Dandelyan’s Bowie wins World Class UK final

Following a highly competitive three-day final in London, Aidan Bowie was named Diageo Reserve’s GB World Class Bartender of the Year 2016.

Aidan Bowie of Dandelyan, London, will represent the UK in the Diageo Reserve World Class Global Final in Miami

The final took place across numerous London venues, including Fanhams Hall, Diageo’s Global Innovation R&D Centre, London’s Blixen and Rosewood London.

But from the 11 bartenders competing it was Bowie who secured first place and a spot in the global final scheduled to take place in Miami in September.

“Aidan Bowie’s World Class journey has been remarkable,” said Dan Cove, head of Diageo Reserve World Class. “Throughout both then semi-final event and this week’s final, he has consistently impressed the judging team with broad thinking, incredible knowledge base and pioneering ideas.

“Aidan Bowie epitomises a Diageo Reserve World Class bartender and we are extremely proud to have him now represent Great Britain at the global final in September.”

The national final was based on the theme ‘Into the Unknown’ and required competitors to experiment with different ingredients and flavours, before creating their own bitters. From this, each bartender had to create a brand and signature serve.

Each challenge was judged by a panel comprising Diageo Reserve brand ambassadors, flavour chemists and industry experts, including Alex Kratena and last year’s GB winner, Ali Reynolds.

The first day of the final, held at Fanhams Hall, featured ‘The Art of Umami’ challenge which asked bartenders to create and present judges with a long and short cocktail based on the “hotly debated fifth basic taste”.

Day two was held at Diageo’s Global Innovation R&D Centre and challenged entrants to create their own bitters with a team of Diageo scientists and flavour specialists, design a signature cocktail and pair the bitters with a Diageo Reserve spirit brand.

The last day started at Blixen with a three-part ‘Deconstruct – Reconstruct’ task focused on classic cocktails. Each contestant was then given a £100 spending budget to purchase their own vessel and garnish. The competition then progressed to the Rosewood London to unveil and present their bitters and signature serve.

Bowie commented: “I am so proud to have earned my place at the World Class global final.

“This year’s competition has been beyond tough in terms of the challenges but also the level of skill and talent I have witnessed amongst the other competitors.

“I am very pleased and honoured to go through to the next stage of Diageo Reserve World Class.”

The other 10 GB finalists included Liam Broom, Callooh Callay; Tim Laferla, City Social; Sean Fennelly, Milk & honey; Kyle Wilkinson, Beaufort Bar; Scott Gavin, Rosewood London; Lorenzo Antinori, Dandelyan; Dominic Whisson, The American Bar at The Savoy; James Bowker, The Edgbaston Boutique Hotel & Cocktail Lounge; Jerome Allaguillemette, Sexy Fish; and Gordon Purnell, Panda & Sons.