Cheers all round for local bartender in global contest

CAPE TOWN – Capetonian bartender, Joshua Hendricks, 24, will be winging his way to Australia in September to represent South Africa in the global final of the Diageo World Class competition.

From Bergvliet, Hendricks is the youngest person to claim top honours in the local leg of the competition, which has supported, trained and inspired over 400 000 bartenders across 60 countries for over 12 years.

The national final was held in the Mother City over three days in June, where 10 contestants were put through their paces in front of a judging panel which included Johnnie Walker brand influencer Kay Ngonyama (popularly known as Kay Yarms); award winning restaurant chef, cookbook author, MasterChef SA judge; and, Ultimate Braai Master judge, Pete Goffe–Wood; three time World Class champion and co-founder of Diageo SA The Hand Up Mentorship Programme, Brent Perremore; Diageo Reserve Brand ambassador and facilitator of the World Class programme, Dom de Lorenzo; and, runner-up for two consecutive years in the World Class competition and current bartender trainer, Haroon Haffejee.

Hendricks said about the competition: “The first day kicked off with a Mastery challenge, where we had to identify 50 cocktail ingredients by smell and taste alone. Classic cocktails were served in test tubes and we had to identify these blind.”

In the knock-out challenge, 50 different spirits had to be identified correctly by the contestants until just one person remained.

“I came fifth in this challenge, so I didn’t do that great. In fact, I did not win any of the rounds but I managed to be consistent about placing in the top three and this is why I had the highest mark at the end of the competition," said Hendricks.

In the speed round, contestants had to create 10 original cocktails in eight minutes.

“My best creation from this round was a Singleton honey sour, with a red wine and pear reduction between the foam. It is a New York sours type of drink which is done quite often, but the way I did it was amazing.”

In two challenges for the mixologists, they had to make a group serve using one of the Johnnie Walker expressions based on their culture.

“I am coloured so I made a rooibos pinotage tea blend which represented the aunties that sit and skinder in the kitchen, and a vermouth with crackling.”

The serve went into what Hendricks calls a “fancy papsak” – a laser cut Johnnie Walker copy of box wine.

That evening during the food challenge, Hendricks chose a deconstructed paella and a saffron risotto croquette and spiced prawn to pair with his Singleton and apple fennel juice cocktail.

“It had cumin infused vermouth and honey citrus with star anise – aromatic, fresh and tart so that the acid could cut through the fat of the dish.”

Hendricks was one of 100 up and coming barmen chosen from around the country to attend Diageo’s The Hand-Up Mentorship Programme last year.

“It was a great experience and a useful refresher of knowledge I had forgotten, such as the history of cocktails. I definitely applied what I learnt at World Class, especially the speed round which mentally prepares you about patterns you need to follow and helps you to fine-tune," said Hendricks.

Hendricks will attend the Diageo World Class global final in Sydney in September, where he will take on 49 of the world’s best bartenders in a quest for the title of best in the world.

“I think if I prepare, I can do well. I am already preparing and planning and trying to get my head into the game and practise," he said.

Those wanting to try Hendrick’s cocktails can visit him at Fable in Bree Street for one of his experiential cocktails.

Diageo SA’s marketing director Zizwe Vundla said World Class was an educational platform aimed to helping to upskill those working in the drinks industry so that they could create unforgettable cocktail experiences.

“World Class also encourages consumers to think and care about fine drinking in the same way that they appreciate fine dining," said Vundla.

Cape Times