The Diageo Reserve World Class Competition has named the Top 20 Australian bartenders through to the Grand Final. The successful contenders were selected from over 480 entries and will compete in the next leg of the comp in Sydney on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 June.
To make it through to the Grand Final, bartenders had to enter a drink into one or two of this year's categories - 'Set The Scene' or 'Create The Memory'. From here, judges chose the Top 100, giving points to each for artistry, innovation, balance, technique and visual aesthetic. To make it into the Top 20, this group was then challenged to come up with a 'visually stunning and delicious cocktail'.
Diageo Reserve World Class Competition Top 20 for 2017
Alex Boon, Seymours Cocktails and Oysters – QLD
Andrea Gualdi, Maybe Frank – NSW
Cameron Pirret, Seymours Cocktails and Oysters – QLD
Christian Blair, Annata – NSW
Edward Quartermass, Maker – QLD
Ella Rhodes, The Gresham – QLD
Elliott Pascoe, Maker – QLD
Elliott Bell, This Must Be The Place – NSW
Jake Down, This Must Be The Place – NSW
James Irvine, The Swillhouse Group – NSW
Matthew Follent, Bar 1806 – VIC
Matthew Linklater, Black Pearl – VIC
Michael Chiem, PS40 – NSW
Nick Tesar, Bar Liberty – VIC
Orlando Marzo, Lume – VIC
Phil Spector, Bulletin Place – NSW
Rohan Fisher, Boilermaker House – VIC
Simone Sanna, Bar 1806 – VIC
Thomas Angel, Kiyomi – QLD
Thor Bergquist, PS40 – NSW
From 5-6 June, these finalists will take part in a series of bartending workshops before putting their skills to the test in a number of live tests for the chance to win and be crowned Australia's Best Bartenders.
Mentors and judges this year include Paul Carmichael, Executive Chef of Momofuku Sydney; restaurant critic and Good Food Creative Director Gemima Cody; restauranteur and Owner of Swillhouse Group Anton Forte; former Global World Class Ambassador and Beverage Director of Ku De Ta Justin Smyth and former World Class winners Charlie Ainsbury and Jack Sotti.
The Australian winner of the 2017 Diageo Reserve World Class Competition will win an all expenses paid trip to the home of Johnnie Walker in Scotland. They will also be flown to Bangkok to attend the launch of the first Global World Class Bar and participate in an exclusive World Class Bootcamp in preparation for the Global Finals in Mexico City in August.
