Diageo World Class

Samuel Kwok Crowned World Class Hong Kong & Macau Bartender of the Year

World Class is the most demanding competition there is in the industry right now, which tests bartenders on many different levels and over various spirit categories. SAMUEL KWOK

Kwok’s 10 years of bartender experience saw him dominate the weeklong series of challenges and a final that required the top three bartenders create their own pop-up bars.

Stationed on Tong St in Taikoo Place, the ‘Hong Kong Shakedown’ pop-up competition challenged the bartenders to design, build and run a unique bar that exhibited their personalities, drink philosophies and hospitality in only 72 hours.

Kwok’s pop-up, Canvas & Co., was a celebration of his two great loves: cocktails and tattoos. The cocktail menu stated proudly, “A man can be as versatile as a blank canvas. Be it on your skin or your palate, have courage to paint them with bold strokes of vivid colour.” The décor included plush, leather backed armchairs and images of tattoos splashed across the walls, with two tattoo artists present and ready to ink interested customers.

Constants were required to create and serve three drinks: one championship serve exclusively made for the judges, a guest championship serve for customers and a punch. Over 300 people came out to join in the pop-up experience and cast their vote for their favourite bar. Customer votes were then counted and considered in the judges overall score. The official judging panel was comprised of some of the industry’s best from across the globe, such as Donald Colville, global Single Malt ambassador; celebrity local chef Jowett Yu of Ho Lee Fook; Sam Jeveons, owner of Old Street Consulting and one of the UK’s most influential bartenders of the last 20 years and the 2016 World Class Bartender of the Year Hong Kong champion, James Barker of 208 Duecento Otto.

When asked about his experience of the competition and overall win, Kwok declared, “World Class is the most demanding competition there is in the industry right now, which tests bartenders on many different levels and over various spirit categories. It was definitely a gruelling experience of intensive preparations but the greater reward is being able to further showcase my experience on a global scale, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time!”

Samuel is an incredible Bartender of the Year. He is humble, hardworking, a great host and an extremely talented bartender. MARTIN NEWELL

Kwok’s move onto the world stage will see him attend a cocktail boot camp in Bangkok with the industry’s best in the region before being flown to Mexico City to compete in the World Class Global final from 20th – 25th of August.

Martin Newell, senior brand manager for Diageo Reserve and World Class, said Kwok was a worthy recipient of the title. “Without doubt the bar has been raised again. Any one of these three incredible bartenders could have won and done Hong Kong and Macau proud in Mexico,” said Newell. “Samuel is an incredible Bartender of the Year. He is a humble, hardworking, a great host and a talented bartender.”