WORLD CLASS ‘Tropical Journey’ Results

The time has come to announce the winner of this months “Tropical Journey” theme and our final contestant for the WORLD CLASS regional finals taking place next week at Luna Rossa in Gateway. As you all know the 5 judges were out in the trade last night at Unity Bar, Fairmont Hotel and Harveys Restaurant. Yet again the competition was stiff with all bartenders showcasing individual strengths. The judges were amazed at how the level is still increasing with new surprises every month.

This month the bartenders had to create a drink that fits into the “tropical journey” theme, which basically means the drinks had to contain wild and exotic flavours that would bring out the characteristics of any of the RESERVE brands. We were introduced to Sorbets, Goo Bubbles, Dry ice sand and magical vapour. The aromas and flavours were fantastic! Please see attached the recipes that were created…

But as we all know, we can only have one winner. And as you can see from the points below, winning by 83.4% from Harveys Restaurant…

  • In 1st place we have Hauroon Haffajee winning himself R1000 cash and an addition R10,000 event budget for his venue.
  • In 2nd Place we have Steven Saunders winning himself R700
  • In 3rd Place we have Patrick Mavundla winning himself R300 and a spot in the Regional Finals

So this brings us to the end of the monthly heats and now onto finding KZN’s best bartenders to represent in the National Finals. The regional finals will consist of 5 contestants battling it out for the regional title. As stated above the Regional finals is taking place on Wednesday the 8th of May at Luna Rossa in Gateway. These contestants will be put through 3 challenges to test their overall skills. They will be judges on Knowledge, Speed and Creativity. So here are your Regionals finalists;

1.       Hauroon Haffajee – Harveys Restaurant
2.       Steven Saunders – Harveys Restaurant
3.       Kwanele Sydney Mkhize – Oyster Box Hotel
4.       Jason Andrews – Unity Bar
5.       Patrick Mavundla – Fairmont Hotel

On Thursday the 28th of March, Ciroc Vodka and Uber Zulu in Morningside joined forces to create a White Mansion Ciroc Experience. Uber Zulu have recently joined the RESERVE team as a preferred vendor of the brands.

The night started at 6pm with VIP invited guests only. These guests were treated to complementary Ciroc Serves, decadent zulu sushi and VIP treatment. We had beautiful Ciroc Hostesses which were there to communicate the brands story and to capture guest details onto a database for the Ciroc VIP experience giveaway. This was announced at 11pm and congratulations to Sean Bentley and his girlfriend for winning the prize!

At 8:30pm the doors opened to the public making way for regional DJ’s and head liner Coco Loco. The event had roughly 300 people and as you can see from the images, the décor and setup was luxurious and sexy. A great night all round!

New Bar Manager Wanted at the American Bar, Savoy Hotel

image

Well, this opportunity doesn’t come around very often, and I would imagine that the person who gets this exclusive role would be in for a number of industry changing decades. This position includes managing 22 staff, Erik Lorincz (Head bartender and winner of World Class 2010), and a world known bar that’s heritage alone is something to respect. I have never been to the hotel, or even seen the bar (accept in photos) but I do know that this land mark in London has led the cocktail industry for decades, and any mixologist on the planet would tell you this.

Recently I organized for some of my customers in Durban to visit the hotel bar with Tim Judge (Africa Reserve Brand Ambassador) and from what I hear it was an overwhelming experience. Just the impact and presence alone is enough to send you home with passion and inspiration to jet set you along your journey as a professional bartender. I am extremely jealous!

Good luck to whoever is successful in being awarded this title, I do hope that one day I can meet you!

The Diageo Reserve World Class competition seems to be changing the world of bartending as we know it. For me, it has been truly inspiring to watch as global mixologists adapt to this new era of application and technique. Gone are the days of adding a couple ingredients to a shaker with ice and serve chilled in a glass. Now it’s all about theatre and presentation, and how well you adapt this to your knowledge of the base spirit. I am in a position where it is my responsibility to teach these modern day changes, but I find myself learning more and more every day.

The great thing about theatre with recipe creation is that it opens doors for fantastic themes during competitions and demonstrations. If we look at the competitions taking place around the world; Bacardi Legacy, Diageo Reserve World Class, G’Vine Gin Connoisseur, The Bombay Sapphire Comp, Angostura Bitters Comp, etc. they are all coming up with seriously challenging criteria which puts the bartender’s skills to the absolute max. I am managing the World Class program in KZN, South Africa and the challenges are immense. This month the contestants had to create a recipe that showed there culinary skills and techniques or how well they could pair a Johnnie Walker variant with a food dish. When one looks at all the techniques used in a molecular kitchen, your options become exciting and extremely entertaining to watch. Dry ice and liquid nitrogen are becoming as common in a bar as lemon juice used to be!

I personally think it is fantastic and very rewarding, especially because it is bringing back the passion to the industry. These individuals are no longer considering bartending as a part time filler to get them to the next level, but rather as a destination profession that they take very seriously.

The video attached is something I really enjoyed, and as you will see the bar has been raised!

Enjoy!

Well today is the day that we announce the winner of the Don Julio leg of the WORLD CLASS competition. What an outstanding month of skill, enthusiasm, innovation and originality, a massive well done to our top 5 for putting up a very difficult judging session yesterday!

As you know all contestants had to participate in a Tequila category training in which they were introduced to the brand, DON JULIO REPOSADO TEQUILA. The training was finished off with an advanced mixology module in which the trainee’s were shown what was expected of them for the WORLD CLASS competition. Each contestant had to submit a “Signature Serve” recipe containing Don Julio Tequila. This challenge allowed our local mixologists to go completely out of the box. As you can see from the photos attached we had espresso, we had syringes, we had Himalayan Salt crusts, we had elderflower sorbets and we also had sangrita!

But as we all know, we can only have one winner. And as you can see from the points below, winning by 0.3% from the Oyster Box Hotel…

  • In 1st place we have Kwanele Sydney Mkhize making a “Gonzalez Café” winning himself R1000 cash, a spot in the regional finals and an addition R10,000 event budget for his venue.
  • In 2nd Place we have Mathew James Low from Harveys Restaurant making a “Mayahuels Jestor” winning himself R700.
  • In 3rd Place we have Mo Therese from Unity bar making a “Classico” winning himself R300.
  • In 4th Place we have Andy Ngbobo from 9th Avenue Bistro making a “DJ Mango Margarita”.
  • In 5th place we have Warwick Flanagan from Harveys Restaurant making a “Don Julio Flower”.

 

Johnnie Walker has unveiled the first of a portfolio of whiskies that take their inspiration from the travelling heritage of John Walker & Sons. Available only in duty-free stores, the Spice Road pays homage to the global travellers of today. The brand has long had an affinity for travel: from 1820, the Walker family and their agents travelled the world, navigating their way down the famous trade routes: the Spice Road of Europe and Asia; the Royal Route from Europe to Persia; and the Gold Route of the Americas and the Caribbean, in pursuit of adventures bringing both new business and rich experiences. Their efforts ensured that, by the 1920s, Johnnie Walker had arrived in 120 countries and was being enjoyed on the great railways, luxury ocean liners and early transatlantic flights. Back in London, close to the shipping houses and docks from which the Johnnie Walker agents travelled the world, Alexander Walker established the Travellers’ Room where his agents would convene to rest, talk strategy and exchange stories and samples from their travels. These colourful tales of exploration influenced the Master Blenders, who began to create different styles of whisky to reflect these exotic stories. Today, this tradition continues as Johnnie Walker launches a range of whiskies made exclusively for travellers: the Explorers’ Club Collection™. The first three blends in the collection, collectively known as the Trade Routes Series, are inspired by the richness that could be found along the great trade routes. The first release, Johnnie Walker The Spice Road, is an evocative expression of the vibrancy, aromas and spices that one would have discovered in the thriving markets around Asia. It is a whisky of exceptional smoothness and rich flavour, matured in old oak casks for an intense finish.  “We specially selected whiskies to create a bold blend of intriguing complexity inspired by the richness of this part of the world: there is a spicy zestiness on the nose, balanced by fresh citrus. The smooth, rich and honeyed flavours on the palate, warmed by cloves, ginger and vanilla sweetness, give way to a smouldering finish of the Johnnie Walker signature smoke,” said Master Blender Jim Beveridge. Johnnie Walker The Spice Road will be available in duty-free boutiques in Europe, the Middle East and Australia this December, before being released globally in other duty-free stores from January 2013.
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Johnnie Walker has unveiled the first of a portfolio of whiskies that take their inspiration from the travelling heritage of John Walker & Sons. Available only in duty-free stores, the Spice Road pays homage to the global travellers of today.

The brand has long had an affinity for travel: from 1820, the Walker family and their agents travelled the world, navigating their way down the famous trade routes: the Spice Road of Europe and Asia; the Royal Route from Europe to Persia; and the Gold Route of the Americas and the Caribbean, in pursuit of adventures bringing both new business and rich experiences. Their efforts ensured that, by the 1920s, Johnnie Walker had arrived in 120 countries and was being enjoyed on the great railways, luxury ocean liners and early transatlantic flights.

Back in London, close to the shipping houses and docks from which the Johnnie Walker agents travelled the world, Alexander Walker established the Travellers’ Room where his agents would convene to rest, talk strategy and exchange stories and samples from their travels. These colourful tales of exploration influenced the Master Blenders, who began to create different styles of whisky to reflect these exotic stories.

Today, this tradition continues as Johnnie Walker launches a range of whiskies made exclusively for travellers: the Explorers’ Club Collection™. The first three blends in the collection, collectively known as the Trade Routes Series, are inspired by the richness that could be found along the great trade routes.

The first release, Johnnie Walker The Spice Road, is an evocative expression of the vibrancy, aromas and spices that one would have discovered in the thriving markets around Asia. It is a whisky of exceptional smoothness and rich flavour, matured in old oak casks for an intense finish.

 “We specially selected whiskies to create a bold blend of intriguing complexity inspired by the richness of this part of the world: there is a spicy zestiness on the nose, balanced by fresh citrus. The smooth, rich and honeyed flavours on the palate, warmed by cloves, ginger and vanilla sweetness, give way to a smouldering finish of the Johnnie Walker signature smoke,” said Master Blender Jim Beveridge.

Johnnie Walker The Spice Road will be available in duty-free boutiques in Europe, the Middle East and Australia this December, before being released globally in other duty-free stores from January 2013.

Jalisco Espresso Glass: CoupeGarnish: Orange ZestPair: White Lindt chocolate balls Ingredients: 50ml Don Julio Reposado 25ml Agave Necter 30ml Espresso Dash of Fee brothers orange bitters Method: Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and shake vigorously. Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with an orange zest. Pair on a white dish with white chocolate.
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Jalisco Espresso

Glass: Coupe
Garnish: Orange Zest
Pair: White Lindt chocolate balls

Ingredients:

  • 50ml Don Julio Reposado
  • 25ml Agave Necter
  • 30ml Espresso
  • Dash of Fee brothers orange bitters

Method: Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and shake vigorously. Fine strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with an orange zest. Pair on a white dish with white chocolate.

In the month of November the challenge was to create a TANQUERAY NO.TEN® gin recipe inspired by a classic from the past. Known as RETRO CHIC this concept puts focus on the bartenders understanding trends and styles from the RETRO era, and thus enabling them to understand classic ingredients and vintage styles. In total we received 17 recipes from 7 outlets, all of which were fantastic.

The top 5 contestants/outlets were;

  1. Fairmont Hotel – Hauroon Raffajee making a twist on the classic martini called, “The Three course Martini”
  2. Oyster Box Hotel – Kelly-John Bauwer making a twist on the Negroni called, “The betrayal of the Negroni”
  3. Oyster Box Hotel – Selvan Govender making a twist on the Cosmopolitan called, “The Retropolitan”
  4. Harveys Restaurant – Stephen Saunders making a twist on the Negroni called, “Time Capsule Revolution”
  5. 9th Avenue Bistro – Andy Ngcobo making a twist on the classic Gin Fizz called, “Citrus Gin Fizz”

The panel of judges consisted of;

  • Ryan Duvenage – Barcode Mobile
  • Joe De Wet – Livingstons Gastro Pub
  • Severin Bang – Barcode Mobile
  •  Alex Farnell - Brandhouse

The Contestants were judged in the following areas;

  • Originality
  • Expression of the spirit
  • Theatrical Performance
  • Brand Knowledge
  • Aroma
  • Taste
  • Interactivity with the consumer
  • Overall etiquette and confidence

The winner of WORLD CLASS Month 2 is….

Making a  “Three Course Martini” …winning himself R1000 cash and a R10,000 WORLD CLASS event budget for his outlet…

Well done to Hauroon Raffajee from the Fairmont Hotel in the Zimbali Resort, A truly WORLD CLASS luxury serve that really showed that you knew what the judges were looking for. This drink was a twist on a classic Martini consisting of TANQUERAY NO.TEN GIN, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth and fresh orange zest served with a side pairing of Grapefruit foam and Juniper & Coriander Infused mini bread loaf. Fantastic flavours and really brought a WORLD CLASS gin to life. WELL DONE.

In second place and winning himself R700 cash, goes to Steven Saunders from Harveys Restaurant in Morningside. His recipe was a twist on the classic Negroni in which he served a homemade sorbet with Campari infused wooden spoons. Amazing!

And in third place, winning himself R300 cash, we have Andy Ngbobo, making a Cucumber and Grapefruit infused twist on the classic Gin Fizz. He also made some really interesting garnish by dehydrating slices of fresh grapefruit in some sugar syrup. Very unique and a great presentation. Well Done.

Watch this space for future developments with WORLD CLASS and see you all in the next few days for next months’ training with DON JULIO REPOSADO tequila. May I also ask those who have not “Liked” the WORLD CLASS SOUTH AFRICA Facebook page to please do so? This will keep you updated throughout the competition.

This is WORLD CLASS launch video from the Johannesburg region of South Africa. The event took place at the Rand Club in town. The Bar has definitely been raised!

Check out this awesome clip of the WORLD CLASS launch which took place in Cape Town earlier this month. The event took place at a venue called “The Reserve” which is located in the heart of Cape Town. Looks like the heat has been turned up, Durban VS Cape Town VS Johannesburg!

Watch this Space!

Check out this video of the WORLD CLASS launch event in KZN that took place on Wednesday the 3rd of October at “The Upstairs” venue above Spiga Doro in Morningside. A special thanks to Olivers Twist Productions for making this clip, Fantastic Work!

On Wednesday the 3rd of October was the 2nd year launch of WORLD CLASS in KZN, South Africa. Hosted at the venue called “The Upstairs” on Florida Road in Morningside, the event was nothing but WORLD CLASS!

Invited guests from 9 sophisticated outlets around KZN, gathered to take part in an evening filled with molecular drinks, quality food and great brands. The formalities started with a presentation around the program and how it is going to work this year. This was then followed by a very professional choreographed dance routine which lead to the unveiling of the new JOHNNIE WALKER PLATINUM LABEL. This was a very successful entrance for a very premium brand!

Shortly after most guests got to taste and experience the new scotch blend, the food was served. For the remainder of the evening the bar continued to serve retro recipes and delicious RESERVE liquids. A night to remember, and the bar has been raised!

Watch this space for program updates, outlet events and of course WORLD CLASS recipes!

The Speyside Cooperage in Scotland, the only traditional cooperage still in operation today.
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The Speyside Cooperage in Scotland, the only traditional cooperage still in operation today.

Following a week of mixology trends unveiled, red carpet events and a showcase of the industry’s brightest stars, Tim Philips, Hemmesphere, Australia was crowned DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year 2012, rising above 50 other finalists to win the most prestigious accolade of the industry. Philips captivated judges with his winning signature serve, a twisted chic cocktail: Hot Toddy Australia made with JOHNNIE WALKER®GOLD LABEL RESERVE™ Blended Scotch Whisky, honey, cinnamon quill, ginger and innovative technique. Following in the footsteps of mixology giants Manabu Ohtake, Erik Lorincz and Aristotelis Papadopoulos, he displayed exceptional style and technique, truly showing the artisanship of his craft and a talent beyond his 28 years. Hailing from Hemmesphere cocktail bar in Sydney, Australia, Philips’ brilliant creative vision, passion and commanding presence behind the bar personifies the relenting standards, showmanship and professionalism that success in the industry demands. Over the past year, contenders from the most esteemed bars around the world have competed in local and regional heats, each aspiring to attain a coveted place at the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Global Final in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, an internationally renowned highlight in the luxury calendar.  Just 50 from over 15,000 hopefuls were selected to showcase their creations in front of some of the most revered names in the industry - Salvatore Calabrese, Dale de Groff, Peter Dorelli, Gary Regan, Daniel Estremadoyro, Hidetsugu Ueno, Arturo Savage, Steve Olson and Aristotelis Papadopoulos. DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year 2012, TIM PHILIPS said: “I am thrilled and humbled to be awarded Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year amongst all the exceptional talent I was competing alongside this week.  Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS is taking bartending from a humble trade to a profession. If I can be an ambassador for that, it’s a dream come true. I have been inspired this week by the high standards and limitless talent and look forward to the year ahead, traveling the world, meeting my peers and continuing to create experiences through my creations that immerse customers in another world.” Congratulating the winner of the fourth global Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year, Rudy Paoli, Managing Director GLOBAL RESERVE said: “Tim is the epitome of a Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS bartender and this prestigious accolade will set him on a life changing journey. He will become a recognized industry name and travel the world as a Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Ambassador, championing the art and craft of the bartender by educating and inspiring new talent, participating in international high-profile events and transforming fine drinking and cocktail culture. Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS judge Ueno Hidetsugu commented: “To succeed within Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS you must possess boundless creativity, precision, a sense of showmanship and an innate ability to connect with the customer. Each year I am astounded and inspired by the level of talent, skill and innovation that the participants bring to the Global Final Week. Tim blew me away with his ingenuity, vision, and insightful interpretation of the Retro Chic trend and is an ideal ambassador for our profession.” Philips will become a recognized industry name and a global ambassador for Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS, traveling the world, educating and inspiring new talent while widening his own knowledge, honing his skills and techniques along the way. Challenges at the Global Final required bartenders to explore fast growing industry trends, with a particular focus on Retro Chic, a global luxury trend encapsulating the glamour and simplicity of the golden era of 50s and 60s. Retro Chic has infused the Maison’s of fashion, design, art and stylized TV shows and was expressed throughout the 2012 Global Final Mixology Challenges giving rise to the latest most inspiring new serves. The sophisticated and elegant Retro Chic inspired cocktails created during the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Global Final used the finest spirits from the Diageo Reserve luxury collection – KETEL ONE® vodka, CÎROC® vodka, TANQUERAY® No.TEN™ gin, TANQUERAY® gin, DON JULIO® tequila, ZACAPA® rum and JOHNNIE WALKER® GOLD LABEL RESERVE™ Blended Scotch Whisky and JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ Blended Scotch Whisky. THE DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS 2012 REGIONAL WINNERS ASIA PACIFIC DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS BARTENDER OF THE YEAR 2012: KAE YIN, MARSALIS, TAIWANLATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS BARTENDER OF THE YEAR 2012: STEPHON SCOTT, TRINIDAD, ON DECK PUB, TRADEWINDS HOTELWESTERN EUROPEAN DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS BARTENDER OF THE YEAR 2012:  FJALAR GOUD, VESPER BAR, NETHERLANDSREST OF THE WORLD [UAE, USA, RUSSIA] DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS BARTENDER OF THE YEAR 2012: JIMMY BARRAT, ZUMA, UAE CHALLENGE WINNERS TROPICAL JOURNEY:JIMMY BARRAT, ZUMA, UAE Judged by:  Aristotelis Papadopoulos, Daniel EstremadoyroIn the Tropical Journey challenge, bartenders were asked to create two cocktails inspired by the flamboyant and fun, or cool and sophisticated cocktails that were born in the tropics. HOLLYWOOD, BOLLYWOOD, HONG-KONG:GIUSEPPE SANTAMARIA, OHLA BOUTIQUE BAR, SPAINJudged by: Peter Dorelli, Steve OlsonBartenders were asked to show one signature cocktail and a signature bottle serve using either JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ Blended Scotch Whisky or ZACAPA® 23 rum as a way of introducing theatre and ritual to the serving of a product.  COCKTAIL MASTERY:OLIVIER JACOBS, JIGGER’S, BELGIUMJudged by: Gary Regan, Ueno HidetsuguCocktail Mastery tests the bartender’s knowledge of spirits and cocktails with a written and practical test. Following they were asked to make a ‘Fancy’ and ‘Classic’ cocktail from the Diageo Reserve spirit of their choosing.  RETRO CHIC – CLASSIC AND VINTAGE:VARIA DELLALIAN, MOMO AT THE SOUKS, LEBANONJudged by:  Salvatore Calabrese, Arturo SavageBartenders created two cocktails from a home bar set-up: one ‘Classic Chic,’ based on a list of 16 classic cocktails and one ‘Twisted Chic’ which was their own interpretation of a classic cocktail. FOOD MATCHING:ANDY MIL, LONDON COCKTAIL CLUB, UKJudged by:  Steve Olson, Ueno Hidetsugu, Arturo Savage, Peter DorelliThis challenge presents bartenders with the task of creating a pair of cocktails to match their choice of Latin American dishes. RIO STREET MARKET:DENNIS ZOPPI, SMILE TREE, ITALYJudged by:  Daniel Estremadoyro, Gary Regan, Salvatore Calabrese, Ueno HidetsuguRio Street Market challenges competitors to create two contrasting cocktails from the extraordinary and unusual fruits of Brazil, directly from the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS ‘market.’ COCKTAILS AGAINST THE CLOCK:SHIGEKI YOSHIDA, CERULEAN TOWER TOYKU HOTEL, JAPANJudged by:  Ueno Hidetsugu, Gary Regan, Salvatore Calabrese, Daniel EstremadoyroIn this challenge, bartenders are given eight minutes to make up to six cocktails of their choice expressing their free-style ingenuity, showmanship and ability to work under pressure. SIGNATURE SPECIALS:KAE YIN, MARSALIS, TAIWAN Judged by:  Gary Regan, Salvatore Calabrese, Daniel Estremadoyro, Steve Olson, Ueno Hidetsugu, Arturo Savage, Peter Dorelli, Aristotelis PapadopoulosDuring this one hour challenge, each bartender will have the opportunity to show off a signature cocktail that really demonstrates their range of skills for the judges and a small invited audience.
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Following a week of mixology trends unveiled, red carpet events and a showcase of the industry’s brightest stars, Tim Philips, Hemmesphere, Australia was crowned DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year 2012, rising above 50 other finalists to win the most prestigious accolade of the industry.

Philips captivated judges with his winning signature serve, a twisted chic cocktail: Hot Toddy Australia made with JOHNNIE WALKER®GOLD LABEL RESERVE™ Blended Scotch Whisky, honey, cinnamon quill, ginger and innovative technique. Following in the footsteps of mixology giants Manabu Ohtake, Erik Lorincz and Aristotelis Papadopoulos, he displayed exceptional style and technique, truly showing the artisanship of his craft and a talent beyond his 28 years. Hailing from Hemmesphere cocktail bar in Sydney, Australia, Philips’ brilliant creative vision, passion and commanding presence behind the bar personifies the relenting standards, showmanship and professionalism that success in the industry demands.

Over the past year, contenders from the most esteemed bars around the world have competed in local and regional heats, each aspiring to attain a coveted place at the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Global Final in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, an internationally renowned highlight in the luxury calendar.  Just 50 from over 15,000 hopefuls were selected to showcase their creations in front of some of the most revered names in the industry - Salvatore Calabrese, Dale de Groff, Peter Dorelli, Gary Regan, Daniel Estremadoyro, Hidetsugu Ueno, Arturo Savage, Steve Olson and Aristotelis Papadopoulos.

DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year 2012, TIM PHILIPS said: “I am thrilled and humbled to be awarded Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year amongst all the exceptional talent I was competing alongside this week.  Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS is taking bartending from a humble trade to a profession. If I can be an ambassador for that, it’s a dream come true. I have been inspired this week by the high standards and limitless talent and look forward to the year ahead, traveling the world, meeting my peers and continuing to create experiences through my creations that immerse customers in another world.”

Congratulating the winner of the fourth global Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year, Rudy Paoli, Managing Director GLOBAL RESERVE said: “Tim is the epitome of a Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS bartender and this prestigious accolade will set him on a life changing journey. He will become a recognized industry name and travel the world as a Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Ambassador, championing the art and craft of the bartender by educating and inspiring new talent, participating in international high-profile events and transforming fine drinking and cocktail culture.

Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS judge Ueno Hidetsugu commented: “To succeed within Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS you must possess boundless creativity, precision, a sense of showmanship and an innate ability to connect with the customer. Each year I am astounded and inspired by the level of talent, skill and innovation that the participants bring to the Global Final Week. Tim blew me away with his ingenuity, vision, and insightful interpretation of the Retro Chic trend and is an ideal ambassador for our profession.”

Philips will become a recognized industry name and a global ambassador for Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS, traveling the world, educating and inspiring new talent while widening his own knowledge, honing his skills and techniques along the way.

Challenges at the Global Final required bartenders to explore fast growing industry trends, with a particular focus on Retro Chic, a global luxury trend encapsulating the glamour and simplicity of the golden era of 50s and 60s. Retro Chic has infused the Maison’s of fashion, design, art and stylized TV shows and was expressed throughout the 2012 Global Final Mixology Challenges giving rise to the latest most inspiring new serves.

The sophisticated and elegant Retro Chic inspired cocktails created during the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Global Final used the finest spirits from the Diageo Reserve luxury collection – KETEL ONE® vodka, CÎROC® vodka, TANQUERAY® No.TEN™ gin, TANQUERAY® gin, DON JULIO® tequila, ZACAPA® rum and JOHNNIE WALKER® GOLD LABEL RESERVE™ Blended Scotch Whisky and JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ Blended Scotch Whisky.

THE DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS 2012 REGIONAL WINNERS

ASIA PACIFIC DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS BARTENDER OF THE YEAR 2012:
KAE YIN, MARSALIS, TAIWAN

LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS BARTENDER OF THE YEAR 2012:
STEPHON SCOTT, TRINIDAD, ON DECK PUB, TRADEWINDS HOTEL

WESTERN EUROPEAN DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS BARTENDER OF THE YEAR 2012: 
FJALAR GOUD, VESPER BAR, NETHERLANDS

REST OF THE WORLD [UAE, USA, RUSSIA] DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS BARTENDER OF THE YEAR 2012:
JIMMY BARRAT, ZUMA, UAE

CHALLENGE WINNERS

TROPICAL JOURNEY:
JIMMY BARRAT, ZUMA, UAE

Judged by:  Aristotelis Papadopoulos, Daniel Estremadoyro
In the Tropical Journey challenge, bartenders were asked to create two cocktails inspired by the flamboyant and fun, or cool and sophisticated cocktails that were born in the tropics.

HOLLYWOOD, BOLLYWOOD, HONG-KONG:
GIUSEPPE SANTAMARIA, OHLA BOUTIQUE BAR, SPAIN
Judged by: Peter Dorelli, Steve Olson
Bartenders were asked to show one signature cocktail and a signature bottle serve using either JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ Blended Scotch Whisky or ZACAPA® 23 rum as a way of introducing theatre and ritual to the serving of a product.
 
COCKTAIL MASTERY:
OLIVIER JACOBS, JIGGER’S, BELGIUM
Judged by: Gary Regan, Ueno Hidetsugu
Cocktail Mastery tests the bartender’s knowledge of spirits and cocktails with a written and practical test. Following they were asked to make a ‘Fancy’ and ‘Classic’ cocktail from the Diageo Reserve spirit of their choosing.
 
RETRO CHIC – CLASSIC AND VINTAGE:
VARIA DELLALIAN, MOMO AT THE SOUKS, LEBANON
Judged by:  Salvatore Calabrese, Arturo Savage
Bartenders created two cocktails from a home bar set-up: one ‘Classic Chic,’ based on a list of 16 classic cocktails and one ‘Twisted Chic’ which was their own interpretation of a classic cocktail.

FOOD MATCHING:
ANDY MIL, LONDON COCKTAIL CLUB, UK
Judged by:  Steve Olson, Ueno Hidetsugu, Arturo Savage, Peter Dorelli
This challenge presents bartenders with the task of creating a pair of cocktails to match their choice of Latin American dishes.

RIO STREET MARKET:
DENNIS ZOPPI, SMILE TREE, ITALY
Judged by:  Daniel Estremadoyro, Gary Regan, Salvatore Calabrese, Ueno Hidetsugu
Rio Street Market challenges competitors to create two contrasting cocktails from the extraordinary and unusual fruits of Brazil, directly from the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS ‘market.’

COCKTAILS AGAINST THE CLOCK:
SHIGEKI YOSHIDA, CERULEAN TOWER TOYKU HOTEL, JAPAN
Judged by:  Ueno Hidetsugu, Gary Regan, Salvatore Calabrese, Daniel Estremadoyro
In this challenge, bartenders are given eight minutes to make up to six cocktails of their choice expressing their free-style ingenuity, showmanship and ability to work under pressure.

SIGNATURE SPECIALS:
KAE YIN, MARSALIS, TAIWAN
Judged by:  Gary Regan, Salvatore Calabrese, Daniel Estremadoyro, Steve Olson, Ueno Hidetsugu, Arturo Savage, Peter Dorelli, Aristotelis Papadopoulos
During this one hour challenge, each bartender will have the opportunity to show off a signature cocktail that really demonstrates their range of skills for the judges and a small invited audience.

It’s great to be in Rio, Brazil for the World Class 2012 finals. So many great brands to taste over the next couple of days! Will keep you posted!
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It’s great to be in Rio, Brazil for the World Class 2012 finals. So many great brands to taste over the next couple of days! Will keep you posted!