Eduardo Conde is Diageo World Class Australian Bartender of the Year 2023

From El Primo Sanchez in Sydney, Eduardo Conde has been crowned the Diageo World Class Australian Bartender of the Year for 2023 and will represent Australia in the Global Finals being held in Brazil this September.

Australia’s top five bartenders battled it out through multiple cocktail challenges in Sydney yesterday, Tuesday 27 June 2023 for the title of  Australia’s best bartender and a coveted place in the World Class Global Finals.

Conde took the win from fellow top five finalists, Alex Gondzioulis (Liquid & Larder, Sydney), Lachlan Gunner (Sourtrap, Adelaide), Andie Bulley (Savile Row, Brisbane), and Rohan Massie (Rude Boy, Hobart).

The competitors went head-to-head across three rounds over one-jam packed day. Leading with the Johnnie Walker Blue Label challenge, they started by creating a modern and sophisticated cocktail that embodied the powerful and rare character of the rare blend Scotch whisky. The second challenge championed tequila Don Julio 1942 and saw a traditionally disruptive and eye-catching serve created using the iconic tequila as a base. The third and final round was a mystery. Bundaberg Small Batch Rum from Diageo’s award-winning Reserve portfolio was provided, as finalists raced to present five serves within five minutes, three classics and two original cocktails. Finalists selected their classic cocktails at the beginning of the day, choosing their additional Diageo Reserve spirit, and were given a mystery box 30 minutes in advance of the round; a true test of skills and creative flair.

Conde crafted a collection of superb cocktails proving too tough to beat, including a twist on an Old Fashioned for the first Johnnie Walker Blue Label challenge featuring papaya and lemon geranium inspired by his Mexican heritage. For the second Don Julio 1942 tequila round he chose a twist on a Paloma using cumquat and mandarin inspired by Mexico City nightclubs. He went on to whip up an impressive five cocktails in the space of five minutes during the final speed round.

“Competing in the Diageo World Class Australian Bartender competition this year has been such an amazing experience. I am incredibly grateful to be part of this tight-knit hospitality community and am proud of being able to represent Australia on the global stage this September. Bring on the finals!” says Conde.

Having relocated to Australia from Mexico almost a decade ago, Eduardo Conde is the bar manager at Maybe Group’s El Primo Sanchez whose drink style is defined by using local flavours in new, bold, and exciting ways.

Conde will compete in the Diageo World Class global final held in Sao Paolo, Brazil from the 24th to the 28th of September. Joined by over 50 other global finalists from countries including the United States, Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom, he will battle it out for the coveted title of World Class Global Bartender of the Year.

Kate McGraw, Diageo National Trade Advocacy Manager said “Each year I am blown away by the sheer talent from the competitors entering World Class, and this year was no different. The 2023 competition has revealed an incredibly exciting landscape of Australian bartending with cocktails championing sustainability and telling the stories of local communities through unexpected and innovative ingredients and techniques.

“All five of the finalists gave it their all, but there could be only one Australian World Class Bartender of the Year. I’m so excited to see Eduardo Conde represent Australia in the global finals and show the world what we are made of!”

For more information visit Diageo Bar Academy.