The twelfth season of the U.S. Bartender of the Year competition, hosted by the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) and sponsored by DIAGEO, will feature the nation’s top 30 mixologists competing for the prestigious title. Finalists from the West, Central, and East regions will convene in Denver, CO from June 1 to June 4 for a series of challenges, with the goal of securing a spot in the Top 10 Finals.
The ultimate winner of the Top 10 Finals will be crowned U.S. Bartender of the Year and will represent the U.S. at the World Class Global Finals in Shanghai, China in September. USBG Executive Director Aaron Gregory Smith and DIAGEO North America’s Cassandra Ericson expressed excitement over the competition’s growth and success in fostering bartending talent across the country. The event serves as a platform for camaraderie, education, and mentorship within the trade community, highlighting the commitment to excellence and innovation in the beverage industry.
The three challenges of this year’s U.S. National Finals in Denver include:
- House Above The Clouds: Competitors will pay homage to the world of Zacapa as they create a sophisticated twist on a classic rum drink.
- Community Hero: In honor of Ketel One Family Made Vodka’s mission to leave a positive impact on the world (and industry), finalists will be tasked with creating a signature vodka cocktail using an innovative bartending technique, process, initiative, or ingredient that elevates their community.
- Speed Round: The Top 30 bartenders will race against the clock as they develop a World Class menu of six DIAGEO Reserve cocktails during an eight-minute Speed Round challenge.
Congrats and good luck to the 2024 national finalists:
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Maxwell Berlin Matthew “Crispy” Crisp Troy Del Grosso Dakota Granados Kenny Hwong Andrew Kim Derrick Li Jacob Mentel Jonathan Stanyard Jessie Yoskin |
Kiki Avalos Lance Bowman Kevin Collins Jarmel Doss Billy Fredlund Chris Marek Conor O’Reilly Lyn Perez Weston Simons Paul Webb |
Dalton Bedard Orestes Cruz Cody Dunavan Ingrid Folkers Robert Lam Burns Diego Livera Jon Mateer Brenda Riepenhoff Chris Trull Steve Yang |
For more information on World Class, follow @WorldClassUS on Instagram or check us out online at https://worldclass.usbg.org and https://www.usbg.org/. For additional information about the program and for details on the upcoming national finals, follow hashtags #worldclassus, #worldclass2024 on Instagram.