World Class Slovakia launch 2025
With seminars, eye-catching light art, and of course delicious cocktails, World Class kicked off the 2025 competition season for bartenders in Slovakia.
Shortly after gathering at Mirror Bar, attendees of the World Class 2025 launch were directed to a bus, via which they were taken to a mystery location. That location turned out to be the Asot Haas Atelier, an event space filled with modern art incorporating light and design.
There they were welcomed with a drink by former World Class participants. A short presentation about Johnnie Walker Blue Label by Dominik Tapušík started of the education of the evening.
Tony Velich, brand manager of Italmarket Slovakia, sponsor of the local competition, introduced what World Class is, and described how the 2025 season will work. One new change is that the first two rounds will be online with blind judging. Moving the competition online allows both competitors and judges to participate more easily from a variety of places.
As the evening was to present the Singleton - Sense the Moment Challenge, Fillip Kováč, ambassador of World Class Slovakia, gave an example of how a bartender can affect and involve the senses in a drink. Each chair had an envelope; upon opening it attendees found a glove, which they used to drink a cocktail, changing the drinker’s awareness of the drink through touch.
Evica Domonji, the 2023 winner for Slovakia, shared the personal side of the World Class journey, from taking on responsibility to making friends at the global competition.
Michal Dojčák, Slovak 2024 winner of World Class, shared concrete advice for participants, especially in brainstorming recipes, creativity in presenting a cocktail, and using one’s strong points.
The two past winners of World Class Slovakia then teamed up behind the bar to mix their own drinks prepared with Singleton, as well as one from Filip Kováč, as inspiration.
The evening finished off with time to chat, view the art, and try a variety of cocktails. Each competitor walked away with a bottle of Singleton to prepare their first challenge. Good luck to all the participants!
