Diageo World Class Singapore has crowned its champion for 2026, and she’ll be on her way to representing our Lion City at the World Class Global Finals.
The Diageo World Class Singapore 2026 finals have come to a close after months of stiff competition. It culminated in a thrilling two-round finale — the Zacapa Elevation & Celebration challenge and The Showdown, where bartenders were tasked with shaking up six randomly selected classic cocktails in under five minutes. Here are the details of the latest happenings in Singapore’s bar world.
Diageo World Class Singapore 2026: Details at a glance
World Class is one of the biggest bartending competitions in the world! Since its creation in 2009, the competition has run for 17 years and has seen talents from over 100 countries. What does it take to be named the World Class Bartender of the Year? You’ve gotta be technique-driven, be able to elevate mixology, bartending, and cocktail culture.
This year’s edition even saw the Diageo World Class Cocktail Festival. Members of the public were invited to sample competition drinks from each bar with a Cocktail Festival Passport, and they even voted for their favourite spots to have a say in the competition results. With every receipt and stamp, you could snag rewards from merch and dining vouchers to a staycay worth $1,000!
The challenges, abridged
The finals were split into two parts, starting with the Zacapa Elevation & Celebration challenge. 11 bartenders were tasked with creating a cocktail featuring Diageo’s Zacapa XO rum that captured the “above the clouds” experience and the spirit of Latin celebration. Various cocktails were spotted, including ones that featured foam, “clouds” made from gelatin, and a hearty punch bowl-style drink.
And from 11, came five finalists – Josiah Chee from Bar Bon Funk, Ellen Su from Restaurant Born, Ooi Foo Giap from Last Word, and Zana Möhlmann and Alex “Happy” Gilmour from Manhattan. The Showdown had contestants blindly picking six out of 15 classic cocktails, including drinks like a Negroni, El Diablo, gimlet, paloma, and margarita. Balancing execution, balance, and prep, contestants have to create each cocktail in under five minutes. A tense affair for both the bartenders and audience alike!
Your World Class Singapore 2026 Winner: Zana Möhlmann
After a tough few hours battling it out, one emerged victorious – the Zana Möhlmann from Manhattan!
“Winning World Class Singapore is an incredible honour,” said Zana. “The competition has been an intense and deeply rewarding journey, made even more meaningful by the calibre of talent I had the privilege of competing alongside. It pushed me to sharpen every part of my craft, to think with greater precision under pressure, and to stay true to the warmth and hospitality that define a great guest experience. I am incredibly excited to represent Singapore on the global stage, and to bring the energy, creativity and spirit of our bar community to the Global Finals.”
Zana will be representing Singapore in the World Class Global Finals in Edinburgh, Scotland, later this year in October. We wish her all the best and hope she does us proud!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is World Class?
World Class is a international bartending competition hosted by Diageo. Bartenders battle it out over the course of months to craft cocktails with Diageo brand spirits, and take part in speed rounds to showcase their mixology skills. It is one of the most coveted titles in the bartending world.
Who won the Singapore title?
The winner for 2026 in Singapore is Zana Möhlmann from Manhattan.
Who were the competitors this year?
Several bars competed this year. The finals saw bartenders from Last Word, Night Hawk, Jigger & Pony, Gibson, Plume, Puffy Bois Pizza, 28 Hongkong Street, and more.
What happens after World Class Singapore?
As other countries select their bartender for the year, everyone will converge in Edinburgh, Scotland for the global finals where the ultimate champion will be crowned.
Was there a public vote?
Yes! The World Class Cocktail Festival took place from February to the end of May, where the public were welcome to try competition cocktails at 21 bar locations. They could vote for their favourite drinks and bars by the end, and votes were taken into consideration in the competition results.
