Yachting Cocktail Competition Launched

Worldclass in partnership with shore Solutions & the Antigua Charter yacht Show launches the Diago World Class yachting cocktail competition.

Bartenders from 30 yachts will compete on board for a place in the 2015 WORLD CLASS finals.

WORLD CLASS™ is the industry's most prestigious and respected mixology competition which brings to light the best bartenders from around the globe. This year, Diageo has partnered with Shore Solutions and together will start a sophisticated journey to unveil the most talented 'yachting' bartender at the Antigua Charter Show in December 2014.

The bartender who will be crowned winner of the competition will also secure a place in the 2015 WORLD CLASS™ finals, to be held in Cape Town, where the industry will see the world's most talented bartenders in a series of innovative challenges.

Matteo Fantacchiotti, Global Commercial Director, DIAGEO RESERVE, said,"This is a unique competition that brings together two popular luxury lifestyles. Combining the sophistication of yachting and the refined art of cocktail making, the competition will play host to unparalleled creativity and craftsmanship. In our search for the world's best bartenders, we don't just stop at bars on dry land, we'll cast the net further and look to the sea. We are looking forward to witnessing some of the best talent around in action and finding another 2015 WORLD CLASS finalist."

Andrew Roch, managing director of Shore Solutions UK, said, "Luxury yachts require seven star service and the skills of the interior crew often go unrecognised outside the industry. We have been training crew in the art of mixology for over ten years, with the aim of impressing an increasingly discerning cocktail drinker. This competition provides the opportunity for the most talented bar tenders in the yachting world to showcase their skills, inspired by the Caribbean backdrop; it will be interesting to see how they fare with the challenges."

One crew member from each yacht registered at the 2014 Antigua Yacht show may enter the competition for the chance to represent their industry and compete against the world's most exceptional bartenders in Cape Town next year. Teams must register by 31 October.

Upon their arrival in Antigua in early December, bartenders will attend cocktail seminars that will sharpen their skills as well as provide inspiration and cues from the latest in cocktail culture from around the world. Over the course of the week-long competition, a series of innovative on-board challenges will inspire participants to create premium serves, using the world's finest spirits. The The Yachting World Class Final on 11 December will decide the winner who will advance to the 2015 WORLD CLASS™ finals alongside the best bartenders in the world.

For information about the WORLD CLASS™ TV Show, Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit www.diageo.com or contact:

World Class PR Contact: Effie Kli Efthymia.kli@edelman.com  +44 (0) 20 3047 2308

*Image credit: Flickr/Michael Meiters