SHELBYVILLE, Ky., June 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Now in its eighth
year, the United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG) World Class
Sponsored by Diageo announced Katie
Renshaw as the 2019 U.S. Bartender of the Year following a
two-day, five-challenge competition that culminated at the brand
new, immersive, soon-to-open Bulleit Distilling Co. Visitor
Experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. Based in Chicago, IL Renshaw's flawless attention
to detail and outside-the-box thinking immediately caught the eye
of the judges' table leading her to win the Bulleit Final Frontier
Challenge as well as the national title. In addition to winning the
title of 2019 U.S. bartender of the year, Renshaw will collaborate
with the Bulleit Distilling Co. bar manager to create signature
cocktails that provide visitors a premium and innovative experience
at the new Bulleit Distilling Co. cocktail bar.
The competition brought together 15 of the nation's top
bartenders who are pushing craft mixology's boundaries through
innovative cocktails perfect for food pairings, flavor profile
assessments and more with the ultimate goal of representing the
U.S. at the global competition in Glasgow, Scotland this September. This year's
USBG World Class Sponsored by Diageo U.S. applicant pool saw
thousands of talented individuals from around the country compete
in regional challenges that tested creativity and spirits
knowledge, as well as speed, precision and presentation. In total,
only 15 bartenders advanced to nationals that were hosted in
Lexington, KY and culminated with
Finals at Bulleit Distilling Co.'s Visitor Experience in
Shelbyville, KY, just forty-five
minutes from Louisville and
Lexington.
"Winning United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG) World Class
Sponsored by Diageo has been one of my biggest dreams since I
started bartending, especially with getting a pass-off from
Lauren Newman who I competed with
last year, and who really inspired me to be myself in this
competition," said Katie
Renshaw.
Between June 9th and
June 10th, competitors
showcased their abilities to seamlessly merge art and science, and
taste and technology, to create cocktails featuring a selection of
Diageo Reserve brands including Bulleit® Bourbon,
CIROC® Vodka, Johnnie Walker® Blended Scotch Whisky,
Ketel One® Vodka, Tanqueray No. TEN® Gin, Tequila Don
Julio®, TALISKER® Single Malt Scotch Whisky and
Zacapa® Rum. This final round of competition was judged
by a mix of six award-winning cocktail bar owners, and nationally
and globally recognized beverage industry influencers, including
2018 US winner Laura Newman, 2018
Global winner Orlando Marzo and
acclaimed bartenders and educators such as Julie Reiner, Anu Elford, Jackson Cannon and Charles Joly.
The USBG World Class Sponsored by Diageo mission is to unite the
hospitality industry to advance professional bartending and elevate
the craft. This is the eighth year for the U.S., and the
11th year globally. While the competition takes place in
the spring and summer, education and events occur year-round. Day
one in Lexington drew upon
Kentucky's heritage, asking first
for a complementary or contrasting cocktail to pair with a classic
Southern dessert staple, followed by a second challenge to create a
best-selling signature drink that fit within a fictitious
restaurant's theme and dinner menu. Day two's challenges at Bulleit
Distilling Co.'s Visitor Experience were inspired by the whiskey
brand's frontier spirit and commitment to technology + culture.
Each cocktail used a cutting-edge technique or unexpected
technology that took skill, imagination and outside the box
collaboration. Two speed rounds completed the competition featuring
a challenge to mix, pour and garnish six classic cocktails and two
wild card drinks highlighting a DIAGEO Reserve Brand that was
assigned at random, all the while engaging with the judges in 10
minutes or less.
"Each year I think I've seen it all with the awesome level of
skill and passion this competition inspires," said Aaron Gregory Smith, Executive Director of the
USBG. "But every year I am blown away. The talent pool is deep, but
the best part is the continued opportunity for growth and success
that exists within our tight-knit bartending community."
Taylor Blades, Director of On
Premise for Diageo North America adds, "The creativity and
commitment to the craft we saw from this year's competitors is
outstanding. Being able to partner with USBG on such an empowering
program and hosting it at Bulleit Distilling Co.'s incredible new
Visitor Experience that speaks to the power of partnership with
bartenders around the country, is an honor. The last eight
years have been incredible, and it's just the beginning."
USBG World Class Sponsored by Diageo finalists also enjoyed a
sneak peek behind the scenes at Bulleit Distilling Co.'s new
Visitor Experience that will open soon this summer. From a
technologically advanced, sensory-rich bar experience, to
eco-friendly and sustainable practices throughout the facility, the
finalists were the first guests hosted – appropriate for a brand
built by bartenders and named as the best-selling brand at the
world's best bars for multiple years by Drinks International.
Cocktails created for the duration of this year's competition
can be found on Twitter and Instagram using the handle
@WorldClassUS. When showcasing your own mixology or sampling
award-winning recipes from this year's competitors, USBG World
Class Sponsored by Diageo reminds you to do so responsibly.
FLEX YO HUSTLE
Created by 2019 U.S.
Bartender of the Year Katie Renshaw
Ingredients:
1 oz Bulleit 10
1 oz Bulleit Bourbon
1 oz coconut milk-oolong syrup
0.5 oz lemon juice
0.5 oz lime juice
1 oz cardamom-infused cream
1 egg white
Soda water
1/4 cup coffee-bourbon caviar
Preparation:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, shake, and pour into a
collins glass over a collins spear ice cube. Garnish with Coconut
ash, engraved lemon peel
Ideal Serve:
Collins Glass
For additional information about the program and for details on
the upcoming global competition, follow hashtags #worldclassus,
worldclass2019 and #roadtoscotland on Twitter and Instagram, and
check us out online at http://worldclass.usbg.org and
http://usbg.org.
About USBG
Founded in 1948, the United States
Bartenders' Guild®️ is a non-profit professional society of
bartenders and other hospitality professionals uniting the
hospitality community to advance professional bartending. The USBG
believes that every US bartender achieves greater personal and
professional success by connecting to diverse local and national
hospitality communities. Through our network of over 40 communities
nationwide, the USBG connects members with peer-to-peer learning,
expert instruction, community service projects, and skills-based
competition.
About Diageo:
Diageo is the world's leading
premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage
alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These
brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan's
and Windsorwhiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas,
Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than
180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the
New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).
For more information about Diageo, its people and its brands,
visit www.diageo.com. For Diageo's global resource that
promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice
tools, information and initiatives, visit www.DRINKiQ.com.
About Bulleit:
Bulleit is one of the fastest-growing
whiskeys in America, founded in 1987 by Tom Bulleit, who
attributes that growth to bartenders and cultural partners who've
adopted it as their own. The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey portfolio is
distilled and aged in the Bulleit family tradition, using a
distinctive high rye recipe, which gives them a bold, spicy taste.
Most recently, Bulleit Barrel Strength Bourbon won a Double Gold
medal and Best Straight Bourbon at the 2018 San Francisco World
Spirits Competition.
Now ranked as one of the fastest-growing whiskeys in America,
Bulleit Distilling Co. calls Shelbyville, Ky. home since
the 2017 opening of its state-of-the-art distillery and the
much-anticipated spring 2019 opening of its high-tech and
sensory-rich Visitor Experience. Guests will have the opportunity
to learn more about the past, present and future of Bulleit when
visiting this latest addition to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. For
more information, visit www.bulleit.com or follow @Bulleit on
Instagram.
Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North
America: @Diageo_NA.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
CONTACTS:
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Alex
Stathis
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Kristen
Daniels
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Allison
Fleischer
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Taylor PR
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Diageo North
America
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Diageo North
America
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AStathis@taylorstrategy.com
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Kristen.Daniels@diageo.com
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Allison.Fleischer@diageo.com
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212-714-5723
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SOURCE Diageo