Journey to Shanghai: Michal Dojčák at World Class 2024
The prestigious bartending competition Diageo World Class 2024 took place in Shanghai, China, for its 15th anniversary, September 8-12, and Slovakia was part of the event. Among the 44 contestants from around the globe was Michal Dojčák, winner of the Slovak World Class 2024. The World Class Competition is brought to Slovakia by Italmarket Slovakia a.s.
“The experience in Shanghai was amazing,” says Michal Dojčák, who placed a strong 13th place. “They invite past winners and competitors back, so you are surrounded by so much talent, experience, and skill. It really is inspiring. They also wanted to show all the contestants that they were already VIPs for getting there, so the luxury was over the top.”
Despite all the glitz and glamour though, he says, it’s the people that made it such a positive experience. “Best of all though, were the connections I made. For example, the contestants from Central and Eastern Europe got to know each other and still keep in touch, offering ideas, encouragement, and planning future cooperation. Rob Uldis Libecans was the bar captain of our group, supporting us if we needed anything. He is really a kind and humble person, I had no idea he is such a big deal in Australia until his bar Caretaker’s Cottage got No21 and the hospitality award from The World’s 50 Best Bars. Such a guy was supporting us.”
Competitors at World Class 2024. Source: World Class
The winner of 2024 is Keegan McGregor of Halifax, Canada, whose journey to the title took six years. “We were tasked with becoming Community Heroes, creating an initiative to help our hospitality community. Most of us did something about gardens or waste, but Keegen really thought outside the box,” explains Michal Dojčák.
Keegan McGregor planned the Urban Orchard Project, funded both by his own fundraising efforts and in partnership with Ketel One, to revitalise bars and restaurants in his community with a mural on the outside wall of one. By doing so, he writes on Instagram, “we’re able to create a sense of pride and creativity. Studies have also shown that it creates more foot traffic, and in turn, brings more economic growth to the business and neighbourhood...whether as a staff member, patron, or one of our neighbours, art affects us all.”
Previous World Class winners surrounding Keegan McGregor. Source: World Class
What is World Class?
The Diageo World Class competition is the biggest bartending competition on the globe. Each participating country holds its own local contest, and the winner of the country round goes onto the global round in quest of the Diageo World Class Global Bartender of the Year title.
The local edition takes place over four months from January to April, with seminars and challenges as well as cocktail creating. “It’s not just about mixing a couple drinks at the end,” said Michal Dojčák, “it really is a time commitment. But it is also the best way to learn and grow.” Seminars are led by previous winners and experts, sharing their particular area of strength. Challenges can include, for example, organising a pop-up. Creating social media content is another important factor.
The final showdown in Slovakia has been reformatted to mirror the experience on the global stage in terms of timing and types of challenges and themes, to give participants practise in competing in the same style. However, organisers are preparing a new concept for 2025, so stay tuned to find out what those changes will be!
The journey to Shanghai
For Michal Dojčák, Head Bartender at Sky Bar & Restaurant, this year’s competition in Slovakia was crucial. “I had already gotten second place three times. If I didn’t win this year, I was ready to finish. Having done so well previously, I felt a lot of pressure while competing this year. Fortunately, it worked out and I won,” he says.
A few months before the global event, the final challenges are released, giving bartenders some time to prepare. “I kind of went obsessive,” admits Michal Dojčák. But it was only by dedicating himself that he would feel confident in knowing he had done his best.
Michal Dojčák
Every morning in the summer he would go for a run, then rehearse his script for an hour, which he first went through with his manager at Sky Bar & Restaurant, Dominik Tapušík, who writes for various publications. Michal Dojčák practised making drinks with water, including in front of fellow bartenders whose expertise he values. He got lessons with an actor on his performance delivery - when to speed up or slow down, annunciate more clearly or pause for dramatic effect.
Italmarket Slovakia, the organiser of the competition in Slovakia, was super supportive, he said. “They basically asked what I needed and made it happen.”
Top tips for future contestants
“I worked really hard to prepare for both the local and global competitions,” recalls Michal Dojčák, “It was difficult, but I learned so much that it was absolutely worth it.”
What are the top tips he has for other bartenders who are thinking of participating in the competition?
Michal Dojčák competing at World Class. Source: World Class
Be open to criticism. “If you can’t hear what other people have to say about your ideas, drinks, and performance, you won’t improve. Seek out experts who know what they are talking about. Your first ideas will probably end up in the trash can.”
Discipline. “There will be times when you will want to quit. You’re not going to want to do the work. Only by pushing through those times can you grow and become both a better human and bartender.”
Involve the judges. “Judges see a lot of drinks being mixed. Just standing there and talking to them isn’t going to make you stand out. Get them involved - for example, for the local final Tanqueray challenge I invited the judges into my “home”, and when they entered I got them to wash their hands with soap I made from lime peel waste, so the soap had the scent of the heart of Tanqueray.”
“As well, think of who your judges will be. I’m an artist, and often connect art and cocktails; in the Slovak finals I had the same judges for all four cocktail challenges, so I only used art as a creative tool for one of them so I didn’t overdo it, whereas at the global level each challenge had different judges so I could incorporate it more.”
Plan B. “Save a part of your budget for unexpected expenses, say if a glass breaks or a prop doesn’t work out. Sometimes you can’t predict how things can go off course, and having money set aside for those occasions is a huge stress saver.”
Go for it. “Getting the chance to work so closely with so many bartenders of such high calibre, at both the local and especially global level, is one of the ways that not only each bartender can improve but also raise the bartending level in Slovakia as a whole. I definitely recommend going for it!”
One of the best parts of the competition was the people, says Michal Dojčák. Source: World Class
