Diageo to host World Class final on a cruise

Diageo is taking to the water for its annual World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final this summer.

From 4-9 July, 50 of the world’s top barmen will join the boutique Azamara Journey on a five-day cruise along the French Riviera to St. Tropez and Ibiza and ending in the Catalan capital of Barcelona.

Their skills will be judged by cocktail legends like Salvatore Calabrese, Peter Dorelli and Gary Regan. In all over 600 guests are expected.

“World Class elevates the craft of the bartender, discovers new talent and previews the latest trends and must-have fine drinking experiences to the world,” said Rudy Paoli, managing director of Diageo Reserve. “Given the strong growth of the Diageo Reserve business within Europe, the Mediterranean was a clear choice for the 2013 Global Final.”

Using Diageo ‘Reserve Spirits’ brands including Ketel One vodka, Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky and Tanqueray 10 gin, World Class has trained 15,000 bartenders a year since it started in 2009. Last year’s global final took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Tim Philips from Hemmesphere bar in Sydney, was crowned the winner.

It claims to be the biggest training programme in luxury spirits in the world.

You can follow the competition on Facebook at the ‘Global World Class Finals’ page: www.facebook.com/GlobalWorldClassFinals.