Held at Drummuir Castle in Scotland, Reynolds prevailed from a field of ten bartenders and will now represent the UK in the global final in South Africa in September this year.
World Class, now its seventh year, sent judges to 400 of the UK’s best bars, to invite bartenders to enter the cocktail competition. Ten finalists were then invited to the UK Final in Scotland for three days of intensive trials.
The final was broken into three challenges. Ground to Glass tasked competitors with creating drinks to pair with food made by chef Lee Westcott. Deconstruct/Reconstruct was an in depth test on Scotch whisky knowledge, while the Signature Drinks challenge saw bartenders present one drink that represented them self and one that represented their bar.
The judging panel included Ryan Chetiyawardana of White Lyan and World Class Bartender of the Year 2014, James Fowler.
Reynolds, said: “This year’s competition has been the biggest and best yet, with the innovative challenges stretching us on so many different levels of bartending. I cannot wait to represent the UK in the Global Final in South Africa.”
Dan Dove, Diageo Reserve World Class Brand Ambassador said: “This year’s UK final has blown us all away. The talent we’ve seen in our search and throughout the challenges set has been unprecedented. Ali Reynolds was ultimately crowned as the World Class UK Bartender of the Year as he truly embodies what we are looking for in global finalists. An all-rounder, Ali’s insight, creativity and originality truly earned him the title.”
Hawksmoor Spitalfields will receive a £10,000 marketing fund to create an exclusive World Class ritual serve.
