World Class

2018 Competition

Entries are now open for the 2018 Diageo Reserve GB World Class Bartender Competition. For ambitious career bartenders World Class offers an unparalleled opportunity to prove their bartending skills and quickly progress their career. And as they say, “You’ve got to be in it to win it.” So, what does entering entail?

This, the 11th World Class Competition, starts with potential competitors uploading a digital submission of one cocktail recipe and serve complying with this years’ theme of Closed Loop Cocktails. This comprises two key elements:

1. The Resourceful Bartender – “focusing on the significance of sustainability and resourcefulness, enabling bartenders to create a better bar, serve and working environment.”

2. Heat of the Moment – explores “flavour and experimentation, delving into culinary influences”.

Bartenders are invited to submit one cocktail to TheWorldClassClub.com, complying with both the above elements so demonstrating sustainability and culinary technique before 30th March 2018.

Cocktails submitted must include at least 30ml of any Diageo Reserve spirit from the World Class portfolio (listed below) and this should form the foundation of the serve.

Next stages

During the competition contestants will be invited to showcase their skills in a series of Challenges designed to test their ability, knowledge and originality, whilst demonstrating proficiency and telling their own story. The competition will comprise three Challenge stages.

1st Challenge - In-bar judging

Judges will visit selected bartenders who have submitted their cocktail to TheWorldClassClub.com to sample and evaluate their entry drinks. The judges will then choose the UK’s top 30 to participate in the semi-finals.

2nd Challenge – Semi-finals

To be held in May 2018, this stage of the competition will identify the UK’s top ten bartenders to progress to the GB final.

3rd Challenge – GB Final

One of the most important competition finals in the industry will see ten of the UK’s most ambitious bartenders going head to head for one to be crowned GB World Class Bartender of the Year 2018.

The Prize

This year’s overall winner will win coveted title of GB World Class Bartender of the Year 2018 and be awarded with a prize package valued at over £15,000 including:

Nationwide exposure and dedicated PR for the World Class GB Winner and their bar throughout the year
12-month contract worth a minimum of £5,000 to tour with the World Class team hosting workshops
Trip to Schiedam for a 2-day culinary experience with a mystery chef at the Ketel One Vodka Distillery
2-day Malts Advocate course in Scotland
The chance to be part of the World Class Bartender Exchange and travel to three European countries to guest bartend behind some of the world’s best bars
£300 voucher for a personalised Cocktail Kingdom kit
Professional signature serve and profile photo shoot with top industry photographer
Trip to Berlin to represent your country in the World Class Global Finals 2018