World Class 2015 winner in Zuma takeover

The winner of 2015 Diageo World Class, Michito Kaneko, will host two cocktail sessions in Zuma to coincide with the launch of the 2017 competition in Hong Kong.

Taking over Zuma on 18-19 January, Michito Kaneko will introduce the intricate art of Japanese bartending and hospitality to Hong Kong and create various cocktails, three of which will served as part of a pairing menu on offer at Zuma from 18-31 January.

Priced at HK$650, the pairing menu will feature spirits from the Diageo World Class collection: Ron Zacapa, Don Julio Reposado and Tanqueray Ten.

The Vin Zacapa is made with Ron Zacapa 23, cranberry, raspberry vinegar and Angostura bitters and will be paired with one of Zuma‘s signature dishes, seared wagyu with daikon, cucumber, black truffle and ponzu.

The second cocktail, Japanese Sensory uses Tanqueray Ten, ‘Atsukan’ syrup (a sake and sugar mix) and fresh lemon juice, strained into a brandy glass dusted with sesame salt and Houjicha powder – Japanese roasted tea –  and will be served with seared salmon and lime shiso sauce.

Finally, El Julio 75 is made with Don Julio Reposado and Champagne, grapefruit peel, agave syrup and seawater paired with crispy fried squid, green chili and lime.

The cocktails will also be available separately at Zuma, priced at HK$110 each.

Formerly a construction worker, Kaneko went into bartending after tasting cocktails in his home region of Nara. Three years ago, he opened his bar, The Lamp Bar, from where he will bring four other cocktails, Union, Amber Time, From 23 and Triple Gold to Zuma.

In 2015, Kaneko won Diageo’s World Class Global Bartending competition held in Cape Town by creating a pop-up bar, ‘The Travelling Bar Man’ in reference to Johnnie Walker’s Striding Man and his own name, Michito, which translates to ‘Man on the Road.’

Michito Kaneko’s Japanese Sensory cocktail