LOUISVILLE, Ky., June 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- After two
exhilerating days and five individual competitions that tested the
strength and talent of fifteen of the top bartenders in the US ,
the United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG) World Class Sponsored by
Diageo has named Laura Newman as the
2018 U.S. Bartender of the Year. Hosted for the first time at
Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Kentucky, home to Bulleit Frontier Whiskey,
the acclaimed competition brought together the best bartenders
across the country who represent the craft and elevation of the art
of cocktail creation with the ultimate goal of representing the US
at the global competition, which will be held in Berlin in October.
The first female to claim the title in the US, Laura Newman impressed the judges with her
creative showmanship, thoughtful presentations, and keen interest
in providing the best hospitality for the customer and as a result
earned herself the title of representing the US in the global
finals in Berlin.
"It's truly an honor to be named the US Best Bartender of the
Year and I can't wait to continue on this journey and represent my
country at the Global Finals in Berlin. This was my third year competing in
USBG World Class, and as someone who was once told that I wouldn't
make it in craft cocktails as a female, I want every female
bartender out there to take this accomplishment and know that they
can do it too," commented Laura
Newman.
The seventh year of the USBG World Class competition saw
thousands of applicants, which led to a series of rigourous
regional competitions that proved that the skill and desire to grow
in the bartending community is at an impressive all-time high. From
there, fifteen bartenders advanced to the national competition
hosted at Stitzel-Weller Distillery from June 5th to 6th, to impress judges by drawing
unique inspiration from their experience behind the bar paired with
the local flavor of their respective hometowns. The bartenders
demonstrated their knowledge, skill and creativity by crafting
cocktails featuring a selection of the Diageo Reserve brands
including Bulleit® Bourbon, CIROC® Vodka,
Johnnie Walker® Blended
Scotch Whisky, Ketel One® Vodka, Tanqueray No.
TEN®, Tequila Don
Julio® and Zacapa® Rum. The finals are
judged by a selection of globally acclaimed bar-industry
leaders including the 2017 Global winner Kaitlyn Stewart, 2014 Global winner Charles Joly, past US winners Jeff Bell, Chris
Cardone, and acclaimed bartenders and educators including
Dale Degroff, Jackson Cannon, and Julie Reiner.
The 2018 USBG World Class program allowed each competitor to
showcase their incredible depth of knowledge along impeccable and
ever-important hospitality. Day one kicked off with 'Spirited
Storytelling' where competitors were assigned a spirit at
random for which they had to create a full presentation based on
the spirit's history, raw ingredients, production process and
tasting notes; followed by the 'Eco-Challenge' where two
cocktails were crafted with Ketel One Vodka that provided
waste-free solutions to some of today's biggest environmental
challenges for bars; followed by 'Always a World Class Host'
where the mixologists needed to get to know their guests in order
to perfectly tailor their serves. Day two started off with a
futuristic cocktail that would be created as the next iconic
Bulleit Frontier Whiskey serve in the 'Bulleit, The Next
Frontier' challenge as an homage to the home of this year's
competition. Lastly, competitors crafted ten well-balanced
cocktails in just ten minutes or less in 'Need for
Speed'.
"The evolution of the USBG World Class program here in the US
has been amazing to witness, and now that we're in our seventh year
here, the competition is bigger than ever. The growing excitement
and passion in the bartending community is empowering and we are so
proud of the support that this program provides to all involved,"
comments Aaron Gregory Smith,
Executive Director of the USBG.
Taylor Blades, Director of On
Premise for Diageo North America further shares, "The level of
skill and dedication that we see during this competition is
unparalleled, and it's not only about their bartending skills,
because World Class goes far beyond just the challenges that we
see. Everyone involved in this program walks away with new
confidence and a stronger sense of community that inspire them to
be the very best they can in their field."
Cocktails featured throughout the competition have been captured
on Twitter and Instagram @WorldClassUS for creation and
inspiration. When showcasing your own mixology creations or
savoring award-winning cocktails crafted by your favorite local
bartender, USBG World Class reminds you to drink
responsibly.
Wondering what it takes to be crowned the US Best Bartender of
the Year? See below for a sampling of Laura's favorite cocktail
recipes created during the competition that helped to take her to
the top.
Brand-New
Sour
Created by 2018 U.S. Bartender of the Year
Laura Newman
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Bulleit Bourbon
1/2 oz Bitter Digestivo Liqueur
1/2 oz Honey Syrup (1:1)
1/2 oz Citrus Stock Blend (60% lemon juice : 40% broiled lemon
husks)
1 small pinch of salt
2 dashes Teapot Bitters
Dehydrated Lemon Wheel for Garnish
Preparation:
Combine ingredients in a mixing glass
with ice and stir thoroughly. Strain into a chilled Double Rocks
Glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with a dehydrated lemon
wheel.
Ideal Serve:
Double Rocks Glass
A Night at the Movies
Created by
2018 U.S. Bartender of the Year Laura Newman
Ingredients:
1 oz Tequila Don
Julio Blanco
1/4 oz Tanqueray No. TEN
1 barspoon Bitter Italian Digestivo
4 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters
1 squeezed Lime Wedge
Cola to top
Lime Wheel for Garnish
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients in a highball
glass and add ice. Top with cola and garnish with a lime wheel.
Ideal Serve:
Highball Glass
For additional information about the program and for detail on
the upcoming global competition, follow @WorldClassUS on Twitter
and Instagram, use the hashtag #WorldClass and visit
www.facebook.com/WorldClassUS.
About USBG
Founded in 1948, the United States Bartenders' Guild®️ is a
non-profit professional society of bartenders and other hospitality
professionals uniting the hospitality community to advance
professional bartending. The USBG believes that every US bartender
achieves greater personal and professional success by connecting to
diverse local and national hospitality communities. Through our
network of over 40 communities nationwide, the USBG connects
members with peer-to-peer learning, expert instruction, community
service projects, and skills-based competition.
About Diageo:
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an
outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits,
wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan's and
Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc
and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, 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 and its brands,
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.
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