Evan Stroeve from RE in Redfern is the new Australian World Class Bartender of the Year. The bar industry gathered tonight to watch the World Class Australian finals at the home of World Class Cocktail Festival, Paramount House Golden Age Bar. The finalists – Evan Stroeve (RE, Sydney), Kayla Saito (Leonardo’s Pizza Palace, Melbourne) and David Aznar (Rosella’s, Gold Coast) were selected from hundreds of bartending superstars go head to head across three separate challenges in the fight to be crowned this year’s Australian World Class Bartender of the Year.
Evan Stroeve from RE, the Australian World Class Bartender of the Year, will go on to represent Australia virtually in the global World Class Bartender of the Year finals in July.
The challenges included:
CHALLENGE 1 – FUTURE PROOF, SUSTAINABLY BOTTLED
KETEL ONE VODKA has been at the heart of supporting local communities in order to help create better drinking trends across the globe.
This challenge asks the finalists to draw inspiration from the past in order to create a meaningful impact for our future by creating a bottles cocktail using Ketel One Vodka with minimal waste and maximum flavour.
CHALLENGE 2 – LAND & SEA, MYSTERY BOX
Australia is home to the sixth largest coastline in the world, with a vast and rich desert with native and iconic flora and fauna.
This challenge will ask the finalists to create a mystery box serve that embodies the land or sea using either Talisker 10 Year Old or Don Julio, with a small pantry of classic bar ingredients.
CHALLENGE 3 – SPEED ROUND
To finish off with a bang, the finalists will take their place on the Main Stage at the Golden Age Bar with music and a live audience, for an energetic speed round to test their skills using the Diageo Reserve Portfolio.
Evan Stroeve from RE, the Australian World Class Bartender of the Year, will go on to represent Australia virtually in the global World Class Bartender of the Year finals in July.
To celebrate the crowning of this year’s winner, from Wednesday 28th April the bustling suburb of Surry Hills and Sydney’s CBD will come alive with the World Class Cocktail Festival, five days of bespoke cocktails, live entertainment, pop-up events, immersive brand experiences and dining collaborations, all championing the very best of Sydney’s diverse bar scene. For more information on The World Class Cocktail Festival the programme can be found at www.worldclasscocktailfestival.com