Japan triumphs in Diageo World Class 2015

Japanese bartender Michito Kaneko has been declared the Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year 2015 following a fierce final in Cape Town.

Michito Kaneko of Japan has been named the 2015 winner of Diageo Reserve World Class

Kaneko scooped the top accolade having beaten 53 other competitors from around the world during a series of challenges over four days, each judged by some of the industry’s most esteemed personalities.

He was inspired to leave his job as a constriction worker and become a bartender 13 years ago after tasting cocktails in the most well-known bar in his home region of Nara, Japan, and three years ago opened his own bar in the area – The Lamp Bar – where he is manager and sole bartender.

“When I heard my name, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing – I was in total shock,” said Kaneko. “I’m very happy to have won.

“This is definitely a turning point in my life. I can’t wait to tell my wife and family.

“But I must remember that even though I am the World Class champion, I must stay humble and true to myself and what I love.”

The final task of this year’s competition, Cape Town Shakedown, required bartenders to create a pop-up bar as a reflection of their personality and bartending style.

Michito means “man on the road”, so Kaneko tied the iconic striding man of Johnnie Walker into his bar’s theme, titled The Travelling Bar Man.

The pop-up was adorned with maps and treasure chests as Kaneko endeavoured to take guests on a journey from Scotland to France to Japan through his cocktails.

“Michito produced some wonderful performances throughout this year’s World Class,” commented Spike Marchant, World Class judge and global brand ambassador. “As a bartending personality he was the personification of Japanese hospitality with an engaging spark of gentle humour and whimsy.

“His cocktails across all the challenges were subtle, harmonious and impeccably calibrated.

“He is a complete professional and produced a sustained level of excellence throughout the competition.”

As the 2015 champion, Kaneko will travel the world as a World Class ambassador and has also won a trip to the One&Only resort in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Johanna Dalley, Global Director for World Class, said:“Since its inception, World Class has been passionate about giving the best bartenders in the world the global spotlight they richly deserve – these are incredibly talented professionals whose skill is on par with the world’s best chefs but who also deal directly with the public on a nightly basis, have flexibility to create drinks to the exact specification of each and every one of their guests, be part sommelier, part host, part alchemist, part entertainer and part confidant.”

The six finalists in this year’s competition included entrants representing Australia, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Greece, Israel and Japan.

Last year’s World Class winner was Charles Joly of the US who rose to victory at the global final in London.