Now in its fourth year, the final will focus on the traditions of Tokyo’s bartending scene and throughout the week, the contestants will take part in a number of individual and team challenges.
The 15 finalists qualified from their national competitions running across four continents and will be hosted in Tokyo by Masahiro Urushido, the first ever Chivas Masters global champion.
The finalists will also be mentored by a distinguished panel of internationally-acclaimed judges, who will share their expertise through a series of inspirational masterclasses.
THE JUDGING PANEL
- Iain Griffiths, hospitality industry pioneer and co-founder of Mr Lyan Ltd
- Micah Melton, beverage director at the Alinea Group (Aviary Chicago & NY) and renowned ‘ice chef’
- Chris Lowder, spirits evangelist and ‘New York’s Rising Star Bartender 2015’ (StarChefs);
- Dré Masso, ex-director of bars for the Potato Head Group in Bali, Jakarta, Singapore and Hong Kong; worldwide Cocktail Mentor and spirit creator
- Rogerio Igarashi Vaz, owner of Tokyo’s Tram & Trench, celebrating the modern interpretation of Japanese bartending
Max Warner, global brand ambassador for Chivas Regal, said: “Our 15 national winners have already hugely impressed us with both their skill and character, but there’s still much more to do if they want to be crowned our 2017 Chivas Masters global champion.
Warner continued: “I cannot wait to put our contestants through their paces in Tokyo, and see who will walk away with the 2017 title – and beyond that, watch as they, together with their Chivas Masters Collective, take what they have learned to further develop and inspire their bartending communities back home.”
The 2017 Chivas Masters global champion will win an all-access, all-expenses-paid trip to Tales of The Cocktail 2017 in New Orleans.
