Known officially as USBG Presents World Class Sponsored By Diageo, the annual competition evaluates the nation’s top bartenders in an effort to one to represent the United States at the 2023 Global Finals, being held in São Paulo, Brazil. Simply put, it is the world’s top bartending competition. It pits the world’s best bartenders against each other all in an effort to educate and improve luxury drink making on a global level. Now, the competition is set to return for an eleventh season with applications due by November 15, 2022 at 11:59pm PST.
At its heart, the acclaimed program is an educational platform that instills relevant training and mentorship for hospitality professionals. “USBG Presents World Class Sponsored By Diageo allows competitors to push themselves and grow with other industry leaders,” says USBG Executive Director Aaron Gregory Smith. “We’re excited to welcome returning and new competitors into the World Class community as they embark on this one-of-a-kind program that brings together a community of highly talented and dedicated hospitality professionals.”
Each year, the World Class US competition draws applications from diverse and talented bartenders nationwide who compete in a series of regional and national challenges inspired by the latest industry trends. For this next season of the competition, the Regional and National Finals will take place at an event in Austin, Texas, where the nation’s Top 30 bartenders will compete to narrow down to the Top 5 Finalists before the 2023 World Class US Bartender of the Year is crowned. The competition offers a great opportunity for cocktail enthusiasts of all skill levels and backgrounds to put their skills to the test, while joining a community of industry professionals from around the world.
“We are continuously evolving the World Class US program to fit the dynamic industry and are proud to witness the incredible growth and success of this inspiring community year after year,” shares Cassandra Ericson, Manager of On Premise at Diageo North America. “We hope the mentorship and virtual educational components of the program on DiageoBarAcademy.com will encourage bartenders of all backgrounds and skill levels to join this incredible collective of bartenders.”
Jessi Pollak was selected as the 2022 US Bartender of the Year after competing in the USBG Presents World Class Sponsored By Diageo for her first time ever. Representing the US at the Global Finals in Sydney, Australia, she mixed her way to the Top 10 Finalists globally and is now continuing her journey to show what it means to be World Class.
Key dates for the 2023 competition are as follows:
- November 15, 2022: Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST to be considered for the 2023 USBG Presents World Class Sponsored By DIAGEO
- January 2023: Top 100 Announced
- February 2023: Top 30 Regional Finalists Announced
- May 2023: Regional & National Finals will take place in Austin, TX to ultimately crown the 2023 US Bartender of the Year
- Fall 2023: The 2023 World Class Cocktail Festival and Global Finals will take place in São Paulo, Brazil
Backed by DiageoBarAcademy.com, an online training platform designed for experienced bartenders, competitors are armed with the tools and knowledge to prepare themselves for the competition while fostering their career developments.
To apply for the 2023 USBG Presents World Class Sponsored By Diageo, head over to https://worldclass.usbg.org and make sure to send to send in your application by November 15.
