World Class Cocktail Festival 2026 has kicked off on World Bartender Day on 24 February. This celebration of cocktails in Singapore runs through 31 May 2026, inviting cocktail drinkers to journey across 21 participating bars to imbibe in cocktails crafted with Johnnie Walker, Don Julio, The Singleton, Tanqueray and Zacapa.
The 21 participating bars include 28 Hong Kong Street, Restaurant Born, Tess Bar & Kitchen, Lobby Bar at The Singapore Edition, CÉ LA VI Singapore, SUSHISAMBA, Puffy Bois, Night Hawk, Manhattan, PLUME, Gibson, SAGO HOUSE, Last Word, WOOBAR at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, Side Door, ATLAS, HighHouse, Jigger & Pony, METT Singapore, Shin Gi Tai, and LAVO.
Making its debut in Singapore is the Johnnie Walker Black Ruby, a smooth blended Scotch whisky that offers a fruit-forward and indulgently sweet flavour profile. Inspired by the iconic Johnnie Walker Black Label, it is matured in PX red wine and Oloroso bourbon casks, which contribute distinctive berry notes and a rich fruity character. The result is a bold yet smooth whisky designed to bring vibrant sweetness and depth of flavour, making it particularly suited for whisky cocktails and social occasions when friends gather.
Order a specially curated World Class cocktail at any participating bar and receive a World Class Cocktail Passport. A keepsake that captures and guides their journey through the festival, the passport encourages guests to explore from one venue to the next, meeting the contenders behind the bar and discovering their distinct talents. Collect a unique stamp at each participating bar whenever they order a World Class cocktail, with prizes redeemable once certain milestones are reached.
Guests also enjoy a complimentary bottle from one of the selected brands, each time they reach one of the three milestones in addition to the rewards unlocked at key stages of their journey.
| Milestone | Reward | Redemption Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Visit 5 Bars | Selection of merchandise from Johnnie Walker, Don Julio, The Singleton, Zacapa, and Tanqueray | Limited to 40 redemptions |
| Visit 10 Bars | S$50 nett World Class Cocktail voucher at Side Door | Limited to 20 redemptions |
| Visit 15 Bars | S$100 nett World Class Cocktail voucher at Side Door | Limited to 10 redemptions |
| Complete All 21 Bars (First person only) | Grand Prize: 2D1N Balcony Suite stay at QT Singapore (worth S$1,000), choice of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Don Julio 1942, or Zacapa XO, Diageo spirit merchandise set, plus exclusive invitation for two to the World Class Bartender of the Year Finals in Singapore | First completed passport only |
As part of the media preview, we checked out Last Word, Tess Bar & Kitchen, WOOBAR and PLUME where the World Class Cocktail Festival bartenders showcased their cocktails.
At Last Word, drinks lean towards bold yet approachable combinations, such as a highball with Johnnie Walker Black Ruby and sweet potato, a savoury tequila cocktail with tomato, and a rum and coffee mix featuring Ron Zacapa 23. The bar also introduces playful flavours like oolong tea with The Singleton 12 Year Old and torch ginger flower with Tanqueray No. TEN, creating drinks that balance familiar spirits with unexpected Asian ingredients.
At Tess Bar & Kitchen, the cocktails take a more refined and aromatic direction. Guests can explore citrus-forward gin cocktails with Tanqueray No. TEN, a jasmine-infused whisky fizz using The Singleton 12 Year Old, and a bittersweet stirred cocktail built with Johnnie Walker Black Ruby, sweet vermouth and Fernet Branca. The rum and tequila offerings introduce layered flavours such as genepy, ginger oleo saccharum and falernum, delivering more herbaceous and spiced profiles.
Moving to WOOBAR at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, the menu becomes fruitier and more tropical. Johnnie Walker Black Ruby is paired with yuzu, apple and raspberry jam for a vibrant whisky cocktail, while Ron Zacapa 23 appears in a rich blend of burnt buttered banana and coffee. Tanqueray No. TEN is transformed into a kiwi martini, and Don Julio Reposado adds heat and freshness with hot sauce and cucumber lime, reflecting the venue’s playful and bold style.
Finally, PLUME presents cocktails that feel more experimental and textural. Tanqueray No. TEN is featured in a sandalwood-scented Collins, while Johnnie Walker Black Ruby appears in a nitrogen-charged cocktail with basmati horchata and roselle-chai syrup. Ron Zacapa 23 is paired with crème de cacao and cashew orgeat for a dessert-like twist, and The Singleton 12 Year Old is mixed with artichoke amaro, sweet vermouth and chocolate bitters, creating deeper, more contemplative drinks to end the evening. PLUME is the only bar with five participating bartenders including Matthew Chan, Siew Han Jun, Akmal Haqim, Rojie Leong-On and Meor Muhammad contesting for the Bartender of the Year 2026 award.
“The World Class Cocktail Festival shines a light on the people at the heart of hospitality, celebrating the skill and dedication behind every great bar. By bringing together tastemakers, rising bartending talent, and some of the world’s most iconic luxury spirits from Diageo’s portfolio, it invites guests to experience cocktails in a more intentional way. Each drink is a showcase of craft and character, inspiring people around the world to see how exceptional ingredients and thoughtful technique can turn a simple pour into something truly memorable.”
Alex Freri, General Manager, Strategic Partnerships & New Markets, SEA.
Wife-and-husband duo Bannie Kang and Tryson Quek from Side Door are both World Class Bartender of the Year Singapore in 2019 and 2026 respectively. Bannie was also World Class Bartender of the Year 2019 and Global Talisker Mystery Box and Speed Challenge Winner. Side Door lead their star power and signature style to the celebrations joining the festival as past champions.