Andrej Malic of Celebrity Cruises has been crowned Diageo
Global Travel’s best bartender at the lavish Diageo Reserve World Class final
held last month in the Diageo Bar 396 in Miami.
Judged by a panel of industry experts including Julio
Cabrera, Master Mixologist, David Molina, Head Mixologist for Diageo Bar 396,
and Marcy Rudershausen, Senior Master of Whisky for Diageo, Malic proved
outstanding showmanship and innovative cocktail creation.
Malic, aged 27, from Bosnia and Herzegovina, saw off
competition from thousands of cruise line bartenders from three of the world’s
leading cruise lines: Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Celebrity
Cruises, in the biggest year in Global Travel yet for Diageo Reserve World
Class.
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| Andrej Malic mixes his Old Spice Fashion, featuring Bulleit Bourbon |
Championing the skills of cruise line bartenders
Malic and his fellow competing bartenders were judged on
a range of elements of their craft, showmanship, creativity, bartending
knowledge and the overall delivered drinking experience. He captivated the
judges with his American whiskey signature serve: Old Spice Fashion, featuring
Bulleit Bourbon.
He will go on to represent Diageo Global Travel at the
star-studded World Class Bartender of the Year Competition in Miami on
September 26-29, 2016, to battle it out against 59 of the world’s best
bartenders for the coveted World Class Bartender of the Year title.
Malic, a leading bartender onboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Millennium, said: “This is
without doubt the best moment of my career to date. I’m hugely delighted and
grateful to be recognised by Diageo Reserve World Class and to have won the
Diageo Global Travel Final. I’ve been inspired and challenged by many talented
bartenders over the last few weeks and I’m really looking forward to using the
skills and knowledge that I’ve developed through the program to represent
Celebrity Cruises and all cruise line bartenders at the grand final of the World
Class competition, right here again in beautiful Miami."
Sandra Vaucher, Director Global Cruise and Airlines at
Diageo said: “World Class is on a mission to inspire people to drink better,
and it’s fantastic that we can offer this experience onboard our partners' ships. This competition allows us to recognise and champion the skills and
craftsmanship of our cruise line bartenders. We want to congratulate all of
our finalists and wish Andrej the very best of luck at the World Class Global
Final in September."
Cornelius Gallagher, Associate Vice President of Food and
Beverage Operations, Celebrity Cruises, said: “As an exceptional member of our
team onboard Celebrity Millennium,
Andrej inspires our guests to enjoy a taste of the world’s best drinks. We know
these unique drinking experiences really do make our vacationers’ overall
luxury experience when they sail with us. We wish him the best of luck in the
World Class Final and are confident his craftsmanship and talent will wow the
judges once more.”
