World Class Singapore selects winner
Tryson Quek of Side Door will represent Singapore at the World Class global finals in Toronto.
The country’s finals were held at Baia bar on 16 June, with six people vying for the title of Singapore’s Bartender of the Year.
As part of the final, contestants had to complete two challenges that tested innovation, speed and storytelling.
The first challenge, Drink to the Future, tasked them with creating ‘an immersive luxury cocktail experience elevated by modern technology’. For this section, Quek created an ‘umami-rich’ serve named Possibilities, which featured Zacapa XO and kumquat foam.
The second challenge was The Showdown. This was a high-intensity service round designed to simulate the fast pace of a real-life bar. Each finalist had five minutes to make five cocktails, each based on a classic serve and featuring a World Class spirit.
The cocktails were: a Highball with a twist using Johnnie Walker Blue Label; a Paloma with Don Julio 1942; an Old Fashioned featuring Zacapa XO; a Manhattan with The Singleton 15YO, and a Martini with Tanqueray No. Ten.
Alongside Quek, the top three included Marco Maiorano of Koma and Samuel Pang of Night Hawk.
Quek’s wife and fellow Side Door co-founder Bannie Kang was crowned World Class Bartender of the Year Singapore in 2019. She also managed to win the global title the same year.
The Bartender’s Bartender prize was awarded to Ooi Foo Giap of Last Word owing to his camaraderie, support, and leadership throughout the competition. This prize is voted for by all bartenders who participated in the competition.
Sushisamba Singapore was also awarded World Class Cocktail Festival Experience of 2025 on the night. It was praised for its ‘commitment to service excellence, innovation, and guest engagement in the cocktail space’.
This year’s World Class features a list of 10 exclusive prizes to be won, including an all-expenses-paid trip to the global final in Toronto, Canada, an ‘unforgettable journey’ to New York City, a Soho House membership, and a two-year talent representation with Global Bartending.
Earlier this year, Navjot Singh was named World Class India Bartender of the Year 2025. The top 10 finalists for Great Britain were also revealed.
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