Cask’s Andy Ferreira for World Class final
Andy goes on to represent Ireland in the World Class Global Final 2017 in Mexico City this coming September.
The competition brings together the best bars, the most talented bartenders and the most exquisite spirits from around the world, states Diageo and to determine Ireland’s best bartender some of the industry’s most influential figures joined this year’s judging panel. These included Roe & Co Ambassador Peter O’Connor, World Class Luxury Events Manager Dan Dove, 2016’s World Class Ireland Winner Andrew Dickey and celebrity chef and co-host of MasterChef UK John Torode (who took part for the second year running).
Competing alongside Andy were Karim Medhi from The Exchequer, Delahunt’s Martin Holec, Lemuel’s Alan Moore and Mihai Pop from the Chelsea Drugstore – all based in Dublin – and Aidan Mulvaney from An Pucan in Galway.
World Class is centred on the Diageo Reserve portfolio which the competing bartenders are encouraged to use, experiment with and innovate.
All six competed head-to-head in a series of complex challenges testing them on all aspects of the craft of bartending where they’d to demonstrate skill, passion, innovation, creativity and ambition. For the first time ever the finalists were also put through their paces in a speed challenge in front of a live audience.
“The search for fine drinking experiences and cocktail culture has always been at the heart of World Class, alongside a passion for discovering the next generation of bartending talent and the latest trends in mixology,” commented the Head of Diageo Reserve Ireland, Donal Comerford, speaking at the event, “The World Class final is the culmination of a year-long journey for these bartenders.”
On being announced as the World Class Irish Bartender of the Year 2017 Andy commented, “This is the culmination of many years of commitment and hard work but I couldn’t have done it without the support I received from family, friends, my team in Cask and the wider bartending community.
“World Class is a massive platform for Irish bartenders. I intend to grasp this opportunity and show the world what Ireland is capable of. We’re a small country, but we’re making huge waves on the international scene.”
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