Samia Joan Crowned Diageo WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year

Nairobi Kenya, May. 18, 2016 – After months of fierce competition, hours of educating, incredible craftsmanship, unrevealed creativity and exceptional cocktails, Samia Joan of Art Café Kenya beat over 80 bartenders who entered in Kenya to be crowned the title of Diageo WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year.

Samia mesmerized the judges from the onset but it was her Speed round cocktails that consisted of 8 drinks in 10 minutes that helped cement her win. Throughout the day, the bartenders participated in challenges in round robin format that tested their skills in speed, inspiration, creativity in display through contrasting cocktails and finally a food pairing challenge. Sami had to showcase her skills to an esteemed panel that included Global Brand Ambassador and Luminary Georgie Bell, Kenya’s Luxury brand ambassador- Dougie Duncanson, Akash Tomar, Alex Kavita and Sherlyne Muita. 

“I am extremely elated to be announced as the Diageo WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year. It is an honor for me to go and represent Kenya on such a global platform. This will be an opportunity for me to not only interact with the best mixologist in the world, but also show my fellow bartenders in Kenya that there are great opportunities within our profession. The opportunities for a bartender are limitless not just in terms of career, but in your creations- all you have to do is be creative, the only thing that inhibit you is your imagination.”

Douglas Duncanson, Luxury Brand Ambassador, said “Samia displayed the characteristics that we sought in a bartender. From the onset, she displayed a passion for unique serves, and presented serves that were a combination of the creativity and sophisticated tastes. As one of the two female contestants, Samia’s win affirms that the bar tending profession is not only limited to one gender. The standard of the final 7 contestants also highlights the growing standard of Kenya’s cocktail culture.”

Samia will be representing Kenya at the WORLD CLASS Global final in Miami, USA in September. The final brings together mixologists from all over the world where they compete for the title of Global Ambassador for Diageo WORLD CLASS. A role that opens the ambassador to travelling all around the world, education and inspiring new talent whilst developing her own skills and knowledge through the different tastes and techniques they experience along the way.