Diageo World Class returns to HK

The 11^th annual Diageo Reserve World Class bartending competition will return to Hong Kong on Sunday, 7 July, to determine the city’s top bartender in 2019.

The competition, which will run from 12-9 pm at the Hysan Place Atrium in Causeway Bay, will see 10 of the city’s finest bartenders face off in three fun but fearsome challenges. The winner will get the chance to compete in the world finale in Scotland later this year.

First off is the Speed Challenge, which will require candidates to make and present six cocktails in under six minutes. They will be judged on cocktail quality, interactions with the judges and crowd and of course, whether they can beat the clock.

Next up is the ‘Home & Away Serve’ in which competitors must create a transportive cocktail using one ‘home’ and one ‘away’ ingredient, with references to cultural and drinking experiences gained both in Hong Kong and travelling abroad.

Last but not least is the Public Vote in which audience members may sample all 10 competitors’ signature creations and vote for their favourite cocktail of the afternoon. The bartenders will be working with some of the leading spirit brands on the market, including Johnnie Walker, Talisker, Ketel One, Don Julio, Ciroc, Zacapa, The Singleton, Talisker and Bulleit.

This year’s Hong Kong participants include Adam Schmidt from Mandarin Oriental; Amir Javaid from John Anthony; Hei Chan from Quinary; Hnin Pwint Aye from Sofitel Macau; Jack Leung from Hato; Marko Petrovic from Peninsula; Nikita Matveev from Kerry Hotel; Robin Leung from COA; Shelley Tai from Quinary and Summer Lo from Four Seasons.

A panel of judges featuring four of Asia’s World Class bartenders – Antonio Lai from Quinary in Hong Kong, Hidetsugu Ueno from Bar High Five in Japan, Nick Wu from Bar Mood in Taiwan, and Joe Du Ul Hong from Vida Rica Bar in South Korea.