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The delayed
Diageo World Class competition which has
now gone virtual has revealed the Top 8
GB finalists who will compete to achieve
the accolade of becoming GB’s World
Class Bartender of the year 2021.
The somewhat delayed due to Covid-19
global bartending competition, World
Class, has selected the top eight
finalists set to compete in the GB
virtual final taking place this April.
Five new finalists will join Stevie
Kane, Kuba Korzynski and James Rawcliffe
who were victorious in the bottled
Cocktail Challenge, winning their place
in the final back in September 2020 as
part of the series of London Cocktail
Week challenges.
Each finalist has been carefully
selected by the World Class expert panel
of judges after creating and presenting
standout serves as part of the Top 100
Semi Final, The Singleton Challenge:
Malt Memories. The Semi Finals took
place virtually this year and the
finalists astounded judges with the
following serves:
Alexa Farrow, London
In Memoriam: The Singleton of Dufftown
12yo Chamomile, Jasmine & Eucalyptus
Cordial, Belsazar Riesling Vermouth
Stefanie Anderson, Edinburgh
Between Two Sunbeams: The Singleton of
Dufftown 12yo, Tamarind, Lychee &
Eucalyptus, Soda
Mark McClintock, London
Ecossaise: The Singleton of Dufftown
12yo, Floral Pistachio Orgeat, Lemon
Murray Drysdale, Edinburgh
Trinity Highball: The Singleton of
Dufftown 12yo, Rhubarb and Custard Cream
Soda Cordial, Soda
Matt Arnold, Birmingham
Anamnesis: The Singleton of Dufftown
12yo, Charred Barley infused Elderflower
Liqueur, Water Blend
The finalists will compete to achieve
the accolade of becoming GB’s World
Class Bartender of the year 2021 and go
on to represent GB in the World Class
Global Finals. The 2021 final will be
hosted virtually and showcased via the
World Class Facebook page.
It’s an exciting first for World Class &
the GB Competition. The final has been
meticulously designed by World Class
partner agency Sweet&Chilli to ensure
the magic of the competition is brought
to life, showcasing the creativity and
skill of the Top 8 competitors.
Finalists will compete in two virtual
challenges showcasing their cocktails,
skills, personality & craft using
Tanqueray No. TEN, Johnnie Walker and
Talisker. The final will be broadcast on
April 23rd 2021.
This year’s Diageo World Class GB
competition has been headed up by Jo
Last, World Class & Malt Whisky
Ambassador and Pippa Guy, World Class &
Tanqueray Ambassador, who have been
curating the challenges and overseeing
the competition in its new format.
Jo Last, World Class & Malt Whisky
Ambassador, comments: "Taking World
Class virtual this year has been a new
experience, but we’re overjoyed with its
success so far. It was important for us
to stay connected with our community of
bartenders and to innovate, by adding
new challenges to match the increased
standards of competitors. We’re really
impressed by all the entries this year
and how well the competitors have
adapted to the new virtual platform."
Pippa Guy, World Class & Tanqueray
Ambassador, adds: “We have really
enjoyed being able to spend time with
each of our competitors albeit virtual,
and pleased to have been able to
continue showcasing the amazing talent
that the GB hospitality and drinks
sector have to offer. Thank you to all
those who entered and congratulations to
our top eight finalists!”
As part of this year’s prize package,
the winner will secure a 12-month
contract with the world’s first
dedicated bartender talent agency,
Global Bartending, founded by former
Diageo World Class Manager Dan Dove. The
specialist agency will work alongside
the winner to create a bespoke support
programme based on their career
interests and assist them in
preparations for the global competition.
Dan Dove has over 20 years industry
experience in the luxury drinks sector
and joins this year’s panel of judges
for the World Class GB finals..
This year’s prize also includes a place
on a WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits
course. This advanced level
qualification has been carefully
developed for professionals wishing to
acquire a detailed understanding of the
spirits of the world and develop the
tasting skills required to accurately
describe and evaluate a spirit.
Dan Dove, Founder and Managing Director
at Global Bartending comments: "I’m
thrilled to be judging the GB finals
this year and to be able to support the
winner with their next career steps. It
seemed a natural fit to be able to
provide support and guidance completely
bespoke to the winner’s journey. Very
best of luck to the top eight."
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