City’s bartending champions to take on South Africa’s best in World Class national final
After mixing off against the city’s most talented bartenders in three grueling workshops, Dom De Lorenzo and Tom Savage have emerged as the best of the best in Johannesburg, earning top marks in the Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year regional finals.
Held throughout the year, the regional workshops – concluded on May 27 – put contestants’ mixology skills to the test in a series of challenges measuring speed and efficiency as well as their ability to reinvent the classic Bloody Mary using Ketel One Vodka. Competition was stiff during all stages, but De Lorenzo and Savage held their own, employing creativity and craftsmanship to score big in every category.
“Being named the best bartender in an entire city is no small accomplishment. It’s a testament to the tremendous skill of both contestants. An achievement like this carries all the prestige and status afforded any other professional in the food and drinks industry” said Alex Farnell, National Reserve Brand Ambassador Manager.
De Lorenzo (from mobile service Molecular Bars) and Savage (from Social on Main) will now go head to head with their counterparts from the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal in the national finals, to be held in Johannesburg on July 14 to 16.
They will be joined by wild card finalist Steven Saunders (of Johannesburg’s Michelangelo Hotel), who had among the highest scores following the regional workshops, as well as the other regional winners from the Western and Eastern Capes (Assaf Yechiel and AJ Snetler) and KwaZulu-Natal (Jody Francis and Trace van der Merwe).
One champion will then be chosen to represent the country in the World Class Global Final, being hosted in Cape Town and Johannesburg in September.
For the first time in the World Class competition’s seven-year history, Africa will welcome the best mixologists from 57 countries as they vie for the title of Bartender of the Year 2015. Previous years’ host cities have included the likes of Rio de Janeiro and London.
The Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year is the largest and most prestigious event of its type, aiming to elevate the skill and craft of the bartending profession and set global trends and standards in the service industry worldwide.
About Brandhouse:
Brandhouse Beverages (Pty) Ltd was formed on 1 July 2004 as a joint venture between Diageo, Heineken International and Namibia Breweries Ltd. It is South Africa’s leading premium drinks company with an unrivalled portfolio of brands across the spirits, beer and cider categories. These include Johnnie Walker, J&B, Smirnoff, Bell’s, Baileys, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Amstel, Heineken, Windhoek, Foundry, and Guinness among others.
For more information about brandhouse, its people, and brands visit us at www.brandhouse.co.za.
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