August promises to be an exciting month that sees the epicurean spotlight shift from fine dining onto the idea of ‘fine drinking’ – where the talents, creations and skills of bartenders are celebrated just like chefs.
Auckland’s World Class House pop-up bar will offer a bespoke, vibrant drinking experience, while simultaneously testing New Zealand’s brightest bar talent as part of the New Zealand final of Diageo World Class, one of the world’s premium bartending competitions and largest cocktail education programme.
Considered the ‘Olympics of bartending’, World Class takes place in 57 countries throughout the world and has been championing the flair, creativity and skill of bartenders for eight years.
The pop-up is located in Auckland’s Ponsonby Post Office building, 1-3 St Mary’s Road, Ponsonby.
The finalists who hail from New Zealand’s premier establishments – Lorietta Bahr of Bedford Soda & Liquor (Auckland), James Millar of The Gin Room (Auckland), Jonny Cresswell of Revelry (Auckland), Kneale Brown of Matterhorn (Wellington), and Ray Letoa of Roxy (Wellington), will be serving the very best cocktails in their arsenal in the hopes of making it to the World Class Global Finals in Miami.
Hosted in the iconic Ponsonby Post Office building, the finalists will compete over three days in a series of challenges that test their craftsmanship, technique and creativity. Then in the evening, discerning patrons will get the chance to judge with their tastebuds by sampling the finalist’s top cocktail creations.
As well as being an opportunity to experience the best in New Zealand bartending, World Class House promises to be a full-on foodie event with a range of interactive cocktail and food stations to explore, including a ‘juice your own’ bloody mary station, spritzer master class, and an American-style barbecue with, of course, a bourbon cocktail match.
World Class House
4 August 6pm -11pm
5 August 5pm – 11pm
Ponsonby Post Office building, 1-3 St Mary’s Road, Ponsonby
Tickets are $40 and are available from iTicket. A ticket includes entry to the venue and four tokens, two of which are redeemable for drinks and two for food matches.
Additional drinks and food are available to purchase at the venue.
Guests must be 18 years or older to attend.
