A few weeks ago, the world’s biggest cocktail competition, Diageo World Class, unveiled Toronto’s very own, Jacob Martin, as World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2023, where he was recognized by top industry experts as the winner of this prestigious, global competition. Not only is this a monumental win for Jacob, but it’s also a huge accomplishment for our country. This is now Canada’s third time being crowned best performing country since joining the competition in 2013, with no other country being able to take this title more than twice. Now that is a brag-worthy moment for us Canadians! We chatted with Jacob to find out more about his big win! —Vita Daily
Congrats on your win at the Diageo World Class! What does it mean to you, to be named World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2023?
When people ask me this, “permission to sleep”’ always seems to be the immediate answer. A year in World Class is this impossibly difficult-to-explain phenomena: flights, galas, exploding over carbonated clarified margaritas, smoke alarms, scotch-soaked shoes, and a list of friends longer than I can count. You are mentored by the best, compete against the best, and you spend a concerning amount of time miming speed rounds in your bathroom mirror. It is an honor impossible to articulate, as I have never felt a community as caring as the Canadian World Class team, nor felt greater support from my friends, mentors, family, and girlfriend.
This is now Canada’s third time being crowned best performing country since joining the competition in 2013; what in your opinion does this say about our home-grown industry?
I think the world is quick to dismiss the Canadian bar scene, but our underdog mentality creates this incredible passion, creativity, and perseverance ever present in our restaurant industry. I have worked for the past three years in Toronto’s thriving west end, and year after year, the caliber of cocktails, restaurants, and hotels improves. Moreover, the size of our industry breeds cooperation. The bars in my immediate neighborhood, as well as the bartenders who worked there, were some of my greatest allies over this 10-month process. What’s more, the Canadian World Class team, under the careful stewardship of Michael Armistead, creates this truly perfect fortress of bartenders, mentors, and friends who help you every step of the way
What does competing in the world’s very own Super Bowl of bartending competitions look like? What did you have to do, how were you judged? Take us through your experience, step by step.
Controlled panic. World Class is a remarkable commitment of time, energy, and resources, but the reward is more than worth it. World Class Globals is a marathon of technique building, menu development, rehearsals, tastings, and months of practice. The competition hinges its reputation on testing every element of bartending and does so at the highest conceivable level. The basic format of the competition is that, from the local to regional, to national, to finally global level, you are tested in over a dozen challenges. Some of those challenges are based on bartending, while others focus on key metrics like technique, blind tastings, gastronomy, speed, volume, and presentation. After each level, the competition becomes more difficult, leading at last to the final 54 contestants. Then each winner from their respective country competes in four challenges, two each day, in a battery of tests in front of some of the best bartenders on the planet. If you survive the gauntlet, you enter the final 12 and compete in a speed challenge—this year, making 10 drinks in 6 minutes—and pray you wore your fast shoes.
Who would you say was your greatest competition?
Myself. I have only ever competed in one other cocktail competition. It was two days long, and I made two drinks. World Class, end to end, was nine months, 1000 hours, 9 flights, and 34 drinks. I think that my newness to this wild and wonderful world created a lot of doubt that I compensated for with endless preparation. I won’t lie; there were dark days where I doubted my fortitude, but I was surrounded by friends and mentors who picked me up if I stumbled. You never feel small if you sit on the shoulders of giants.
What were your winning cocktails?
“Ground Control to Major Tom Cat ” and the “Silversmith ” are two refreshing sours I developed for the Canadian World Class National and the Global Final respectively.
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