The country’s best bartenders will converge in Sydney later this month for the 2025 Australian finals of the world’s largest and most prestigious bartending competition, Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year.

Now in its 16th year, Diageo World Class will gather eight of the nation’s best bartenders of 2025, vying for the coveted title of national champion, to compete at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth on 30 June.

The finalists, hailing from acclaimed venues across the country, will face a series of live challenges designed to showcase their expertise and extraordinary creativity, hosted at House Made Hospitality’s two bars within the hotel – bar tilda, known for its cocktails and serious local whisky collection, and the outdoor terrace, Wentworth Bar.

These immersive events will ultimately determine who will represent Australia on the global stage in Toronto, Canada, later this year.

The finalists are:

• Aidan Perkins of Milquetoast, Brisbane
• Darren Burton of Kiin, Adelaide 
• Darren Leaney of Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne
• James Irvine of Merivale, Sydney (pictured main)
• Lachlan Gunner of Trap, Adelaide
• Samuel Cocks of Saint Peter, Sydney
• Shirley Yeung of Foxtrot Unicorn, Perth (above)
• Tom McHugh of Caretaker’s Cottage, Melbourne

The Australian Finals promise an exhilarating day of competition, with each bartender facing off in three challenging rounds across one jam-packed day: 

1. ‘Single Origin Soiree Challenge’ with Mr. Black: To kick off the day, each will dive into contemporary coffee culture, showcasing their creativity and skill as they craft original cocktails using the rich, bold flavours of Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur.
2. ‘Celebration, Curated’: In this round, competitors are tasked with crafting three distinct cocktails—one of which must showcase Tequila Don Julio Minis, capturing the refined, celebratory spirit of the brand.
3. Check On! Diageo Reserve Challenge: The infamous final challenge returns to test bartenders’ speed as they race to create up to nine different classic cocktails against the clock, using Diageo’s award-winning Reserve portfolio.

Diageo Head of Trade Advocacy Kate McGraw said: “Diageo World Class stands as the ultimate showcase of bartending excellence, and the Australian competition never fails to inspire.

“This year’s top eight finalists represent the epitome of talent and innovation in the industry. Their mastery, creativity, and dedication to the craft of hospitality promise a final round that will be nothing short of extraordinary”.

“This year’s competition is hosted by Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, who are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of bartenders. These individuals are setting the standard for the future of the industry.”

The Australian victor will advance to the Global Finals, this year held in Toronto, Canada, from 27 September to 2 October. There, they will compete against representatives worldwide in a unique multi-format event.

Now run in more than 60 countries, World Class has supported, educated, and inspired more than 400,000 bartenders through its training and advocacy programme. The vision is to not only nurture bartending talent and foster a global sense of community, but also inspire people to care about what, where, and how they drink.