Diageo Reserve kicks off World Class roadshow

Diageo Reserve has launched its first “educational tour” of the UK in a bid to uncover the next World Class GB Bartender of the Year.

Aidan Bowie was named Diageo Reserve’s GB World Class Bartender of the Year 2016

Back for its ninth year, the bartending competition launched a nationwide roadshow in Manchester on Monday, before travelling to Leeds and Liverpool.

The Diageo Reserve brand ambassador team will travel length and breadth of the UK to offer a series of educational training opportunities, each with 50 spaces, to prepare them for the 2017 competition.

Bartenders across Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Bournemouth and London are invited to join one of ten available sessions focusing on three key aspects: The Art of Blending, Remarkable by Design and the company’s 2016 Future Trends Report.

The 2017 competition will close on 15th February 2017, before the judges review entries and commence the in-bar judging phase, from which the semi-finalists are selected. The winner will have the opportunity to represent Great Britain at the global final in Mexico.

Dan Dove, head of Diageo Reserve World Class, said: “Bartenders are at the heart of Diageo Reserve World Class, so taking the time to educate and support them ahead of the competition is crucial.

“This year’s Diageo Reserve Future Trends Report will be central to our training sessions, learning and predicting the evolving ways in which consumers are interacting with cocktails and drinking experiences.”

Each session on will run from 10.30am – 2.30pm. To book a place, email WorldClassClub@SweetandChilli.com.

The remaining schedule is as follows:
21st November: Glasgow – The Corinthian
22nd November: Edinburgh – Voodoo Rooms
23rd November: Birmingham – The Edgbaston Hotel
28th November: Bristol – Milk Thistle
29th November: Bournemouth – The Larder House
30th November: West London – Swift
1st December: East London – Callooh Callay