Jake Down from Pleasure Club Sydney has won the Australian leg of Diageo’s World Class cocktail competition in a hard fought battle held in Sydney last night, Monday May 27. Down emerged victorious competing against five of Australia’s top bartending talent in: James Irvine (Merivale, Sydney), Matt Bodycote (State Buildings, Perth), Rohan Massie (Rude Boy, Hobart), Shirley Yeung (Foxtrot Hospitality Group, Perth), and Tom Opie (The Waratah, Sydney).
Kate McGraw, Diageo Head of Advocacy said: “Every year, the talent in the Diageo World Class competition leaves me in awe and 2024 was certainly no exception. This year, the competition highlighted exciting trends in Australian bartending, from textural cocktails to thoughtful serves showcasing local produce. The innovation brought by all competitors has been truly inspiring and is a true testament to the quality of talent we have driving drinks culture in Australia”.
Jake Down will now compete in the Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year 2024 Global Finals held in
Shanghai later this year. There, they will compete against representatives from over 50 other countries battling it out to become the Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year 2024.
