TORONTO, July 2, 2014 /CNW/ - Grant Sceney of The Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver has been crowned the 2014 Canadian Bartender of the Year in Canada's biggest and most celebrated bartending competition, Diageo World Class Canada. Grant showcased his impeccable technique, beautifully balanced drinks and bartending charm before a panel of industry greats that included Dale DeGroff, Tony Abou-Ganim, Steve Olson and last year's victor, Jenner Cormier.
This year, ten of the country's best mixologists competed for Canada's Bartender of the Year title during four challenges over two days that tested their bartending knowledge, skill, speed and showmanship behind the bar. In the Sensoria challenge, Grant stimulated all five of the judges' senses with his Three Eyed Raven cocktail that featured Dalwhinne 15 year old single malt scotch, bee pollen syrup, chocolate bitters, tea, malted barley and lemongrass.
"Winning Diageo World Class Canada Bartender of the Year is an incredible honour," said Grant. "The level of competition and cocktail mastery from my peers is second to none. It's inspiring to compete and learn alongside bartenders that are as passionate about their craft as I am. It's also gratifying to be recognized by the world's most prestigious mixology competition, but even more so to see the bartending industry develop and receive the global recognition and respect it deserves. This is the next step in the journey to becoming the greatest bartender in the world and I can't wait to represent Canada at the Global Final," Grant shared.
Grant's journey began last year, when he placed third in Diageo World Class Canada. This year, after completing two online educational modules, submitting an original cocktail recipe and participating in a video interview, Grant was chosen as one of the top ten mixologists to compete at the Canadian Finals in Vancouver.
Industry aficionado and judge Steve Olson noted: "My fellow judges and I were met with an extremely high calibre of talent, all displaying an exceptional instinct for bartending; however, a combination of Grant's style, skill and extensive spirits knowledge made him this year's winner. There is no doubt that Grant will make a serious contender at the Diageo World Class 2014 Global Final."
As the 2014 Canadian champion, Grant will travel to Great Britain where he will compete against the world's best bartenders from 42 countries at the World Class Global Finals from July 28th – August 1st. As a dual-location event, the Global Finals will highlight Scotland's art of blending and London's contemporary global cocktail culture. While abroad, Grant 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. Diageo 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
"Canada's thriving cocktail culture has generated international attention and we're proud to have a Canadian participate for the second year in a row," said Jakob Ripshtein, president of Diageo Canada. "We are excited to see Grant celebrating the art of the cocktail using our unparalleled portfolio of brands responsibly during the world's largest cocktail educational program and competition."
If Grant is successful at the Global Final, becoming the Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year will set him on a life-changing journey. Previous winners of Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year have become recognized industry names, travelling the globe as a World Class Ambassador, participating in international high-profile events and gone on to receive numerous accolades.
The inspired cocktails created during the Canadian Diageo Reserve World Class Final used the finest spirits from the Diageo Reserve luxury collection – KETEL ONE® vodka, CÎROC® vodka, TANQUERAY® No.TEN™ gin, DON JULIO® tequila, ZACAPA® rum and JOHNNIE WALKER® GOLD LABEL RESERVE™ Blended Scotch Whisky, JOHNNIE WALKER®PLATINUM LABEL™ Blended Scotch Whisky and JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ Blended Scotch Whisky.
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Be World Class. Always Mix Responsibly.
ABOUT DIAGEO
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan's, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, 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 www.diageo.com. For Diageo's global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit www.DRINKiQ.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
ABOUT DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS
Diageo Reserve World Class is transforming fine drinking experiences and cocktail culture around the world and in the home. The industry's largest, most credible investment in the luxury on trade, it discovers the next generation of bartending talent who set the latest mixology trends and bring these to the best bars worldwide. At the core is an outstanding, global training programme and internationally recognized platform that elevates the craft of the bartender and builds careers in the industry culminating in an annual luxury landmark week where the Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year is announced. Launched in 2009, over 15,000 bartenders have been inspired and educated in the craft of mixology using the finest spirits in the Diageo Reserve collection. A partnership and collaboration with gurus, media, partners and owners, Diageo Reserve World Class is widely recognized as a mark of sophistication and distinction of international fine drinking culture by bartenders and customers alike.
As an extension of the Diageo Reserve World Class training programme, in 2011 Diageo launched the Diageo Bar Academy in Asia Pacific, the region's largest bartending course accredited by the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), which has trained 10,000 bartenders to date.
Image with caption: "Grant Sceney from the Fairmont Pacific Rim wins Diageo World Class Canada Bartender of the Year. Left to right: Tony Abou-Ganim, Dale DeGroff, Grant Sceney, Jenner Cormier, Steve Olson (CNW Group/Diageo Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140702_C2461_PHOTO_EN_4063.jpg
SOURCE: Diageo Canada
Kaitlin Hazen / Sherri Zielinski, Evangeline PR, 416-898-8565 / 647-999-2567, [email protected] / [email protected]
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