Following a two-day final in Scotland, with challenges taking place in Edinburgh and at the Gleneagles Hotel, Daniel Warren from Last Chance in Nottingham, was crowned Diageo Reserve World Class GB Bartender of The Year 2018.
Diageo World Class GB Bartender of The Year 2018: Daniel Warren |
The first challenge took place in a penthouse apartment at the newly opened Edinburgh Grand Hotel. Designed to test the bartenders’ hospitality skills and their ability to create a welcoming experience, competitors were required to create the ‘Perfect Welcome Cocktail’ and experience using a base of Ketel One Vodka, Tanqueray No. TEN or Don Julio in any style, with only five minutes to prepare for the presentation and five minutes to present to the judges.
On day two, the top ten were invited to join Diageo Brand Ambassador Ali Reynolds at the Shooting Lodge on the Gleneagles estate, to test their skill in creating a perfectly balanced smoked cocktail using and highlighting the smoky notes of Johnnie Walker Black Label.
A challenge pack was sent to the finalists’ home bars ahead of the competition, to serve as inspiration for the integration of smoke into the challenge. They were then asked to pre-prepare one smoky cocktail, in a ‘ready to go’ hipflask, which they brought with them to Scotland. On the day of the challenge the competitors presented and served the cocktail back to the judges, with an inspirational tale to describe how it had been created.
The final challenge, ‘The 19th Hole’ took place at The Gleneagles Hotel in the Auchterarder 70 Club House overlooking the Queen’s Golf Course. The competitors were asked to imagine they had just been appointed as the new bar manager at the venue and were tasked with creating the new Club House signature drink, inspired by the rich legacy of the famous golfing institution, all during their first 10 minute ‘shift’.
Finalists were given five minutes to prepare their station
before their shift started and 10 minutes to present to the judges, during
which time they were judged on how well they entertained and hosted guests as
well as the judges. The finalists were required to create two full serves for
the judges at the bar, and 15 sample sized versions for the guests, whilst
simultaneously taking orders from customers from a bespoke World Class Classics
Menu which included: Tanqueray No. TEN and tonic, Zacapa Daiquiri, Don Julio
Margarita, Ketel One Dutch Mule and Johnnie Walker High Ball.
This year’s judging panel included: Simon Difford (Difford’s
Guide), Sandrae Lawrence (Cocktail Lovers), Dan Dove (Global Bartending),
Diageo World Class GB Manager, Stephen Martin, Diageo Reserve GB Brand
Ambassadors, Ali Reynolds, Colin Dunn, Diageo Reserve European Brand
Ambassador, Deano Moncrieffe, Diageo Global Cocktailian Lauren Mote, Diageo
Reserve GB Bartender of the Year 2017 Jamie Jones and Global Winner Kaitlyn
Stewart.
Commenting on the news, this year’s winner, Daniel Warren, said:
“I never imagined I’d be crowned the winner of this year’s 2018 World Class
competition, it’s a dream come true and I’m so incredibly happy. It has been an
absolute whirlwind and it all feels very surreal. It’s such an honour to of
been able to work with so many talented bartenders, judges and brand
ambassadors. This year’s competition has been tough, the challenges really
tested my technical abilities as a bartender and also my hospitality skills and
it’s not over yet! I can’t wait to see what the Global Final in Berlin brings,
I’m counting down the days until I can do it all over again and represent my
country!”
In addition to nationwide media exposure and dedicated PR
for the World Class GB Winner and their bar, the 2018 Diageo Reserve World
Class Bartender of the Year prize package, includes a 12-month contract worth a
minimum of £5,000 to tour with the World Class team hosting workshops and
bartending at high profile and prestigious events throughout the UK. The winner
also gets to represent Great Britain in the World Class Global Finals 2018 in
Berlin.
Posted by Steve Rush