Winner of World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final 2016 named
A Paris bartender has won the title of world's best at the World Class Bartender of the Year Global Bartender Final 2016.
France's Jennifer Le Nechet won the award after a four-day battle in Miami, against the world's greatest talents in cocktail making.
Le Nechet, who works at Café Moderne in Paris, created a range of vibrant drinks at her Steampunk themed pop-up bar for the judges.
Nearly 10,000 bartenders entered Diageo's World Class competition, making it the biggest yet. Of those, 56 of them made it to Miami. Next year will see Mexico City play host to the final.
Each challenge turned the spotlight on a different skill in the bartender's armoury: technique, personality, spirits knowledge and how well they perform under pressure.
Selecting brands from Diageo's Reserve portfolio including Ketel One vodka, Cîroc, Don Julio, Tanqueray No TEN, Bulleit, Zacapa rum and Johnnie Walker Blue Label Blended Scotch Whisky, the bartenders crafted classic cocktails and created their own recipes. They were also asked to mix eight quintessential drinks in just 10 minutes.
Le Nechet will spend a year as a Diageo Reserve Brand Ambassador, and can expect to travel the world judging competitions.
Johanna Dalley, World Class director, Diageo Reserve said: "World Class is continuing on a stellar trajectory - since we launched in 2009 the number of countries participating has tripled from 18 to 56, and the programme has reached and inspired more than 250,000 bartenders around the globe. We are proud to bring you this year's crop of the world's most skilled bartenders, and to learn about the newest and greatest drinks experiences on offer. Jennifer is the deserved winner, and we are delighted to have a female winner for the first time, but the five runners up were all worthy contenders."
Alex Kratena, judge and founder of P(OUR) comments: "We judges have been blown away by the standard this year. These guys have knocked it out of the park - no matter whether it's mixing a classic cocktail or creating a bespoke drink. The level of innovation has been jaw-dropping."
At the Awards evening, Mexico City was also revealed as the location for the World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final 2017.
Entry for World Class 2017 opens on 9 November.
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