The Bottle Cocktail Shop to create his own bottled cocktail. 

“Over the past six months we have seen a new group of bartenders showcasing their creativity, passion and commitment to their craft,” said World Class GB ambassador, Jo Last. 

“The most rewarding part in leading a programme like this is connecting with bartenders all over the UK and we are looking forward to welcoming more of you into the World Class family next year.

“We are so excited and proud to have Matt representing GB on the global stage in São Paulo this September. 

“Matt has consistently created delicious drinks throughout the competition and is a World Class winner on and off the stage. We look forward to coaching him through the global finals, and I hope all of GB will join us in supporting him however they can in the lead up and when he competes in São Paulo!”

Matt said winning the GB leg of the world’s biggest cocktail competition was ‘surreal’.

“I was surrounded by incredible competitors, who I cannot wait to represent in the global finals,” he said. 

“A massive thanks to the team that help make World Class the incredible competition it is, and last but not least Lele, Eve and Tommy who I could not have done this without. 

“São Paulo here we come!”