The eight Aussies through to Diageo World Class national finals

Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year will host its national finals in Sydney later this month, with eight of the country’s top bartenders competing for the coveted title.

Now in its 16^th year, the competition will bring finalists together at House Made Hospitality’s Bar Tilda and Wentworth Bar on Monday 30 June for a series of live challenges designed to showcase their expertise and creativity.

The finalists are:

•            Aidan Perkins of Milquetoast, Brisbane

•            Darren Burton of Kiin, Adelaide

•            Darren Leaney of Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne

•            James Irvine of Merivale, Sydney

•            Lachlan Gunner of Trap, Adelaide

•            Samuel Cocks of Saint Peter, Sydney

•            Shirley Yeung of Foxtrot Unicorn, Perth

•            Tom McHugh of Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne

The national finals will consist of three challenging rounds, kicking off with the Single Origin Soiree Challenge with Mr Black. Bartenders will be tasked with diving into contemporary coffee culture and crafting an original cocktail that showcases the rich flavours of Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur.

In the second round – Celebration, Curated – finalists will create three distinct cocktails, one of which must feature Tequila Don Julio Minis and capture the spirit of the brand.

Finally, the infamous Check On! Diageo Reserve Challenge will return, testing the speed of the finalists who will be tasked with creating up to nine different classic cocktails against the clock.

Kate McGraw, Diageo’s Head of Trade Advocacy, says: “Diageo World Class stands as the ultimate showcase of bartending excellence, and the Australian competition never fails to inspire. This year’s top eight finalists represent the epitome of talent and innovation in the industry. Their mastery, creativity, and dedication to the craft of hospitality promise a final round that will be nothing short of extraordinary.”

The Australian finals will determine which bartender advances to the global finals, held in Toronto Canada between 27 September and 2 October.