LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2022

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Canada’sWorld Class! Cheers to Diageo’s World Class Canada festival— after three years, it’s back, live, and better than ever.

AFTER A THREE-YEAR HIATUS from live events, Diageo was determined to bring back its World Class Canada bartending competition with a bang. From education seminars and even a bartender spa day hosted by Seedlip, Diageo’s non-alcoholic brand, the eight-day festival culminated in a down-to-the-wire competition to crown the World Class Canada Bartender of the Year 2022. “Our goal was to host the most ambitious Canadian National Final ever,” says Michael Armistead, National On Premise, Reserve & Sponsorship Manager. Naturally, global tastemakers took note. Award winning actor and Tanqueray No. TEN Global partner Special guests Stanley Tucci (centre, right) and Ago Perrone (centre, left), hosted a martini demonstration and Tanqueray challenge for competitors at Montreal’s Ritz-Carlton. Also pictured: Kaitlyn Stewart, 2017 Canadian and Global winner, and James Grant, 2021 Canadian and Global winner.

Stanley Tucci took a break from hosting his CNN series to attend, along with Ago Perrone, the legendary beverage director at London’s Connaught Hotel. Chef Daniel Boulud hosted a lunch at his namesake restaurant at Montreal’s Ritz-Carlton for Diageo partners. Ten competitors from across the country mixed, stirred, and poured their way through six challenges over two days. Toronto’s Massimo Zitti won the esteemed judges’ votes with his wow-factor finesse and flavour. “What a great showcase to introduce Canada’s hospitality and bartending community to the world,” says Armistead. “Next, we’d love to bring the World Class Global Final to Toronto—stay tuned!”

WORLD CLASS CANADA 2022 BY THE NUMBERS

3 10 6 40 200 10 2 Years since the last live national final in Whistler, B.C. Finalists from across the country Challenges over two epic days Global winners produced by Canada in the last five years Montreal bars and restaurants partnered with Diageo to bring the festival to life Live spectators (and thousands more livestreaming around the world)

Years since Canada started competing in the World Class Global Final