Diageo brings world's best to Sydney

The Diageo World Class Final is destined for Sydney for the first time ever this September and has announced its Top 100 Australian Bartenders for the year.

Organisers say they received an overwhelming number of applications from right around the country including Sydney's Will’s, Maybe Sammy and Cantina OK, the Gold Coast’s Rosella’s, Rude Boy in Hobart, Perth’s Foxtrot Unicorn and Melbourne’s NOMAD. The competition will see the industry’s leading bartenders battle it out as they advance to the next round.

The top 100 bartenders are to look to aperitivo hour and deli culture for inspiration as they participate in The Singleton Deli Plus Two challenge: to create a cocktail using The Singleton single malt Scotch whisky plus just two additional components.

Krystal Hart, Australia’s Diageo World Class Ambassador, added: “The level of competition in Australia gets higher every year; we’ve been blown away by the quality and skill of this year's entrants to date.

"As we enter the competition’s second phase, we’re looking for the top five bartenders to stand out by demonstrating imaginative and show-stopping creations. Our work is cut out for us as the calibre has been so impressive. We look forward to see what’s coming up”.

Australia’s top five will be announced on June 13, before the finals are held in July to determine the Diageo World Class Australian Bartender of the Year for 2022.

Last year’s Australian World Class champion, Evan Stroeve of Re - Sydney’s no-waste bar recently named in The World's 50 Best Bars - wowed the global judges with his skill, creativity and commitment to sustainability and innovation. Following in Stroeve’s footsteps, Matthew Dale and Siôn Roberts from Re are among the Top 100 this year and will be battling it out to be named Australia’s best bartender in 2022.

Mr Stroeve said, "Being part of the World Class competition last year was such a momentous moment in my career, and is a potentially life changing opportunity for this year’s top 100 bartenders.

"The competition demands that you think creatively about flavours, process and technique. It’s an opportunity to bring an idea to life, and showcase not only your skills but the p

ersonality behind it”.

The 2022 competition will celebrate Diageo’s award-winning portfolio of reserve brands and hero whisky, with Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Johnnie Walker Black Label, The Singleton and Talisker taking centre stage.