Hawskmoor’s Reynolds wins World Class UK leg

Hawksmoor Spitalfields bartender Ali Reynolds has been named Diageo Reserve World Class UK Bartender of the Year.

Ali Reynolds, of Hawksmoor Spitalfields, has been crowned UK Bartender of the Year by Diageo Reserve World Class

Having won the UK leg of the international World Class competition, Reynolds will go on to represent the country at the global final in South Africa this September.

The competition, now in its seventh year, opened in November and saw World Class judges visit more than 400 UK bars to personally invite bartenders to enter.

Ten finalists were then selected over two heats and were taken to the UK final in Drummuir Castle, Scotland, for three days of intensive trials.

Finalists took part in three challenges. The Ground to Glass round required them to create a drink to pair with chef Lee Westcott’s dish made with ingredients foraged from the grounds of Drummuir Castle.

In Deconstruct/Reconstruct, bartenders were tasked with deconstructing a ‘World Class Blend’ created for the competition by Master Blender Jim Beveridge, identifying the percentage of each of the six whiskies used.

Finally the Signature Drinks round saw participants present two serves, one representing “who they are” and another representing the bar they work in.

“This year’s UK final has blown us all away,” said Dan Dove, Diageo Reserve World Class brand ambassador. “The talent we’ve seen in our search and throughout the challenges set has been unprecedented.

“Ali Reynolds was ultimately crowned as the World Class UK Bartender of the Year as he truly embodies what we are looking for in global finalists.  An all-rounder, Ali’s insight, creativity and originality truly earned him the title.”

The UK final’s judging panel included famed bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana, currently a finalist for the Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards 2015, and last year’s World Class UK Bartender of the Year, James Fowler.

“It’s a real honour to be crowned the World Class UK Bartender of the Year 2015,” said Reynolds.

“This year’s competition has been the biggest and best yet, with the innovative challenges stretching us on so many different levels of bartending. I cannot wait to represent the UK in the global final in South Africa.”