Australia's best bartender has been crowned
James Irvine, Group Creative Cocktail Lead at Merivale has been named Australia’s World Class Bartender of the Year, taking out the prestigious title at the national finals held at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, on Monday, June 30.
Now in its 16th year, Diageo World Class gathered eight of the nation’s leading bartenders, including Aidan Perkins, Darren Burton, Darren Leaney, James Irvine, Lachlan Gunner, Samuel Cocks, Shirley Yeung, and Tom McHugh to vie for the title, with James Irvine emerging as the winner after a day filled with thrilling challenges and unparalleled creativity.
The competition unfolded across three dynamic challenges, with the finalists going head-to-head to showcase their skill, creativity, and speed behind the bar, hosted at House Made Hospitality’s two bars within the hotel, bar tilda, known for its cocktails, serious local whisky collection, and outdoor terrace Wentworth Bar.
For their second task, bartenders journeyed through the legacy of Tequila Don Julio in ‘Celebration Curated’, a challenge that called for more than creativity, but demanded a deep understanding of the brand’s cultural significance. Each finalist created three cocktails, with one serve needing to hero Tequila Don Julio’s new 1942 Minis - the pinnacle of celebration and craftsmanship. The remaining two serves were theirs to masterfully craft, drawing from the full spectrum of the prestigious Tequila Don Julio family, with James Irvine creating his winning serve ‘The Cake is in Tears’. Drawing on the decandence and luxury of weddings whilst being playful and light with bursting freshness of Feijoa and Yuzu citrate. Inspired by the opulance of high-end celebrations, it’s a tribute to the Dons of every wedding, Tequila Don Julio, the iconic tequila, and the ultimate main character moment, this drink is a playful yet refined take on ceremony, status, and celebration.
James, says of the win,"This was my eighth time entering the competition, and it feels incredible to finally take out the title. I’ve drawn on the invaluable mentorship provided by Diageo Bar Academy year after year and have thouroughly enjoyed the creative experience, for almost a decade. Bartending is a creative art form, and World Class is the Oscars of bartending competitions, so to be recognised at this level is an absolute honour.”
Kate McGraw, Diageo Head of Trade Advocacy, said: “Each year, the Diageo World Class competition showcases exceptional talent, and 2025 was no exception. This year’s finalists highlighted exciting trends in Australian bartending—from innovative textural cocktails to refined serves celebrating local ingredients. Their creativity and craftsmanship are a powerful testament to the strength of Australia’s drinks culture.”
All eight finalists delivered outstanding performances, but only one could be named Australian Bartender of the Year. James Irvine impressed us with his creativity and innovation, as well as his storytelling and charisma. We are proud to have him represent Australia at the Global Finals in Canada later this year.”
James will now compete in the 2025 Diageo World Class Global Final, held in Toronto, Canada, from September 27th to October 2nd. There, they will compete against representatives from over 55 other countries in a unique multi-format event and battle it out for the coveted title of 2025 Diageo World Class Global Bartender of the Year.
By continuing to invest in training and development, Diageo World Class and this year’s partner Sofitel Wentworth are dedicated to shaping the future of bartending in Australia, ensuring the next generation of hospitality professionals are equipped with the skills and knowledge to excel in the industry.
Following the competition, on Tuesday 1st July, Sydney locals were invited to celebrate alongside the finalists and newly crowned winner as Caretaker’s Cottage presents A Night In with Don Julio Tequila & Friends at bar tilda, Sofitel Wentworth Sydney. Open to the public, guests also had the chance to sip on the winning Don Julio cocktail.
World Class/Diageo, 1st July 2025
