Nick Tesar wins Diageo World Class Australia’s Best Bartender 2022

Nick Tesar from Bar Liberty in Melbourne has been crowned Diageo World Class Australian Bartender of the Year for 2022 and will represent Australia in the Global Finals held in Sydney in September.

Bartender, entrepreneur, champion of local, and author Nick is no stranger to the bartending cocktail scene in cosmopolitan Melbourne. When he is not tirelessly working the floor at one of Melbourne's leading cocktail bars, Bar Liberty, he is part of the team behind Marionette Liqueurs, a range of cocktail liqueurs inspired by local produce. He is also co-author of All Day Cocktails, a book about seasonal produce and no and low alcohol drinks.

Australia’s top five bartenders competed Sydney’s Shell House to take home the title of Australia’s best bartender and a coveted place in the World Class Global Finals.

Following multiple cocktail challenges Nick took the win from fellow top five finalists Eduardo Conde from No. 92 GPR in Sydney, and Samuel Cocks from Bar Rogue in Perth, Sarah Proietti from Maybe Sammy in Sydney, and Kayla Saito from Black Pearl in Melbourne.

Going head-to-head across three rounds, the competitors faced three whisky-focused challenges - ‘The Icons of Sydney’ featuring Johnnie Walker Blue Label, the ‘Speed Round’ featuring brands from the Diageo Reserve portfolio, and ‘Into the Wild Mystery Box’ featuring Talisker. Each round tested the finalists’ skill, creativity and speed.

Nick will now compete in the Diageo World Class Global Finals held in Australia for the first time in the competition’s history. He will join 55 other global finalists in Sydney from countries including the United States, Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom, representing their nation and battle it out for the coveted title of World Class Global Bartender of the Year.

Krystal Hart, Australia's World Class Ambassador, added, "Each year, I am blown away by the sheer talent from the competitors entering World Class, and this year was no different. The 2022 competition has revealed some incredibly exciting talent with cocktails championing sustainability, driving awareness when it comes to supporting local communities.

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

This year, Australia will not only host the World Class Global Finals, but Sydney will be home to the 2022 World Class Cocktail Festival, a week-long celebration spotlighting the very best of Australia’s bustling bar scene.

From 9th -18th September, The Rocks and surrounding areas, including Surry Hills, Bondi and Sydney's CBD, will come to life as some of the nation's best bars and restaurants curate the most unique and immersive food and drink experiences. Across the World Class Cocktail Festival, there will be exciting pop-up events and collaborations, the latest cocktail trends and live entertainment alongside bartenders worldwide.

Diageo World Class’ mission is to inspire people to drink better and create unforgettable experiences. Whether at home or in a bar, World Class encourages consumers to think and care about fine drinking in the same way they care about fine dining. World Class has supported, trained and inspired over 400,000 bartenders, across 60 countries, for over twelve years while partnering them with the world's finest spirits – the Diageo Reserve collection.