NEW YORK, June 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The biggest and
most celebrated U.S. bartender competition of the year has
identified the country's most talented mixologist. This year,
15 of the nation's top bartenders competed for the title of
champion in New York City while
six internationally recognized Cocktail Luminaries assembled to
select one contender as champion. After proving his skills during
five challenges and two days of competition on June 16 and 17, the United States Bartenders'
Guild (USBG) and World Class U.S. are proud to
announce Charles Joly from Chicago as the 2014 U.S. Bartender of the
Year.
Charles Joly will represent the U.S. at the world's largest
international cocktail competition this July in Great Britain, the origin of the Global
competition. World Class remains the largest international cocktail
education program and fosters a community of bartending talent that
continues to elevate the art of the cocktail across the world.
"I am honored to participate in this phenomenal program and to
represent the U.S. in the Global Finale," said Charles Joly.
"The World Class program is a completely unique experience that
pushes mixology to new levels. I feel honored that the esteemed
judges chose me to represent the United
States in the global competition and privileged to have
competed alongside the talented finalists."
Charles Joly's journey began in
the fall of 2013, as the USBG and World Class program entered its
third year in the Unites States. The program invited top bartending
and mixology talent to prove their skills by completing two
educational modules, submitting an original cocktail recipe and
answering two essay questions. Hundreds of hopefuls completed
the application, which was judged by 2013 World Class U.S. Winner
Jeff Bell and World Class Ambassador Ricky
Gomez. There were 75 regional finalists and in the end 15
finalists were selected to prove their skills in one of the major
urban epicenters of American cocktail culture- New York City.
The 15 competitors put their talent to the test on June 16-17, 2014. Each participant demonstrated
their expertise, knowledge and technique by creating cocktails
featuring one of the Diageo Reserve Brands, which include
Bulleit® Bourbon, CIROC® Vodka, Johnnie Walker® Blended Scotch
Whiskey, Ketel One® Vodka, Tanqueray No.
Ten®, Tequila Don
Julio® and Zacapa® Rum.
This year Cocktails Against the Clock, an intense timed
challenge that tested the finalists' poise, accuracy and
craftsmanship under pressure, returned as part of the
competition. Additionally, four new and exciting challenges
were introduced:
- The Tasting Menu and Market Challenge: Inspired by a
five-course tasting dinner, each bartender selected two of the five
courses for a cocktail pairing.
- Dealer's Choice: A stock list challenge that required
the making of two different cocktails dictated by three decks of
cards. The first deck identified the style of cocktail, the second
listed the required spirit and the third included flavor
descriptions.
- A Spirit Through the Ages: The bartenders prepared a
series of cocktails representing different time periods using a
single spirit.
- The Guest of Honor: By introducing theater and ritual to
the serving of a product, contestants created something unique and
inspirational with an emphasis on the sensory experience.
Each bartender created one signature cocktail serve and a
bottle serve directed to the Guest(s) of Honor at a special
occasion of their choosing.
Throughout the two-day competition, internationally acclaimed
cocktail luminaries including Ambassador of Tequila to the United
States Julio Bermejo and master mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout; beverage expert
Steve Olson; award-winning bartender
Jim Meehan; James Beard Nominee
Julie Reiner; and National President of the USBG Dave Nepove carefully critiqued and scored each
drink to determine the competitor deserving of the USBG and World
Class U.S. Winner title.
"We are so thrilled to be in our third year of this program that
has expanded again and brought superior talent, a mix of returning
and new, to the finals in New
York," said Mark Schulte,
SVP, Customer Marketing, Diageo North America. "Charles Joly will have the opportunity to
showcase his expertise and mixology talents to the world when they
represent the U.S. at the global competition in Great
Britain. Charles Joly will bring the American cocktail
culture to life in the best way through his creations when
competing against a worldwide assembly of bartenders and
celebrating with World Class responsibly."
Charles Joly will travel to
Great Britain to participate in
the competition with 50 total worldwide bartenders from
July 28 to August 1, 2014. As a
dual-location event the Global Finals will highlight Scotland's art of blending and London's contemporary global cocktail
culture. While abroad, Charles Joly will be judged by
renowned international cocktail luminaries, while vying for the
chance to win the title of "Diageo World Class Bartender of the
Year."
Join the conversation by following @WorldClassUS on Twitter, use
the hashtag #CocktailChallenge and visit
www.facebook.com/WorldClassUnitedStates.
About USBG
The USBG is the largest network of
professional bartenders in the U.S. who come together to share the
craft of mixology. With over 60 years of presence in the United States and International coverage
in affiliation with the International Bartender's Association (IBA)
in over 50 countries, the United States Bartenders' Guild is
setting the standard for the profession throughout the country.
With the resurgence and increasing popularity of the cocktail,
there is a high demand for creative and professional bartenders. As
an industry leader, the USBG is responsible for educating its
members about current trends while encouraging them to start new
ones. For more information, visit www.usbg.org.
About Diageo
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an
outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits,
beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie
Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Windsor, Buchanan's and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff,
Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than
180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the
New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).
For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and
performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that
promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice
tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
SOURCE USBG