Sydney will host the Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final in 2020. The news was revealed last night as Australian’s Alex Boon competed in this year’s World Class Final held in Glasgow. It’s a huge coup for the city as its bar scene embarks on a post-lockout law revitalisation.
Since its launch in 2009, World Class has grown to include 60 countries, and has supported, educated and inspired more than 300,000 bartenders through its training and advocacy programme.
Australia has produced two global winners — Tim Philips-Johansson (2012) and Orlando Marzo (2018) — over the decade.
“Our bars and bartenders have long been celebrated for being the best in the business, qualified by the fact we are one of only two countries to produce two global champions in the competition’s history,” says Philips-Johansson, who co-owns Sydney venue Bulletin Place. “Sydney World Class 2020 is an amazing opportunity for us to promote our craft of bartending and show off our amazing city and bars to the rest of the world. I for one am looking forward to hosting the world’s best in my home city.”
As part of the finals, Sydney will get a week-long festival of collaborations, events and tastings, while a line-up of bartenders compete in a series of challenges using spirits from the Diageo Reserve portfolio. Further details will be announced in 2020.