After a long process to prove they have what it takes to represent Peru at the World Class Global Finals, bartender Oscar Figueroa from Rocco Trattoría earns his rightful spot and will take Peruvian cocktails to the next level.
The World Class
The World Class is a platform created by Diageo to inspire and shape the global drinking and cocktail culture. This year marks its fifteenth anniversary, and it has encouraged enthusiasts worldwide to delve into the world of upscale drinking and consciously appreciate the art of Fine Drinking.
The National Final
We have been involved in the event since Diageo made the first call at the beginning of the year. We watched a large group of bartenders from Lima and some regions apply and participate in the seminars and the grueling semi-finals to select the final eight.
- Joel Chirinos – Twice winner and owner of Limaq Bar
- Carolín Ruiz -2023 Finalist from Astrid & Gastón
- Mauricio De La Puente from Sastería Martínez
- Frank Alvarado from Sayani Bar
- Manuel Lao from 500 grados
- Rolando Arias from Troppo
- Oscar Figueroa – 2023 Finalist from Rocco
- Luis Alza – 2022 Peru Champion – from Viva Lima Bar
This year’s competition was quick to ensure equal time for competition and celebration, and the Sala Osma in Barranco was the location selected for this; the final match was determined by side-by-side quickfire elimination.
The quick-fire challenge
In rounds of two, the bartenders had six minutes to:
- Create eight penicillin cocktails.
- Create a cocktail based on a mystery box (with Rum, mango, and cold brew as ingredients).
- Create the best Martini of their lives.
They could pass the 6-minute mark, but for each five-second pass, they were penalized.
Judges for the whole final competition were:
Tato Giovannoni, the founder of Florereia Atlántico from Argentina,
Arturo Savage. CCA Brand Ambassador Dominicana from the Dominic Republic, and
Esther Tseng, California-based Journalist, and 50 Best Bars Academy Chair.
And then there were two
The tenacity and skills presented by Oscar Figueroa from Rocco Tratoría and the calm and straightforward style of Joel Chirinos from Limaq earned the final spot where they had to battle the Final Showdown, where they had to create with precision balance the most significant amount of possible cocktails in ten minutes without repeating.
The overall winner and the Peruvian representation for the World Class Global Finals went to Oscar Figueroa, part of the Osterling Group and head bartender of Rocco Trattoría, but as we love from this community, there were no sore losers, everyone celebrated his victory and now will support him on the way to become the World Class World Champion.
