For five days, the most famous bartenders from around the world competed in the first all-virtual competition for the title of World Class Bartender of the Year 2021.
For five days, talented and ambitious bartenders from 50 different countries competed via livestreaming to claim the title of the world’s top bartender at the World Class 2021 World Finals. , their creativity and skills in presenting their creations.
The World Class 2021 World Cup final may have been entirely virtual, but the tests the finalists had to face remained just as demanding. The 50 finalists were invited to create a Johnnie Walker Whiskey highball, highlighting flavors and elements from their culture and country of origin, to prepare an interactive tutorial for creating a World Class Tanqueray No.TEN Gin cocktail at home. They then created a serving proposal based on Ketel One Vodka, which had a positive effect on the local community, bar, city or institution, as well as creating an original serving proposal with the ultra-premium Don Julio Tequila that included at least an additional ingredient that grows underground or a root vegetable of their choice. The competition week ended with the announcement of the final ten that took part in a test of speed and accuracy, focusing on single malt whiskeys Singleton and Talisker, through which the best were distinguished for their speed, quality and composition of their preparations.
As stated by Simon Early, Head of World Class stated: “The first fully online World Class final resulted in one of the most innovative and creative global finals we have seen in the twelve-year history of the institution. James really impressed the judges with his authenticity, creating excellent serving suggestions at all stages of the competition. He won the title very well and I look forward to starting our collaboration with him as a World Class Ambassador within the next year “.
At the heart of this virtual World Class final was innovation. For each test, the 50 finalist bartenders broadcast live from their countries to the World Class studio in London, where British avatar bartenders created the cocktails under their guidance, in the presence of the jury. This year’s World Final was an original model that enabled local authorities, former World Class winners, award-winning mixologists and drink writers to try the finalists’ serving in real time, as would be the case at a lifetime event.
James Grant, is the twelfth bartender to become a member of the World Class Hall of Fame and within the next year will have the opportunity to participate as a judge in the individual World Class competitions of each country, motivating and inspiring the aspiring finalists who will take part in the World Final in 2022. He said: “I did not manage to realize that I won! All the bartenders who participated in the competition were really great! After this difficult year, to win the title of World Class Bartender of the Year 2021, is truly incredible! I never thought I would get to where I am today when I started in the bartending industry. What won me over from my very first steps was and remains the bartenders community and the creativity that surrounds it. For me, this feeling was the catalyst for really loving the profession and discovering the opportunities it offers. Bartending gave me motivation and determination to seek to find the best professionals in the field, to learn from them, getting to where I am today. I want to thank everyone who was with me on this creative journey. “By winning the title, my goal is to be able to motivate other up-and-coming bartenders, to be actively involved in the field and to discover the abundant creativity that it has to offer them”.
If you want to explore the world of Fine Drinking, visit the World Class Facebook page, where you can find new recipes from the finalists, how-to videos and the latest trends.