World's Largest Bartender Competition... Diageo 'World Class'

Diageo World Class: The World's Largest Bartender Competition
Over 10,000 Bartenders from More Than 60 Countries Compete Each Year

'World Class,' an annual event hosted by Diageo, is the world's largest bartender competition, attracting over 10,000 bartenders from more than 60 countries. The competition has provided aspiring bartenders with opportunities to challenge themselves, inspiring the next generation and helping them develop both technical and artistic skills. Bartenders who seek global recognition prepare intensely for World Class every year.

The competition comprehensively evaluates not only cocktail-making techniques but also creativity, storytelling, and other essential bartender skills. Participants spend months meticulously preparing, not only honing their bartending abilities but also developing signature cocktails that showcase their skills and personalities, along with unique concepts and stories to make their creations stand out. Through this event, Diageo not only elevates individual bartenders' capabilities but also contributes to raising the overall quality of the industry.

World Class also serves as a platform for realizing 'Fine Drinking,' the premium drinking culture Diageo pursues. By nurturing bartenders, the competition leads the advancement of cocktail culture and, through collaboration with bars, offers consumers direct opportunities to experience World Class cocktails and mixology trends.

Preliminary competitions are held in each country to select national representatives ahead of the global finals. In Korea, 'World Class Korea' has been held since 2009. This competition marks the starting point for those aspiring to become the world's best bartender, and the single final winner earns the right to represent Korea at the global finals. World Class winners serve as ambassadors, introducing Fine Drinking to consumers.

In addition, Diageo is at the forefront of bartender education to strengthen professional expertise. The in-house 'Diageo Bar Academy' offers a comprehensive curriculum both online and offline, providing industry professionals with essential training in product knowledge, creative beverage-making techniques, responsible drinking, and customer communication.