Diageo Reserve Cocktail Contest Results: Who Are Beijing's Best Bartenders?

After two days of competition at d lounge on April 18-19, five Beijing bartenders have been selected to go on and represent the capital in the China National Finals of the Diageo Reserve World Class Competition. If you disagree with the results, we just happen to be giving you the chance to vote for your own favorite bartender in our 2012 Reader Bar & Club Awards, but before you get voting, take in our report from the Diageo contest.

Over 30 competitors (all Chinese, in line with the competition's rules) took part in the contest, with each bartender making two drinks: a classic cocktail made with their own spin, and their own signature drink. Before the drinks were prepared, each competitor had to announce the drink they intended to make and why they chose to make it in that way.

Three judges, all from Shanghai-based bars, were on hand to rate each contestant's drinks: Ryan Noreiks of Yucca Bar; Jin Zhonglei, owner of Constellation Bar; and Kyo, owner of Papaya Bar. Explaining how the contestants would be judged, Ariel Miao of Diageo Reserve China told us: “This contest is not only about the taste of the drink. It’s about the history, the knowledge and presentation behind it.”

The final top five selected by the judges were, in no particular order:
Feng Jingxuan from Mokihi
Sophie Gai from Flamme
David Ding from Maison Boulud
Stephanie Zhou from Mao Mao Chong
Sun Quan from Lucky Man

“We’ve all worked so hard on this competition," said Stephanie Zhou of Mao Mao Chong. I’ve slept maybe five hours in total over the last two days.” Though competitors may have been exhausted, to Diageo's credit the contest does seem to be more than just a marketing vehicle. Over the past month, the participating bartenders have attended mixology seminars and workshops, and learned from last year's global winner, Manabu Ohtake, during an evening at Mesh. We spoke to a number of the bartenders involved over the past few weeks, and most seemed both excited and enthusiastic about the whole exercise. While Diageo obviously ultimately want to sell more of their products, their strategy seems long-term enough to realise that engaging the bartenders, giving them the chance to grow and encouraging them to become more passionate about what they do can only be a good thing.

Congratulations to all five winners and good luck to them when they travel to Shanghai for the National Finals. The winner on that occasion will take China's place in the Global Finals, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro from July 8-12.

PHOTOS: Paul Mathew