Who’s the best bartender in Portugal? We’ll soon find out! The 2024 edition of World Class Portugal bartender competition, promoted by beverage company Diageo, is currently in play. Contests will be challenged to feature this year’s theme—water—as the main ingredient in their cocktails.
The World Class competition is intended to encourage learning, drive the development of new skills, and challenge the creativity of cocktail and premium spirits professionals. To assist in this ”training,” organizers have recruited respected bartenders, chefs, producers, and guests involved in the theme of water to mentor the competition candidates.
Already, some cocktail enthusiasts have had the opportunity to learn and hone their craft in workshops held across the country:
In Santa Cruz, attendees learned about the perils of microplastics in the oceans, presented by Oceano Sem Plásticos, and participated in an exercise of removing plastics from the sand at the beach. This was followed by further comments from marine biologist Cátia Figueiredo. Bartenders extraordinaire Paulo Gomez and Emanuel Minez of Red Frog Speakeasy in Lisbon discussed cocktail making, while chef Vítor Adão of Plano and Planto restaurants in Lisbon spoke about his affinity for fermentation and pickling.
In Aveiro, Julien Montbabut of Michelin-starred Le Monument restaurant in Porto was featured in the kitchen segment, while 2023 World Class winner Bernardo Rodrigues, and Fernando Catarino from Cale do Oiro, joined the group along with James Diamond of Diamond Clear Pure Ice, a company producing artisanal crystalline ice through a slow, natural process, creating ice without impurities and oxygen, and free of fissures.
The final session in the Algarve, took place at Salmarim in Castro Marim. Here, Salmarim owner Jorge Raiado explained the natural salt-producing process, and Miguel Salazar of Riafresh discussed farming salicorina. Chef João Oliveira of Michelin-starred Vista restaurant in Portimão gave insight into the use and techniques of using water in food preparation.
“Being able to count on the participation of these excellent professionals in these moments of training for bartenders is, without a doubt, very special,” added says Honório Oliveira, Ambassador for World Class Portugal.
Next up is the creative phase of the competition where applicants submit their original cocktail recipes. The 12 best recipes will be selected, with their creators’ becoming semi-finalists. Cocktail preparation is the next challenge, culling the group to six finalists. The Finals competition will take place in June.
The winner becomes Best Portuguese Bartender 2024 and will represent Portugal in the global final, in Shanghai, in September.
Registrations for the competition remain open until 30 April. Find out more at the World Class Portugal Instagram page.
