Mexico City – 28 August 2017 –
Kaitlyn Stewart has been crowned the world’s best bartender at the climax of the global cocktail competition World Class Bartender of the Year 2017 in Mexico City.
Over the past week, Kaitlyn has seen off challenges which tested every single skill that makes a bartender truly great. She battled it out in the Lucha Libre ring, going head-to-head with her opponents to create her best classic cocktail. She survived the fire of the Heat of the Moment challenge as she showed how to break boundaries in cocktail making by incorporating the best of culinary techniques. And as global environmental awareness rises, she took on the Mex ECO challenge to show how bartenders can look for new ways to create the ultimate green cocktail.
Guests at the World Class competition witnessed the pinnacle of bartending creations, the setting of new trends, and the parameters of cocktail making pushed further than ever before. Whilst all the World Class Finalists were outstanding, Kaitlyn truly stood out as the best of the best, able to master the Diageo Reserve luxury portfolio to create ground-breaking results.
The ‚World Class Bartender of the Year’ competition is the biggest in the world with over 10,000 bartenders from 57 countries having entered it. After winning their regional competitions, 55 gathered together in Mexico City on Sunday 20th August to compete. On Wednesday evening, after going to head-to-head with their competitors in the Lucha Libre ring, an elite four made it through to the final round, designed to test them on their knowledge, creativity and mastery of the classics and signature serves.
Kaitlyn is set for a year of adventure – she will have the chance to travel the world as a Diageo Reserve Brand Ambassador, making bespoke drinks in far-flung locations and judging competitions. She will also join a roll call of the industry’s finest, becoming the ninth member of the World Class Hall of Fame.
Kaitlyn Stewart, the 2017 World Class Bartender of the Year, said: “I’m so incredibly amazed and shocked to have been named the world’s best bartender. It’s been a grueling week, taking on the toughest challenges against some of most skilled bartenders I’ve ever met. Participating in the Finals was amazing enough but to finish the week as winner… I’m so delighted! Cocktails are on the up now more than ever and to be at the forefront of that, pushing forward the idea of using better ingredients and better recipes to create even better cocktails is something I’m really passionate about and I’ve loved every moment of this experience.”
World Class will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Berlin, one of the world’s most dynamic cultural hotspots. “Berlin is famous for its diverse nightlife and vibrant bar culture – a perfect place to host our 2018 World Class finals. The streets are lined with a cutting-edge bars, all pushing the boundaries of cocktail culture and helping people get more from their drinks. Not just that, the style of the city and its creative and diverse cultural make-up, means that it will be a spectacular experience for everyone,” commented Johanna Dalley, World Class Director.
World Class is on a mission to inspire people to drink better and shape the future of drinking, whether at home or in the bar. If you have been inspired to drink better, visit http://www.theworldclassclub.com or the World Class Facebook community, where you can find delicious new recipes from our finalists, how-to videos and et the low-down on the latest trends.
Winner’s Biography: Kaitlyn Stewart (Place of work: Royal Dinette)
Kaitlyn has grown up in the hospitality industry, with both of her parents having careers that gave her exposure and ignited a passion for it from a young age. She knows that dedication and hard work can lead to great things. Kaitlyn is inspired by the music she listens to, the food she enjoys and also the customers she interacts with at her bar. Her dream is to continue learning her craft, explore more of the world and eventually open up her own spot!