World Class GB reveals its list of 50 2023 competition semi-finalists
Great Britain’s 2023 World Class field has narrowed, with the announcement yesterday of the 50 semi-finalists who go through to penultimate stage of the competition.
Following a process of in-bar judging by the World Class team, the 100 bartenders who were invited to compete following the entry period has been halved, with those going through securing a place in the semi-final, which takes place at Birch, in Cheshunt, on April 17th.
At the semi-final, each competitor will be assigned a challenge and spirit – either Don Julio Tequila or Chase GB Gin. The Don Julio Challenge, Geophyte Club, involves a mission to find or create a cocktail ingredient based on a geophyte and use it in a drink of their creation, featuring Don Julio.
The Chase Challenge, Modern Muse, will see participants identifying a Modern Muse, someone born after 2008 whose spirit they must capture in an original drink which highlights the characteristics of Chase GB Gin.
In both challenges, bartenders must use a minimum of 30ml of either Don Julio or Chase GB Gin in their cocktail, and a maximum of five additional ingredients (excluding garnish). The choice of ice, glassware and garnish is up to the bartender, but should tie into the story of the drink and add to the overall aesthetic.
Congratulations to the 50 semi-finalists, as part of the judging panel, BarLifeUK looks forward to seeing you strut your stuff.
The World Class GB 2023 Semi-Finalists
- Panos Ntalianis – Gong Bar
- Danilo Frigulti – Nomad Hotel
- Gregorio Soriente – Zetter Townhouse
- Ryan Way – Orchid
- Jamie Lock – The Potted Pig
- Alex Taylor – Pennyroyal
- Lewis Parry – Pal Bar and Kitchen
- Michael Dylan Edwards – Hawksmoor Liverpool
- Emanuele Mensah – Lyaness
- Cristian Silenzi – Velvet
- Robin Phileas – Soma
- Krystian Kropaczewski – Artesian Bar
- Liam Scott – The Ubiquitous Chip
- Benedetta Paris – Happiness Forgets
- Thomas Fastiggi – Schofields
- Egidio Bizzotto – Disrepute
- Blaise Bachelier – Fox and Chance
- Kuba Korzynski – Milroy’s of Spitalfields
- Michael Yishak – The Furnace Sheffield
- Oscar Wozniak – Be At One Newcastle
- Katie Rouse – Couch
- Axel Joyau – 34 Mayfair
- Leon Wilkes Back – Commons Club
- Steven Liu – Alma by Sucre
- Laurie Howells – Alma
- Daniel Selby – Connaught Bar
- Courtney Francis – Couch
- Sebastiano Fileccia – The Milk Thistle
- Emmy Pip Knight – American Bar, The Savoy
- Sam Robinson – Public
- Josh Linfitt – Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling
- Joshua Black – Silverleaf
- Aidan Hynes – Passing Fancies
- Ionnis Sourmenidis – Superico
- Liam Jones – Pennyroyal
- Davide Sinibaldi – Mi Bar and Lounge
- Jacob Clarke – Couch
- James Rawlcliffe – Superico Bar & Lounge
- Matt Sawn – Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh
- Richard Patchouli – Milroy’s of Spitalfields
- Jemima Christie – Filthy XIII
- Mathew (Welly) Jones – Lab 22 Cardiff
- Scott Stevenson – Ga Ga Kitchen & Bar
- Holly Bennets – The Greenbank Hotel
- Matt Arnold – Passing Fancies
- Jack Smith – Gleneagles Touwnhouse
- William Campbell-Rowntree – Mama Funki
- Charlie Baxter – Passing Fancies
- Eve Green – Passing Fancies
- Sean Cavanagh – Pands & Sons