Chivas Regal crowns 2017 Chivas Masters Global Champion

Chivas Regal has crowned Atsushi Suzuki from the Sober Company in Shanghai as the 2017 Chivas Masters Global Champion after a five-day finale in Tokyo, the whisky brand has announced.

Atsushi Suzuki (middle) at the Chivas Masters competition

Suzuki, bartender of the Sober Company, ranked No. 19 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2017 list, won the title after overcoming strong competition from 14 of the world’s most skilled bartenders and led the winning Chivas Masters Collective team to victory, before being declared the overall champion.

The fourth Chivas Masters Global Final required the 15 national winners to “showcase the Chivas Regal values of brotherhood, collaboration and generosity”. Suzuki impressed the expert panel of judges by expressing these core principles as he proved the outstanding contestant in what was a highly captivating and memorable final, culminating in the awards ceremony at the MIXX Bar & Lounge at the ANA InterContinental Tokyo.

A Japanese native himself, Suzuki fully embraced the traditions of Japanese bartending culture throughout a week of individual and team challenges, which included four individual drinks making rounds.

Atsushi’s winning team drinks ritual was ‘The Double Talk’, which was made using Chivas Regal 12, and presented with a focus on Japanese craftsmanship, kind service and attention to detail.

“Wow. It is such an honour to receive this – and in my home town too. I feel like it’s a win for Japan as well as for China. And of course it’s not just for me, but for my awesome team of Haydée and Ryan, and my sensei, Iain. I’ve found friends for the rest of my life through the Chivas Masters – and I’ve learnt how to be a better bartender too,” said Suzuki on receiving the award.

Max Warner, global brand ambassador for Chivas Regal, commented from Tokyo: “The Chivas Masters Global Final has again shown the world the wonderful values and principles that great bartending can harness.

“Atsushi fully took the Chivas Regal spirit of generosity and collaboration with him into the final, which was the eventual point of difference in a very tough field – alongside, of course, some spectacular bartending skills.”

The 2017 Chivas Masters Global Final was host to a distinguished panel of internationally acclaimed judges: Iain Griffiths, hospitality industry pioneer and co-founder of Lyan Ltd; Micah Melton, beverage director at the Alinea Group and renowned ‘ice chef’; Chris Lowder, ‘New York’s Rising Star Bartender’ in 2015; Dré Masso, ex-director of bars for the Potato Head Group in Bali, Jakarta, Singapore and Hong Kong; and Rogerio Igarashi Vaz, owner of Tokyo’s Tram & Trench.