The 10 global bar star semi-finalists will come to London during London Cocktail Week, October 4–6.
Heering CEO Adéle Robberstad said: “The 2016 Peter F Heering Classic Challenge culminating in London against the backdrop of London Cocktail Week and the announcement of the World’s Top 50 Bars simply elevates and puts an incredibly bright spotlight on all of the creative efforts and talents of these elite bar men and women.”
The semi-finalists are:
♣ Australia: Pita Dixon, Joe Taylor, Melbourne – ‘The Right Way’
♣ Canada: Andrew Schneider, Vij´s Restaurant, Vancouver – ‘Mount Pleasant’.
♣ Greece: Akis Kalogritsas, Cadillac Records Cocktail Bar, Karditsa – ‘Rubik´s Cube’.
♣ Hong Kong: Lui Hiu Na, The American Club, Hong Kong - ‘Dancing Queen’.
♣ Luxembourg: Dawid Guzik, Octan´s Spirited Bar, Luxembourg – ‘Secret Clover’.
♣ New Zealand: Laura Walker, Hawthorn Lounge, Wellington – ‘Blood From A Stone’.
♣ Singapore: Adriel Ang, Sarnies, Singapore – ‘Cherry-Let’.
♣ Sweden: Carl Wiman, YUC Mexican, Stockholm – ‘’Heering is Keering’
♣ UK: Grant Murray, Scotch and Rye, Inverness – ‘Brace Position’.
♣ US: Michael Riojas, Armadillo Palace, Houston – ‘Cherry Bomb’.
The 2016 Peter F. Heering Classic Challenge top 10 semi-finalists will be flown to London - all will receive airfare and four hotel nights in London, and compete live. They will present their Heering cocktails to an international jury who will choose five finalists.
The final will take place October 6 at Joyeux Bordel, London where the five finalists will present their cocktails and the philosophy behind them. The 2016 Classic winner will receive €500 and a Stelton Shaker.
The Classic Challenge jury comprises:
♣ Hamish Smith – Deputy editor at Drinks International and editor of the new quarterly Class. As part of his role at DI, he is the co-ordinator of the The World's 50 Best Bars poll and editor of the brand's series of magazines.
♣ Simon Difford - Difford writes and publishes the Difford’s Guide range of drinks-related books, the best known being ‘Difford’s Guide - Cocktails’.
♣ David Wondrich – Esquire Magazine’s drinks correspondent, James Beard Award winner for his book Imbibe! and founding partner on Beverage Alcohol Resource, a training programme for bartenders and other mixologists in the US.
♣ Din Hassan - A veteran from the Singapore nightlife industry. Hassan is one of the academy members of The World's 50 Best Bars and Asia's 50 Best Bars.
♣ Lauren Mote - Co-proprietor of Bittered Sling, a line of small batch cocktail and culinary bitters and bar manager at UVA, Wine & Cocktail Bar based in Vancouver.
♣ Charlene Dawes - Managing director and owner of Tastings Group, overseeing six specialty bars & restaurants in the Central district, Hong Kong. One of them ‘Quinary’ was named one of the “World’s 50 Best Bars from 2013 to 2016 by Drinks International.
