The right mix

The sixth edition of the Diageo Reserve World Class Global Final came to an end earlier this month in London with American bartender Charles Joly beating 47 of his peers to be crowned “the world’s best bartender” in a week-long event of fierce competition, incredible craftsmanship, unrivalled creativity and exceptional cocktails.

“Wow, I just feel totally overawed by this. I know it sounds like a cliche but to be selected as the Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year 2014 is like a dream. The other finalists really are the best bartenders in the world today so for the judges to pick me as the winner is incredible,” said Joly of the Aviary Chicago.

“This journey didn’t start today at the ceremony, it started many years ago when I first started working in a local bar. I make drinks with my heart and it makes me happy to see customers happy. The possibilities open to a bartender are limitless, not just in terms of career but also of creations – the only limit is your imagination.” 

Joly will now become a global ambassador for Diageo Reserve World Class, a role which will see him travel the world, educating and inspiring new talent whilst developing his own skills and knowledge through the different tastes and techniques he experiences along the way. 

Launched in 2009, the World Class Global Final is an internationally recognised platform and mark of distinction for mixology at which the Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year is crowned. The dual-location event highlighted Scotland’s art of blending and London’s contemporary global cocktail culture with a series of tough challenges that tested the bartenders’ knowledge of spirits and cocktail history. It also required them to be forward-thinking, creative, superhumanly fast, insanely calm and incredibly charming throughout the competition. The panel of judges included legends and luminaries of the cocktail scene such as Dale DeGroff, Salvatore Calabrese, Julie Reiner, Steve Olsen and Gaz Regan. 

The 2014 World Class Global Finals consisted of a series of innovative challenges staged around Great Britain, starting in Gleneagles, Scotland, before travelling via the iconic Orient Express to London. Challenges included a “speed test”, in which they were asked to concoct six to eight impeccable cocktails in less than 10 minutes, a “sensory test” where one cocktail had to appeal to all five senses, and another that asked each contestant to come up with two martini cocktail recipes, one from the distant past and the other from 100 years into the future. The finals were as physically, emotionally and intellectually challenging as the Olympics, Miss Universe and Hell’s Kitchen (without the shouting) rolled into one. 

Thailand joined the competition for the first time in 2011, and has participated every year since. We have not yet won the trophy but we are getting close. This year was Thailand’s biggest achievement to date, with celebrity-turned-bartender Ronnaporn “Neung” Kanivichaporn, making it to the semi-final and ranking one of the 12 finest of the competition. 

“It’s not just about mixing drinks; it’s the knowledge, know-how, creativity and presentation rolled into one. And above all else, you have to know your spirits,” Nueng says.

“So the experiences from this competition really helped me up my game to a whole new level as a mixologist. I see what’s going on in the global cocktail scene and I made friends with other bartenders from all over the world. I got comments and advice from the judges who are some of the best in the industry – it’s an opportunity of a lifetime.”

The 33-year-old mixologist from cocktail and food catering firm, Maven, impressed the judges with his spunk, charming wit and a playful attitude never before seen in the competition. While most every contestant was dressed in dark clothing and showed a serious and sober side, Nueng brought in colour, lightheartedness and smiles. He might not make the best drinks, but his sessions were among the most popular to watch – not because he was hopeful of winning, but because he was great fun and his presentation intriguing. His winning personality definitely put a spotlight on Thailand as one of the best contending countries from Asia. 

“The challenges are harder every year and that raises the level of the contestants,” Chennarong Bhumichitr, senior brand ambassador at Diageo Moet Hennessy Thailand says. Chennarong serves as the coach for the Thai contestants including Nueng. 

“Bartenders used to be limited to work within their hotel bars and never even got around to see what their peers were doing at other hotels. As the cocktail scene in Thailand grew, bartenders started taking up jobs in bars and restaurants outside hotels and private establishments and they are not perceived only as “guys that serve drinks” but also as creative minds and trend-setters – almost as respected as chefs. Also, bartenders now don’t necessarily come from hospitality industry like before. I was a graphic designer before! Cocktails today are more innovative and the scene is more open. 

“Bartenders, like other professions, form a community where we share knowledge and experiences, but that’s just within Thailand and mainly Bangkok. A competition like World Class, which is the world’s biggest and most prestigious, opens their minds and exposes them to a world beyond their turf. I’m very proud to say that Thailand’s cocktail scene has improved significantly and rapidly during the past few years. I’m sure that next year at the Global Final in South Africa we’ll bring home some prizes.” 

Until then, cheers. 

 

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