Media release:
In an exciting year for Australia’s evolving cocktail culture, the globally renowned bartending competition Diageo World Class will take place in Sydney, Australia for the first time ever this September.
In the lead up to the global finals, Diageo has announced its top 100 Australian Bartenders for 2022 with this year’s short list reflecting the formidable talent being nurtured in leading bars across the country.
Following an overwhelming number of applications from Sydney hotspots will’s, Maybe Sammy and Cantina OK to Gold Coast’s Rosella’s, Rude Boy in Hobart, Perth’s Foxtrot Unicorn and Melbourne’s NOMAD, the competition will see the industry’s leading bartenders battle it out for the chance to be crowned the nation’s best.
During the next phase of the competition, we will see the top 100 bartenders find inspiration from aperitivo hour and deli culture as they participate in ‘The Singleton Deli Plus Two’ challenge, to create a cocktail using The Singleton single malt Scotch whisky plus two additional components only. Australia’s winner will then represent the nation at the World Class Global Final, this year held in Australia for the first time.
Last year’s Australian World Class champion, Evan Stroeve of Re – Sydney’s no-waste bar recently named in The World’s 50 Best Bars – wowed the global judges with his skill, creativity and commitment to sustainability and innovation. Following in Stroeve’s footsteps, Matthew Dale and Siôn Roberts from Re are among the top 100 and will be battling it out to be named Australia’s best bartender in 2022.
Speaking of his win, Evan Stroeve commented “Being part of the World Class competition last year was such a momentous moment in my career, and is a potentially life changing opportunity for this year’s top 100 bartenders. The competition demands that you think creatively about flavours, process and technique. It’s an opportunity to bring an idea to life, and showcase not only your skills but the personality behind it”.
Krystal Hart, Australia’s Diageo World Class Ambassador, added: “The level of competition in Australia gets higher every year; we’ve been blown away by the quality and skill of this year’s entrants to date. As we enter the competition’s second phase, we’re looking for the top five bartenders to stand out by demonstrating imaginative and show-stopping creations. Our work is cut out for us as the calibre has been so impressive. We look forward to see what’s coming up”.
The 2022 competition will celebrate Diageo’s award-winning portfolio of reserve brands and hero whisky, with Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Johnnie Walker Black Label, The Singleton and Talisker taking centre stage.
Australia’s top five will be announced on June 13, before the finals are held in July to determine the Diageo World Class Australian Bartender of the Year for 2022.
Diageo World Class Top 100 Bartenders for 2022 include:
New South Wales
- Alex Gondzioulis, The Rover
- Behzad Vaziri, The Star
- Elisa Rodgrigues, Paloma Wine Bar
- Hunter Gregory, Maybe Sammy
- Matthew Dale, RE
- Ryan Bickley, Cantina OK
- Siôn Roberts, RE
- Storm Evans, Cantina OK
- Sanghyun Park, Will’s
- Wen Wang, Maybe Sammy
- Albert Rust, Eileen’s Bar – Four Pillars
- Andrew McCorquodale, Charlie Parker’s
- Beaux Donelan, Charlie Parker’s
- Ashley Miller, Blue Kahunas
- Ben Hardy, Bar Planet
- Brianna Aboud, Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern
- Chloe Natterer, The Lobo
- Claudio Bedini, Sammy Junior
- Daniel Hilton, The Lobo
- Eduardo Conde, NO 92 GPR
- Dominic Causley-Todd, Dead Ringer
- Emma Bernardi, Bar Planet
- Eoin Kenny, Long Chim
- Hamish Mitchell, Charlie Parker’s
- Harrison Kenney, Bar Planet
- Helen Yu, The Lobo
- James Russell, Apollonia
- Jenna Hemsworth, The Gidley
- Koby Harris, Dean and Nancy on 22
- Krisztian Csigo, Dean and Nancy on 22
- Sara Rinaldo, Dean and Nancy on 22
- Sarah Proietti, Maybe Sammy
- Judith Zhu, KittyHawk
- Kalisha Glover, Apollonia
- Kat Scibiorski, Long Chim
- Kate Gale-Re, The Gidley
- Michal Wowak, The Gidley
- Kiaran Bryant, Earl’s Juke Joint
- Liam Gavin, Door Knock
- Marco Rosati, Grain Bar
- Samuel McWilliams, The Lobo
- Thomas Opie, Births and Deaths
Queensland
- Dino Francia, Rosella’s Bar
- Jack Connor, Rosella’s Bar
- Aidan Perkins, Agnes Restaurant
- Daniella Darakis, The Gresham
- Edward Quartermass, Maker
- Ellery Low, Maker
- Jamie Fleming, Alba Bar & Deli
- Jenny Wang, Sono Japanese Restaurant
- Joe Steadman, Alba Bar & Deli
- Kate Bartlett, Cobbler Bar
- Liam Murphy, Frogs Hollow Saloon
- Liam Shepherd, Bar Brutus
- Martin McConnell, Frogs Hollow Saloon
- Peter Hollands, Frogs Hollow Saloon
Tasmania
- Rachel Mynczywor, Rude Boy
- Rohan Massie, Rude Boy
- Jack Turner, Void Bar at Mona
- Mateo Ortiz, The Den Salamanca
Western Australia
- Dyllan Balm, Foxtrot Unicorn
- Max Guidice, Republic of Fremantle
- Nicola Herbert, Foxtrot Unicorn
- Shirley Yeung, Foxtrot Unicorn
- Samuel Cocks, Bar Rogue
South Australia
- Al Simmons, Maybe Mae
- Alfonso Lizana, Maybe Mae
- Anabel Rowe, Long Story Short
- Georgia Edmonds, Maybe Mae
- Grace Rawlins, Memphis Slim’s House of Blues
- Jack Somers, Memphis Slim’s House of Blues
- Talis Heggart, Memphis Slim’s House of Blues
- Michael Keogh, Memphis Slim’s House of Blues
- Lachlan Gunner, Long Story Short
- Oscar Butler, Maybe Mae
Victoria
- Aiden Rodriquez, EDV Melbourne
- Alejandro Archibald, NOMAD Melbourne
- Kane Smith, Nick and Nora’s Melbourne
- Darren Leaney, Aru
- Cameron Parish, Gimlet
- Elisabetta Luppi, LUI Bar
- Francesca Camilli, Beneath Driver’s Lane
- James Armstrong, The Cloakroom Bar
- Josephe Kourmouzis, Above Board
- Julien Wurtlin, LUI Bar
- Kayla Saito, Black Pearl
- Nicola Dean, Black Pearl
- Max Allison, Good Measure
- Miriam Wahlhütter, LOVER
- Nick Tesar, Bar Liberty
- Olivia Devlin, Capitano
- Tioni Naslund, LUI Bar
- Taylor Matthews, Frederic
- Tom McHugh, Hazel Restaurant
Northern Territory
- Anneliese Grazioli, Hanky Panky Lounge
- Katerina Kosta, Hanky Panky Lounge
- Matt Zarimis, Smoke and Oak Darwin
ACT
- Cameron Abercrombie, Zaab Street Food
- Jack Sandeman, Zaab Street Food
- Liv Kelly, Bar Rochford