Battle resumes for bartenders
An education as well as a contest, Diageo's World Class 2015 gets underway
If you know how to mix a great drink and maybe toss the bottles around a bit too, booze importer Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand) is now accepting applications for World Class 2015, the planet’s biggest bartending competition.
Since its inception in Britain in 2009, World Class has encircled the globe, inspiring and educating more than 15,000 bartenders in the art of mixology.
World Class came to Thailand in 2011 and has so far trained 250 Thais, helping sharpen their skills and thus fortifying the country’s cocktail scene. In some cases it’s proved to be a career launcher to the international level.
The first qualifying round is on Wednesday and the winners go on to the regional level in July. The global final takes place in South Africa later in the year.
“Thailand has seen a shift in its drinking trends in the past few years,” says Pornseak Parksuwan, Diageo Reserve Channel director. “More and more consumers are now appreciating fine and responsible drinking, which is the core of what World Class stands for. We believe the programme will have a positive impact on the alcohol industry in general and will serve as a career boost for mixology talents, while spreading the knowledge of the art and culture of cocktail making among the general public.”
Each year winners from more than 50 countries go through series of tough challenges in a bid to win the global title. They’re tested for profound knowledge of spirits, cocktail history, current trends, bartending etiquette and creativity to “raise the bar” and take the cocktail culture to another level with style and substance.
But World Class is more than just a competition. It provides the participants with educational and training opportunities and helps them polish the skills and knowledge that ultimately help them become world-class bartenders.
“World Class is about recognising and celebrating the craft and talent of bartenders around the world,” says senior brand ambassador Chennarong Bhumichitr. “Those who receive World Class certification become synonymous with class, sophistication, impeccable service and creativity and are true masters of cocktail making.”
Commenting on the programme’s impact on his life, World Class Thailand 2014 winner Ronnaporn Kanivichaporn calls it “a life-changing experience”.
“I learned so much about the art of mixology and I was inspired by the high standard and limitless talent of the fellow bartenders. I wish this year’s participants the best of luck.”
Ronnaporn reached the semi-final and was ranked one of the 12 best in the sixth-edition final in London last year.
Participating venues and mixologists in Thailand who compete in the programme will be awarded a World Class title – a trademark of fine drinking experience and exceptional service. If you go to bar and see a World Class stamp on a cocktail in the menu, that means the cocktail is created by a World Class bartender exclusively for the venue.
“Wherever there’s a World Class logo,” says Pornseak, “you can rest assured that the service is exceptional, the drinks are top-class and the bartenders are true masters of mixology art.”
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Here’s to you
Find out more at www.Diageo.com and https://DiageoBarAcademyUS.com.
