Diageo World Class

At the top of World Class

November 15, 2024 No Comments

Now a four-time global winner, Canada prepares to host the big event

World Class Global bartender of the Year 2024, Keegan McGregor of Halifax (second from left),
is flanked by Canada’s other global winners: Kaitlyn Stewart, James Grant and Jacob Martin.
Photos courtesy of World Class Canada

As Canadians, we don’t like to boast, but even so, Michael Armistead can’t help but be a little bit pleased.

A Canadian bartender, Keegan McGregor of Halifax’s Highwaymen Restaurant & Bar, has just won the World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2024 competition in Shanghai. That’s the fourth time Canada has won the planet’s biggest and most prestigious cocktail competition since this country started competing in 2013.

Canada wins again

November 9, 2023 No Comments

A Canadian wins World Class for an unprecedented third time. So what’s next for our talented bartenders?

Bartender Jacob Martin shakes things up at the World Class Global Final in Brazil. Photos courtesy of World Class Canada

On September 29, amid confetti and cheers, Toronto’s Jacob Martin became the World Class Global Bartender 2023, the third time a bartender from Canada—or any country—has won the world’s biggest, most prestigious cocktail competition. It’s an extraordinary accomplishment, and a fitting finale to Canada’s 10th year of competing in the event.

The Alchemist

World Class Canada crowns its 2023 winner

March 14, 2023 No Comments

Jacob Martin wins the 10th annual contest on the closing night of Vancouver Cocktail Week 2023

Jacob Martin is hoisted on James Grant’s (left) and Jeff Savage’s (right) shoulders after winning the World Class Canada Bartender of the Year on March 11, 2023. Joanne Sasvari photo

Canada’s Best Bartender of 2023 is also a certified cheese professional with a refined palate and remarkable sensory appreciation. Congratulations to Ontario’s Jacob Martin, who won World Class Canada’s big prize at the closing gala of Vancouver Cocktail Week on Saturday night.

Bartender of the Year 2021 James Grant faces the future

November 12, 2021 No Comments

Diageo World Class excited to support the bartending comeback

Diageo World Class Global Bartender of the Year James Grant gets a lift from previous winners of the World Class Canada title. Photos courtesy of World Class Canada

It took James Grant only a decade to go from bartending “to pay the bills” to becoming the Diageo World Class Global Bartender of 2021—a title that recognizes him as the world’s best bartender.

“It’s pretty wild. It’s finally started to sink in,” says the bar manager of Edmonton’s Little Hong Kong. “I’m very humbled and grateful to have done OK representing the Canadian bartending community on the world stage.”

The Alchemist

Canada’s James Grant named Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year

July 12, 2021 No Comments

Edmonton’s James Grant is 2021 World Class Bartender of the Year. Supplied photo

For the second time in only four years, a Canadian bartender has taken home the title of World Class Bartender of the Year.

After a gruelling four-day virtual final, Edmonton’s James Grant triumphed over his colleagues from 50 countries to win the world’s biggest and most prestigious cocktail competition, Diageo World Class.

Diageo World Class: More than a competition

March 13, 2020 No Comments

How the esteemed bartending contest is shaking up the cocktail world

Competitors and previous winners celebrate at the Diageo World Class Canada final 2019 in Whistler. Leila Kwok photo

Diageo World Class is more than just the biggest, most prestigious cocktail competition on the planet. It is also a major source of education for bartenders.

“We’re really trying to play our part in driving the industry forward, focusing on educating and giving bartenders the tools they need to achieve their goals, at home and around the globe,” says Michael Armistead, who oversees the Diageo World Class Canada Bartending Competition as National On-premise, Reserve and Sponsorship Manager.

The Alchemist

Vancouver’s Jeff Savage among top tier at Diageo World Class

September 27, 2019 No Comments

Although Singapore takes the title, Canada once again shakes up the world’s biggest cocktail competition

Jeff Savage, World Class Canada 2019 winner, was among the was among
the top bartenders at the Global Finals. Photo courtesy of Diageo World Class

Note: This is the third in an Alchemist series following Diageo World Class 2019 from planning the competition to the National Final in Whistler and through to the Global Final in Scotland.

He came so close. Vancouver’s Jeff Savage made it to the final eight at the Diageo World Class Final. And he won the Singleton State of Mind award. But in the end, the diminutive Bannie Kang from Singapore took home the ultimate prize.