For many Filipinos, bartending is often viewed as a profession centered on making drinks and serving guests. What many do not realize is that behind every great cocktail is a craft that demands precision, creativity, hospitality, storytelling, and years of discipline behind the bar.
For more than a decade, one global platform has helped raise the standards of the profession and develop some of the industry’s most respected talents: Diageo World Class.
Run under the Diageo Bar Academy, Diageo World Class is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious bartending competitions and education platforms in the world. The Diageo Bar Academy serves as Diageo’s global bartender education program, providing training, resources, and professional development opportunities to hospitality professionals across the globe.
Since its launch in 2009, Diageo World Class has helped develop bartenders through education, mentorship, and competition. At the center of the program is the annual World Class Bartending Competition, where national champions from more than 50 countries compete for one of the industry’s highest honors.
In the Philippines, that mission comes to life through World Class Philippines.
While World Class serves as the global platform, World Class Philippines focuses on discovering, developing, and elevating local talent. Through training opportunities, mentorship, and competition challenges, it gives Filipino bartenders access to international standards while preparing them to compete on the global stage.
For Lester Ligon, a bartender trainer and former World Class Philippines competitor who represented the country at the Diageo World Class Global Finals in Berlin in 2018, one of the program’s biggest contributions is helping Filipino bartenders develop the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.
“Bartending was never just about making great cocktails. It’s about understanding people, creating experiences, and finding ways to stay relevant in a constantly changing industry,” Ligon said. “What I appreciate most about World Class is that it pushes bartenders to look beyond recipes and techniques. It encourages creativity, storytelling, a deeper understanding of spirits and flavor, and the ability to think critically about what we do behind the bar.”
A World Class advocate since 2015 and a former participant himself, Rian Asiddao has witnessed firsthand how the platform has helped spotlight Filipino talent, strengthen the local bartending community, and create opportunities beyond Philippine shores.
“Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year is the biggest bartending competition in the world—it’s often called the Olympics of bartending. Since the Philippines joined in 2013, World Class has helped highlight the talent, skills, hospitality, and creativity of Filipino bartenders. Beyond the competition, it has given the industry opportunities to connect, learn from one another, and build networks both locally and globally,” Asiddao said.
Beyond Mixing Drinks
Participants are evaluated not only on creativity, presentation, hospitality, spirits knowledge, and technical execution, but also on their ability to create memorable experiences and tell compelling stories through their cocktails. By drawing inspiration from Filipino culture, local ingredients, and their own personal journeys, participants are helping shape a new generation of bartenders who serve as storytellers, innovators, and ambassadors of Filipino hospitality—fueling the rise of a Philippine cocktail scene that continues to earn recognition both at home and abroad.
Creating Opportunities for Filipino Talent
One of the most significant contributions of World Class Philippines is its ability to create opportunities for Filipino bartenders to compete at the highest level.
In 2023, Alyssa Lorenzo made history as the first female World Class Philippines Bartender of the Year, marking an important milestone for an industry that has traditionally been male-dominated.
“Joining wasn’t just about winning, it was about learning,” Lorenzo said. “World Class became a platform for me to explore creativity and technique on a deeper level. Each stage of the competition challenged me to create drinks that tell a story, represent who I am, and showcase Filipino culture. Representing the Philippines on an international stage, especially in São Paulo, Brazil, was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. Holding the trophy as the Tanqueray World Class Challenge winner felt surreal—it made me realize that all the hard work was worth it.”
More recently, reigning World Class Philippines Bartender of the Year Ralph Allen Santos of The Spirits Library captured the national title with ‘Kapwa’, a cocktail inspired by Filipino community values and the spirit of bayanihan. First inspired by the competition in 2016, Santos spent years honing his craft and returning to the World Class stage before finally claiming the title in 2025—a milestone that reflected years of perseverance, learning, and dedication.
“World Class has significantly influenced my growth both professionally and personally,” Santos said. “Professionally, it taught me to approach cocktail creation with more intention, focusing not only on flavor but also on storytelling, presentation, and guest experience. It challenged me to continuously improve and raise my standards.”
Winning the national title earned Santos the opportunity to represent the Philippines at the World Class global finals in Toronto, Canada, while the lessons and standards he developed through the program continue to guide him today as Bar and Restaurant Manager of MOGA in Singapore.
Stories like these show how World Class Philippines has become a pathway for bartenders to refine their craft, gain industry recognition, and showcase Filipino creativity on the global stage.
For aspiring bartenders, Santos believes the true value of World Class lies beyond the competition itself, “The real value of World Class is found in the preparation, the learning, and the growth that happens along the way,” he said. “Stay authentic. The strongest concepts are often rooted in your own story, culture, and experiences.”
The Road to the Finals
The next chapter unfolds on June 9, 2026, at Skybar in Solaire North, where the country’s top bartenders compete for the title of World Class Philippines Bartender of the Year. For the 15 finalists, the stakes extend far beyond a trophy. The winner will earn the opportunity to represent the Philippines at the World Class global finals in Scotland this September, joining national champions from more than 50 countries in one of the most prestigious bartending competitions in the world.
More than a competition, Diageo World Class has become a platform for developing talent, raising standards, and showcasing Filipino creativity on the global stage. As it continues to grow, so too does the reputation of Filipino bartenders, who are proving they can compete alongside the very best in the industry.
