The world watches landmark week for latest mixology trends.
From July 8th – 12th the highly anticipated Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS 2012 Global Final will take place against the spectacular backdrop of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 50 of the world’s best bartenders from around the globe will compete to win the highly acclaimed award of Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year attracting mixology luminaries, luxury aficionados and industry gurus who gather to watch the latest fine drinking trends emerge and immerse themselves in a world of red carpet events.
This year’s prestigious Global Final takes inspiration from the revival of Retro Chic – a global luxury trend which encapsulates the glamour and simplicity of the golden era of the 50s and 60s and has already infused the Maisons of fashion, design, art and stylized TV shows. With an innate understanding of the luxury industry, Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS is leading Retro Chic within contemporary and experimental cocktail culture, paying homage to this nostalgic revival of the classics through the ambience and décor of the week.
Rudy Paoli, Managing Director, Global Reserve said, “Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS is transforming fine drinking experiences and cocktail culture in the best bars around the world and in the home by discovering, inspiring and investing in talent within the mixology industry. Set to surpass all expectations, the 2012 Global Final Week brings together the best bartenders worldwide, captivating, star-studded events and will provide a forum for Retro Chic, a global luxury trend, set to unfold within mixology.”
AN EXHILARATING WEEK OF GLAMOROUS EVENTS AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING LUXURY SEMINARS
Additional highlights to the landmark week include Mahiki VIP after parties hosted by CÎROC vodka, the undeniably classic, crisp and smooth KETEL ONE® vodka House, an experience above the clouds with ZACAPA® rum, a celebration of legend by JOHNNIE WALKER® GOLD LABEL RESERVE™ Blended Scotch Whisky and an event set to change the game by JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ Blended Scotch Whisky.
Insightful luxury seminars lead by global trendsetters Dylan Jones, Editor of UK GQ, Tony Chambers, Editor of style magazine Wallpaper*, Mark Izatt of Vertu, Jason Beckley from Dunhill and LibertyLondonGirl Sasha Wilkins add another element to the week where the latest luxury trends and the role of luxury as a force for social good in today’s society will be discussed. Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS winners will also impart their knowledge on the art of being a perfect host and how to create the epitome of a Retro Chic fine drinking experiences in the home.
MIXOLOGY LUMINARIES JOIN IMPRESSIVE LINE-UP OF WORLD CLASS GURUS
The internationally renowned Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS judging panel, consisting of industry greats Salvatore Calabrese, Dale de Groff, Peter Dorelli, Gary Regan, Daniel Estremadoyro and Hidetsugu Ueno, will this year be joined by new judges Arturo Savage, Regional Brand Ambassador (Latin America and the Caribbean) for luxury whiskies, Steve Olson, one of America’s foremost experts and most sought-after lecturers in the spirits industry and Aristotelis Papadopoulos, 2009 Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year. The highly respected panel will scrutinize the style, theatre and skill of the 50 finalists who have travelled from the most esteemed bars world-wide and earned a coveted place at the Global Final by competing against 15,000 other hopefuls eager to make their mark on the world’s stage.
Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year 2012
LUXURY COLLECTION AT THE HEART OF EVERY FINE DRINKING EXPERIENCE
Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS pushes the boundaries of mixology innovation and encourages bartenders to innovate and experiment using some of the finest spirits from the Diageo Reserve luxury portfolio – KETEL ONE® vodka, CÎROC® vodka, TANQUERAY® No.TEN™ gin, TANQUERAY® gin, DON JULIO® tequila, ZACAPA® rum, JOHNNIE WALKER® GOLD LABEL RESERVE™ Blended Scotch Whisky and JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ Blended Scotch Whisky – to create the most exceptional rituals, perfect serves and fine drinking experiences the industry has ever seen.
Follow the competition on Facebook at the ‘Global WORLD CLASS Finals’ page
www.facebook.com/GlobalWorldClassFinals.
For live updates on Twitter follow @WorldClassLive and join the conversation with #WCRio; or, follow our boards at pinterest.com/WCSociety for our top selection of luxury photos from the 2012 finals.
-ENDS-
For information about Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS please contact:
Rachel Chan
Brand PR Manager, Diageo Reserve
+65 9618 5320
rachel.chan@diageo.com
Joanna Good
Neville McCarthy Associates
+44 (0) 207 940 2900
joanna@nevillemccarthy.com
ABOUT DIAGEO
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people and its brands, visit www.diageo.com. For Diageo’s global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit www.DRINKiQ.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
ABOUT DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS
Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS is transforming fine drinking experiences and cocktail culture around the world and in the home. The industry’s largest, most credible investment in the luxury on trade, it discovers the next generation of bartending talent who set the latest mixology trends and bring these to the best bars worldwide. At the core is an outstanding, global training programme and internationally recognized platform that elevates the craft of the bartender and builds careers in the industry culminating in an annual luxury landmark week where the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year is announced. Launched in 2009, over 15,000 bartenders have been inspired and educated in the craft of mixology using the finest spirits in the Diageo Reserve collection. A partnership and collaboration with gurus, media, partners and owners, Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS is widely recognized as a mark of sophistication and distinction of international fine drinking culture by bartenders and customers alike.
Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year 2012
As an extension of the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS training programme, in 2011 Diageo launched the Diageo Bar Academy in Asia Pacific, the region’s largest bartending course accredited by the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), which has trained 10,000 bartenders to date.
WORLD CLASS Global Final Week 2012 will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil July 8 – 12. For more information on WORLD CLASS, please visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GlobalWorldClassFinals.
