World Class Winter Round finalists

The 15th floor art deco bar Blue Diamond saw Melbourne’s boozerati turn up in full flight for an afternoon of top tipples at the winter round of the World Class cocktail competition. It was a day of incredible cocktails with nine of Australia’s best bartenders competing for three spots at the final.

The competition, which is partly judged by a panel of industry professionals, is one of the few in the country that includes the consumer in the voting process. They came out in droves on the afternoon of Sunday 20 May to show their support and try some really sensational drinks. Each person was armed with a booklet and cards, equipping them to vote for their favourite drink.

Their votes, along with scores from the judges saw Canvas’s Angus Burton with his hot buttered tequila, Black Pearl’s Chris Hysted with his tropical riff on the Café Brulot, El Platano Brulot and The Alchemist’s Joel Persson’s crazy gold cocktail Magnum Opus, swirling in the glass like magic.

Congratulations to the three finalists who will be joining The Roosevelt’s Phil Gandevia, Laneway’s Perryn Collier, Kodiak Club’s Fred Siggins, Lily Black's Callan Green and BLACK by Ezard's Michael Chiem and Bartender Magazine's Bartender of the Year 2011, Tim Philips, at the World Class final that will run for 3 days in Sydney, including an event you are all invited to: the food pairing challenge which will be held at Sokyo on June 12.

Find out more about the World Class food pairing challenge at Sokyo and how you get tickets.