Finalists announced for Diageo’s HK & Macau World Class competition

Six top bartenders have been announced as finalists for Diageo’s 2017 Hong Kong and Macau World Class competition after two rigorous challenges and two rounds of competition.

The six finalists – Alexander Ko of the Woods, Ana Souza of the Pontiac, Lok Cheung of Angel’s Share, Nokoy Mak of Topiary, Samuel Kwok of Quinary and Valerio Politano of Skye at Park Lane Hotel – were selected after 12 candidates competed in the World Class semi-final on Tuesday at local tiki bar Honi Honi.

The semi-final consisted of two challenges: the Tanqueray Aroma Challenge, and the Zacapa Rum Challenge. The Tanqueray challenge required bartenders to create a cocktail using the aromas of Tanqueray while the Zacapa challenge asked bartenders to deconstruct the five tastes in an undiluted cocktail: sweet, salty, bitter, sour and savoury.

The six contestants will battle it out on 12 and 15 June after taking part in three challenges: the ‘Blending Room’ to test whisky knowledge, a food pairing market challenge with Ho Lee Fook and the American Classics speed challenge to make a round of classic cocktails in ten minutes.

The top three bartenders from these challenges will take part in the final round called ‘Hong Kong Shakedown’ on 15 June where they will be given 72 hours to create their own pop-up bars on a limited budget with the help with a design team.

The panel of judges will consist of Angus Winchester, former Tanqueray gins global ambassador; Donald Colville, Global Single Malt Ambassador; Dennis Tamse, Nolet Distillery Ambassador for Dutch vodka: Ketel One; celebrity local chef Jowett Yu of Ho Lee Fook and last year’s Hong Kong champion: James Barker of 208 Duecento Otto.

The winner will represent Hong Kong and Macau at the World Class Global Final in Mexico City from the 20 to 25 August.