The winning mix
Bartenders from Singapore and Malaysia share up the top prize in the Southeast Asia leg of the Diageo Moet Hennessy World Class Final but Thailand isn't too far behind
BANGKOK PLAYED host to the Southeast Asia World Class Finals and Bar Show last week at the recently opened lifestyle mall EmQuartier.
Presented by Diageo Moet Hennessy, the evening celebrated the best bartenders from across Southeast Asia, who will go on to the world finals in South Africa later this year.
The top prize, the Diageo Reserve World Class Southeast Asia Bartender of the Year, was shared between Singapore’s Steve Leong and Malaysia’s Shawn Chong.
The two days of competition saw the winners chosen from a pool of 28 contestants from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Hong Kong, who were judged on their skill, creativity and professionalism.
In the Challenge category, Chong won the Cocktails against the Clock Award. Here too Singapore was the big winner taking out four of the six prizes, including the Occasion, the Five Star Classic, the Rising Star, and the Team Challenge awards.
“Seeing so many talents here is living proof that the bartending profession is increasing in appeal, as people around the globe start to appreciate fine-drinking,” a pleased but shocked Leong told XP after the event.
Chong was equally stunned and delighted with his win. “The Diageo World Class event is a true celebration of our craftsmanship and I am truly honoured by this victory. I will aim to do this region proud at the World Class Global Finals in Cape Town, South Africa.”
While not making it to the finals, Thailand did not go home empty handed with Natakorn Changkrew winning the Bloody Mary Challenge Award and Pongpak Sudthipongse named the Best Bartender of the Year from Thailand.
Hosted in Thailand for the first time, the competition and award night were the perfect opportunity to show what Thailand has to offer in the bar industry. In his opening speech, Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, the executive director of advertising and public relations for the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said he hoped the event would “put Thailand on the map for fine wining and dining, as well as being an enjoyable, fun place to be.”
If putting Thailand on the map for bartending and cocktails is on the agenda, the event at the EmQuartier was the perfect showcase, with cocktails from some of the world’s best bartenders and a host of Thai celebrities.
The contestants were judged by nine of the world’s best bartenders from some of the most renowned bars from London to Tokyo to New York. Among the judges were two previous World Class winners, including last year’s winner Charles Joly.
World Class began in 2009 and has spread to more than 50 countries with 15,000 bartenders from around the world participating. Thailand joined in 2011 and has had more than 350 participants. The programme provides a platform for the bartenders to hone their skills and show them off to the best in the industry. While they may not become household names, the prestige within the industry that comes from this competition will go a long way to helping their future careers. As Diageo Moet Hennessy managing director, Jayne Harvey noted, “this competition is a life-changing experience for the contestants.”
