Australia’s top bartending talent will converge on Sydney later this month for the world’s biggest and most influential bartending competition, Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year.

The national finals will be held on 27 May, with six of the nation’s foremost bartenders vying for the coveted title of national champion.

The finalists, hailing from acclaimed venues across the country, will face a series of live challenges designed to showcase their expertise and creativity, ultimately determining who will represent Australia on the global stage later this year.

The Australian Finals will feature three challenging rounds across one day:

1. Leading with the Malt Maximalism Challenge: Bartenders will kick off the day by upending traditional whisky serves with bright bold flavours and textures, showcasing their creativity and expertise using the rich flavors of Johnnie Walker, Talisker, and The Singleton.
2. Paint The Town Ruby Challenge: In this round, bartenders will journey through their favourite bars, delivering serves that embrace the experimentation and attitude of Johnnie Walker Black Ruby.
3. Check On! Challenge: Bartenders will be tasked with creating six classic cocktail serves in six
   minutes that showcase Diageo’s award winning reserve portfolio that puts their speed to the test
   as they race to create the ultimate cocktail.

Diageo National Trade Advocacy Manager Kate McGraw said: “World Class is the ultimate celebration of bartending excellence, and the Australian competition is always inspiring. Our Top Six finalists epitomise the best of the best; their skill, technique, and innovative approaches to hospitality promise an extraordinary and highly competitive final”.

The Australian winner will advance to the Global Finals, being held in Shanghai from September 9-13. There, they will compete against representatives from over 50 other countries in a unique multi-format event.

And the finalists are …

Jake Down (Maybe Group, Sydney)

Jake is a bartender with over a decade of experience behind the stick, leading teams at culture defining bars of Sydney and abroad including This Must Be The Place, Scout London, Re and Housemade Hospitality. He currently works at Sydney’s Alpha Restaurant.

James Irvine (Merivale, Sydney)

James is the Group Creative Cocktail Lead at Merivale. With fifteen years of bartending experience, he has previously held group creative roles at Swillhouse and Four Pillars Gin. James has also represented Australia multiple times in global bartending competitions and is a multiple winner of Bartender of the Year across other industry platforms.

Matt Bodycote (State Buildings, Perth)

Matt is a seasoned Venue Operations and Beverage Director, whose passion for hospitality has fuelled his career for over 16 years. With a diverse background spanning various venues and service styles, Matt has honed his expertise in all aspects of hospitality management and business operations.

Rohan Massie (Rude Boy, Hobart)

With 20 years of experience in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, Rohan is a seasoned veteran in the hospitality industry. Co-owner of both Rude Boy Hobart and Punch and Ladle, Rohan returns to the National Finals after a berth in 2023.

Shirley Yeung (Foxtrot Hospitality Group, Perth)

Shirley is the operations manager for Foxtrot Hospitality Group which includes Foxtrot Unicorn Bar, Niue Wruin and Edward Idas. With more than years of experience in bartending, Shirley is founding member of Mix Haus, which supports women in hospitality through education, training, networking and workshops.

Tom Opie (The Waratah, Sydney)

Tom Opie, a bartender based in Sydney, Australia, has established himself as a prominent figure in the local bar scene. Originally hailing from Wollongong, Tom embarked on his bartending journey at Eileen’s Bar before moving to The Waratah in Darlinghurst. Proudly Indigenous, Tom is deeply passionate about sustainability and fermentation.

Pictured main: Eduardo Conde of Sydney’s El Primo Sanchez represented Australia at the 2023 Diageo World Class finals.

The Aussie behind Diageo World Class