It’s that time of year when the best bartenders in South Africa experience nerves, stress, anxiety and a chance at glory: the opportunity to be crowned as South Africa’s best bartender / master mixologist / cocktail wizard or just plain genius behind the bar.
Diageo’s World Class events around the world have raised the bar of cocktail making. It is now an art form, with entrants and winners achieving instant fame. But only after days, weeks, years of gruelling training and practice.
I’ve seen what the contestants go through. It’s tough. Mixing drinks before a jury of experts tests the entrants like never before. Respect to them.
Me? I’m going to go along to the Cape Town leg tomorrow, sit on a bar stool and enjoy a drink or two.
Follow my twitter feed @bernardgwhisky for updates.
To the contestants: Good luck. You have already achieved something special by being selected for the regionals.
Bernard Gutman
Here is the media release from Khanya PR.
World Class 2017: The search for the South Africa’s best bartender begins…
Diageo World Class SA– the largest and most reputable bartender competition kicks off today with the Johannesburg regional final taking place at Diageo headquarters in Waterfall. Thirty of SA’s finest bartenders are set to mix up a storm at the ultimate test of bartending skill. The competition, made up of three regional rounds and a national final, will determine which South African mixologist will join the best bartenders from more than 60 countries around the world to compete for the world’s coveted cocktailing prize in Mexico later this year.
“World Class is a global luxury drinks programme that is 100% owned by Diageo and features brands from its Reserve portfolio. It exists to make consumers care about what, how and where they drink, and strives to educate people on fine drinking paired good food, said Steve Saunders, Senior Reserve Brand Ambassador at Diageo South Africa “The programme consists of 2 parts; a trade cocktail competition as well as a very high end training programme,” he adds.
World Class has supported, educated and inspired over 250,000 bartenders through its training and advocacy programme since its inception in 2009.
Diageo Reserve features a plethora of luxury spirits namely, Cîroc Vodka, Ketel One Vodka, Tanqueray No TEN Gin, Ron Zacapa Rum, Bulleit Bourbon, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Singleton of Dufftown , Singleton Tailfire, Cardhu and Don Julio Reposado Tequila throughout the competition.
Johannesburg Regional Event Details
Date: 6 March 2017
Time: 10:00am -18:00pm
Venue: DIAGEO HEAD QUARTERS (BUILDING 3, Maxwell Office Park,
MAGWA CRESCENT, WATERFALL CITY, MIDRAND)
Cape Town Regional Event Details
Date: 8 March 2017
Time: 10:00am -18:00pm
Venue: EL BURRO (37A Dean St, Newlands, Cape Town)
Durban Regional Event Details
Date: 13 March 2017
Time: 10:00am -18:00pm
Venue: EL TORO (5 Mackeurtan Ave, Durban North)
National Championship Event Details
Date: 24, 25, 26 April 2017
Time: 10am -19:00
Venue: DIAGEO HEAD QUARTERS (BUILDING 3, Maxwell Office Park,
MAGWA CRESCENT, WATERFALL CITY, MIDRAND)
bernardgwhisky 