The urban dictionary defines the term, “mixology” as “the study of mixing drinks and cocktails”, going on to say that “it’s a term used by employees of bars and night clubs to mask the fact that they are bartenders. It is intended to make the occupation sound more important or part of the sciences.”

*Above image from www.ketelone.com

Whatever the explanation of the term is intended for, the truth is, the word mixologist is an honorific used to distinguish the difference between the normal bartender at your local pub and that of those who take more of a culinary approach to making drinks.

Apparently, there is quite a bit of science involved in achieving the perfect pink drink!  Who would’ve thought? And many, around the globe are earning a pretty decent living from this designation.

Back home in Johannesburg, top mixologists were crowned after mixing off against the city’s most talented bartenders in three grueling workshops which would see these champions take on South Africa’s best in a World Class national final.

Held throughout the year, the regional workshops, concluded in May, put contestants’ mixology skills to the test in a series of challenges measuring speed and efficiency as well as their ability to reinvent the classic Bloody Mary using Ketel One Vodka. Competition was stiff during all stages but Dom De Lorenzo and Tom Savage (both sound ravishing) emerged as the best of the best in Johannesburg, earning top marks in the Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year regional finals by employing creativity and craftsmanship to score big in every category.

FYI: The Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year is the largest and most prestigious event of its type, aiming to elevate the skill and craft of the bartending profession and set global trends and standards in the service industry worldwide.

De Lorenzo (from mobile service Molecular Bars) and Savage (from Social on Main) will now go head to head with their counterparts from the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal in the national finals, to be held in Johannesburg in July.

They will be joined by wild card finalist Steven Saunders (of Johannesburg’s Michelangelo Hotel), who had among the highest scores following the regional workshops, as well as the other regional winners from the Western and Eastern Capes (Assaf Yechiel and AJ Snetler) and KwaZulu-Natal (Jody Francis and Trace van der Merwe).

One champion will then be chosen to represent the country in the World Class Global Final, being hosted in Cape Town and Johannesburg in September.

For the first time in the World Class competition’s seven-year history, Africa will welcome the best mixologists from 57 countries as they vie for the title of Bartender of the Year 2015. Previous years’ host cities have included the likes of Rio de Janeiro and London.

So, if you wish to find yourself a diego, amigos or amie, keep your eyes posted on our site for an update on the deets of the Global finale.