The Best World Bartender according to World Class 2019 is a lady from Singapore! This is so up-to-date and so great! But getting the first place is not only about being in trend. Bannie Kang from Anti:Dote bar entered eight top finalists after the long way through the contest. She was competing with 53 other finalists from all over the world. Due to her great concentration she was the fastest who made 6 classical cocktails according to the final task. Now she will reap the benefits travelling around the globe for the next 12 months! Our congrats for Bannie! Find all the details in the article below.
The Best World Bartender 2019
Bannie is an experienced competitor. Her name is well-known for the followers of bartending life in Asia and the World. She was the best woman-bartender in 2014 and 2015 at Bar Awards, she represented Singapore at Bacardi Legacy Competition in 2016, won the Black Cow Gold Top Cup, she was the first to take part in World Tour Diplomático in 2017. But this is far not the end.
According to her profile, she discovered her passion for bartending at her first job as a waitress in City Space in 2010. She returned to Seoul to pursue bartending courses before joining ANTI:DOTE in 2013. Growing up in a family that instils strong values for the healthy diet, Bannie often crafts her cocktails with medical and social purposes in mind.
For example, her cocktail “In my heart” brought a great impression on the panel of judges and spectators at the Final of World Class Singapore 2019. It was inspired by Samsui women* who helped constructing Singapore brick by brick. The cocktail had clear ginger overtones, thus connoting with traditional kitchen.
*The notion “Samsui women” is widely used for Malaysian immigrants, who came to Singapore in 1920-s – 1940-s looking for work in construction and industry. Their hard work helped to develop settlements at the Strait and later to set the basis for new nations of Singapore and Malaysia.
World Class Grand Final
The grand Final for the 11th Diageo Reserve World Class 2019 took place in Glasgow and lasted for a week. On the 26th of September the World Best Bartender was announced. David Stenshin from Moscow bar Korobok represented Russia.
The Grand Final had bartenders from 8 countries: Hong-Kong, Japan, Denmark, Singapore, Taiwan, Great Britain, Canada and South Korea. The Final Task included Speed Challenge. Traditionally World Class is considered to be the most complicated Globe competition, a real bartender Oscar.
Last Push
Glasgow Competition lasted for two days. It was a real drama that totally ceased everyone’s attention. The Final was really exciting:
“The final task was to make six classical cocktails by heart. The quality and the speed were the main criteria. So, you get six random requests, and you need to revive recipes and make them. After that each referee tried the cocktail, and decided if he pays for it or if he gives it back. For every discontent the bartender was given few more seconds. Bannie was the fastest: six cocktails for five minutes an ten seconds. Bravo!” – comments Oxana Smirnova from Russian telegram channel Na dne
That was the way the lady got the title of the Best World Bartender. The third woman who got the first prize for the 11-year history of the contest.
We wish you a good luck and further victories, Bannie Kang!
The article is based on the materials from the channels “Na dne” and information and photos from Highest Spirits
