Global bartending finals set for Glasgow
MORE than 10,000 bartenders from across the globe will descend on Glasgow next year for the world’s biggest bartending competition, it has been confirmed.
The brightest and best of the drinks community will take over Scotland’s cultural capital to see the WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year crowned.
The announcement comes as Glasgow continues to have a big impact on the world’s cultural stage with its renowned creatives and collaborators, resident musicians, comedians, actors and artists.
The city’s nightlife is no different with new concept bars and gastronomic spaces opening at a fast pace, such as California-inspired So L.A. on Mitchell Street, the UK’s first “gin spa” in the Merchant City and Public House By Nico on Great Western Road which opens tomorrow.
The WORLD CLASS global finals are expected to bring an additional £1.5million to the local economy.
The reveal follows Diageo’s recent announcement of an investment of over £185m in Scotch whisky experiences in Scotland, with a planned Johnnie Walker global attraction in Edinburgh and transformations of an existing 12 distillery visitor attractions across the country.
Sharing the news, Emily Wheldon, global head of WORLD CLASS, said: “We are hugely proud to be bringing the Bartender of the Year global finals to Scotland, the home of so many of Diageo’s much-loved spirits.
“Glasgow will be an exciting hub for festivities, and the perfect backdrop for the world’s best bartenders to show off their incredible talent.”
David Cutter, president of global supply and procurement at Diageo, added: “We are currently making the biggest investment ever seen in Scotch whisky tourism in Scotland, to transform how we welcome visitors from around the world and put us at the forefront of global growth in food and drink tourism.
“International cocktail culture is booming and to bring the global finals of the world’s biggest competition to Scotland gives us another great opportunity to put Scotland on the map as the world’s greatest distilling country.
“It’s also an opportunity to promote one of our key responsible drinking messages: cocktails are about quality, not quantity, and we want people to drink less and drink positive.”
Pre-eminent spirits writer and Glasgow-native, Dave Broom, shared his views on his home city, calling Glasgow “the beating heart of Scotland.”
Dave added: “It’s the country’s largest city, one which has always been a centre of invention and reinvention.
“The former heartland of industrialisation is now a place of swagger and confidence, of grand architecture and noisy pubs, galleries and a thriving music scene, populated by people who want to spend time with you and tell you jokes. Constantly.”
The WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year global finals will land in Glasgow next September.