Diageo World Class names winner of US final

New York bartender Tyson Buhler will go on to represent the US in the global final of Diageo Reserve World Class, after winning the North American leg of the competition.

Tyson Buhler will now represent the US at the global final of Diageo Reserve World Class 2015

Buhler was named 2015 Bartender of the Year in the US by the United Spirits Bartenders’ Guild and Diageo, which jointly run the competition in the country.

This year marked the third time Buhler had competed for the title, battling against 15 bartenders who were selected to take part in the regional final.

“I had to come back and keep trying,” said Buhler. “The community I have gained over the past three years has helped me be better at my craft. From the judges to my peers, they have taught me more than I could learn simply behind a bar.”

Judges at the national final, held in Chicago, included last year’s overall Diageo Reserve World Class winner Charles Joly, formerly of Chicago’s The Aviary, PDT’s Jim Meehan, president of the USBG David Nepove and mixologist and author Dale DeGroff, among other bartending and spirits specialists.

The three-day final saw bartenders tested on their abilities to create a cocktail inspired by Chicago, as well as a “sensory guest experience” and food and cocktail pairing menu.

Finally, participants took part in the Cocktails Against the Clock round, where they were tasked to create six cocktails in eight minutes.

“The USBG’s mission is to unite the hospitality community to advance professional bartending,” said Aaron Gregory Smith, executive director of USBG.

“Through the World Class program partnership with Diageo, we are able to deliver on this mission by delivering an exceptional experience through challenges and competitor evaluations by the beverage industry’s best minds.”

Buhler will now represent the US at the global final of Diageo Reserve World Class in South Africa this September.

Earlier this month, Ali Reynolds, of London’s Hawksmoor Spitalfields, was named winner of the UK leg of the competition.