In the 11th annual quest to find the Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year, Brisbane bartenders have proven they have the innovation and expertise to make the cut. An impressive 23 of the nationwide shortlist of 100 can be found shaking, muddling and stirring in bars across Brisbane. Taking things a few steps further than Shirl’s heavy-handed pouring at your favourite local, these guys were given the challenge to submit their creative cocktail creations using spirits from Diageo’s reserve portfolio – including Ketel One Vodka, Tanqueray No. 10 Gin and Talisker 10-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky.

This year’s competition awarded Adam Meredith, Joseph Chisholm, Nikki Hashimoto, Oliver Pearson and Savannah Williams-Piper from The Boom Boom Room, Campbell Jones, Timo van Hest and Oliver Chia from Finney Isles, Charlie Hunter, Samuel Russ and Storm Evans from Cobbler, Edward Quatermass and Ellery Low from Maker, Elliot Pascoe and Samuel Tripet from Death & Taxes, Jack Stacey from The Gresham, Jacob Cohen and Kayla Reid from Savile Row, Joe Steadman and Matthew O’Malley from The Cloakroom Bar, Mark Pinel from Donna Chang, Tristan Green from Alba and Zachary Underwood-Mynott from Canvas in the Top 100. The Australian competition is recognised as one of the best in the world and has produced two global champions in the past decade. This year’s Top 100 will battle it out on Friday May 31 for a spot on the Top 20 shortlist, before the competition finals from Sunday July 7 to Tuesday July 9. The 2019 Australian Diageo World Class Top Bartender of the Year will then compete in the global finals in Glasgow later in the year.