A show of world-class flair

It’s about time for the most talented bartenders in the country to come out and showcase their skills for the World Class Bartender 2014. The competition, launched recently at the Buddha Bar in Makati City, is an undertaking of Diageo Reserve World Class.

Eleven of Manila’s finest bars and their most brilliant bartenders will be joining the Philippine leg of the World Class Bartender competition until May.

The participating bars and bartenders were introduced during the launch. Competing for the World Class Bartender 2014 are Cristopher Bayon of Black Sheep, Joma Rivera of The Curator, Ernie Andog of Exit Bar, Albert Salvador of Las Flores, Erad Joseph Adriano of Museum Café, Eduardo Yonzon of Niner Ichi Nana, Jerry Miranda of Privé Luxury Club, Samuel Alcantara of Prohibition Liquor Lounge, Rian Asiddao of Raffles-Long Bar, Syrian Ebdane of Sofitel Philippine Plaza and Alyona Jeffery of Speakeasy.

During the launch, these bartenders showcased their creativity, flair and skills behind the bar, as they whipped up exquisite craft cocktails using some of the finest spirits from the Diageo Reserve portfolio.

Reserve luxury manager for Diageo Philippines Marie Ona said, “World Class brings together the best and the most talented around the globe and this year, we are proud to have gathered 11 of Manila’s best bars and bartenders for the competition. This stellar lineup represents the thriving cocktail culture that we have in the Philippines, and tonight, we really wanted to put the spotlight on these bartenders and show the rest of the world the talent that they possess.”

Guest bartenders Erwan Heussaff and Tim and Giselle Walters, World Class 2013 Bartender of the Year winner Allan King Roxas and World Class brand ambassador for Southeast Asia Hannah Waters also prepared exclusive cocktails for guests to enjoy. DJs Bombi Balquiedra and Jessica Milner provided beats for the night, while Catriona Gray did a special performance during the program.

Waters remarked, “Diageo Reserve World Class tests every aspect of the bartending profession. To succeed, you need creativity, precision, theater and an innate ability to connect with the customer.  Participants are encouraged to push the boundaries and experiment with new flavors and techniques, which are then brought to life and enjoyed in some of the finest bars worldwide.”

Now on its sixth year globally, World Class continues to elevate the craft, innovation and creativity of bartenders. The competition has been instrumental in changing the lives of the next generation of bartending talents around the world.