The Diageo World Class is perhaps the premiere bartending award in Singapore, and coming up tops is akin to winning an Oscar.
And the winner is…
And the winner is….
Bannie Kang of Anti:Dote is the newly minted World Class Singapore Bartender of the Year 2019!
A familiar name to those who frequent the bar scene, Bannie is an old hand at the bartending competition circuit. She was named the Best Female Bartender at the 2014 and 2015 Bar Awards, represented Singapore in the Bacardi Legacy competition in 2016, won the Black Cow Gold Top Cup, was first runner up at the Diplomático World Tournament in 2017, amongst other accolades.
She was not a stranger to World Class, either, having been a finalist in the 2013 World Class Singapore. However, the laurels of the champion eluded her still.
Until today.
Battling through a field of 22 bartenders across two rounds at Diageo’s Singapore headquarters, her consistent performance impressed both judges and spectators.
In the day’s first round, she presented the judges with her creation, In My Heart. Inspired by the Samsui women who helped to build Singapore brick by brick, it has distinct ginger notes that echo their traditional cuisine.
She then managed to edge six other finalists in a grueling speed-round to emerge as World Class Singapore Bartender of the Year 2019!
Worthy Rivals
The newly minted Rising Star Award, going to a promising young bartender new to the Diageo World Class, was also awarded to Michael Fong of Jekyll and Hyde.
We would also like to give a quick shout out to the finalists. While there were originally six bartenders who were to enter the final round, the scores of the top few were too close to call, and seven finalists competed in the speed round.
- Bannie Kang, Anti:Dote
- Edward Koh, Bar Stories
- Silvio Daniele, Jigger and Pony
- Benedict Poh, The Monarchy
- Jon Lee, Tippling Club
- Michael Fong, Jekyll and Hyde
- Giovanni Graziadei, Jigger and Pony
Congratulations to Bannie, Michael, and all participants of 2019’s World Class Singapore!
