The best in the world of cocktails are coming to Sydney

On Wednesday evening in Sydney, Diageo announced its program for the World Class Cocktail Festival to be held in Sydney when more than 300 international guests head to the city for a grand celebration of cocktail culture.

The launch was hosted at Bennelong at The Sydney Opera House, where World Class Australia Lead, Emily Wheldon shared some of the highlights of the program which will run from 9th until 18th September. The festival will culminate with the grand final of the World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2022 at which 50 bartenders from around the world will compete for the crown, including Australia's finalist, Nick Tesar from Melbourne’s Bar Liberty.

Ms Wheldon said, "The festival will celebrate great bartenders, great hospitality moments, creativity and the craft of cocktail culture."

Diageo's leadership team along with some of the world's most celebrated bartenders will head to Sydney to be a part of the World Class Cocktail Festival which, Ms Wheldon explained, will for the most part, play out in The Rocks and Circular Quay celebrating all the layers, textures, flavours and creativity of cocktail culture from high end dining to roadside margaritas.

Some of the highlights include:

• Hailing from the world's number one bar, London's The Connaught, 'Master of the Martini' Ago Perrone will host a one night only collaboration with Executive Chef Peter Gilmore to create magic with Tanqueray No Ten at Bennelong.

• Queen of Cocktails, and recently-named most influential bar star in the world, Norwegian bartender Monica Berg will transform Shell House's stunning Clocktower Bar into a pop-up bar showcasing the skills she has honed at her very own Tayēr + Elementary, voted second best bar in the world.

• For a few days only, the world's most awarded bartender, Ryan Chetiyawardana aka Mr Lyan, will transform the Green Room of fine dining restaurant Quay into a vibrant bar and supper club, serving the icon of modern luxury: premium Johnnie Walker Blue Label cocktails alongside delicious and iconic bites by Peter Gilmore.

• And from these lofty high-end experiences to a more down to earth vibe, the the Don Julio Food Truck Fiesta will assemble Australia’s most popular food trucks - including Beatbox Kitchen (Melbourne), Ricos Tacos (Sydney) and Taco Truck Dos (Melbourne) at Hickson Road Reserve with street food to be accompanied by delicious margaritas mixed by the team from Sydney’s Cantina OK! and a soundtrack from some of Sydney's finest DJs.

Festivities will flow into nearby hotspots including Surry Hills, Newtown and the CBD, where, among many others, the likes of Earl’s Juke Joint, Maybe Sammy, Double Deuce, The Rover, Frankie’s, Hickson House, Dean & Nancy's, will offer a curation of unexpected experiences, as well as interstate favorites including Black Pearl, Melbourne, popping up to share their magic.

The festival program is available here. Interstate readers: please book your flights, your hotel and your annual leave. It's going to be something special.

Jonathan Morgan, World Class, Diageo Australia, said: “It is going to be a fantastic showcase of Australia’s incredibly unique food and drink scene on the global stage, supported by the attendance of over 300 international guests from over 50 countries including many global industry legends. We believe it is another important moment of support for the hospitality industry and it will be incredible to see Sydney’s city full of life with its impressive cocktail culture booming.”

Tickets and bookings are on a first-come basis and capacity is limited at selected experiences.