World Class Bartender of the Year 2026 Singapore announced

Zana Möhlmann crowned World Class Bartender of the Year 2026 Singapore

June 3rd, 2026

World Class Singapore has crowned Zana Möhlmann, Beverage Manager of Manhattan and East47, as the World Class Bartender of the Year 2026 Singapore, following three months of rigorous challenges that brought together some of the
nation’s most exciting bartending talent.

Held on Monday, 25 May 2026, the finals culminated in The Showdown Challenge, where the Top 5 finalists faced a service scenario designed to mirror a bar on its busiest night. Each bartender was tasked to create six classic cocktails, drawn at random from a deck of 15 recipes.

The challenge spotlighted the breadth of Diageo’s portfolio, spanning some of the world’s most recognised spirits: Johnnie Walker, the iconic Scotch whisky house known for its smoky, smooth character; The Singleton, a single malt Scotch whisky celebrated for its sublimely smooth taste with a fruit decadence; Tanqueray, distinctive citrus heart which is the bartender’s choice gin for cocktail artisty; Don Julio, a premium tequila crafted from blue agave; and Zacapa, a Guatemalan rum admired for its rich decadence.

Testing speed, precision, charisma and control, Zana emerged as the winner for her standout execution of six classic cocktails — the Gimlet, Paloma, Old Fashioned, Martini, Cosmopolitan and Moscow Mule — alongside an energetic performance that embodied the qualities expected of a World Class champion. With this win, Zana will go on to represent Singapore at the World Class Bartender of the Year Global Finals 2026, which will take place in Scotland from 18 to 23 October 2026, joining leading bartenders from around the world on one of the industry’s most prestigious competitive stages.

Zana competed alongside fellow Top 5 finalists Ellen Su of Restaurant Born; Josiah Chee of Bar Bon Funk; Ooi Foo Giap of Last Word; and Alex “Happy” Gilmour, formerly of Manhattan, in the National Finals. The evening also saw Elisabeth Lim of 28 HongKong Street, recognised with the World Class Bartender’s Bartender Award 2026 Singapore, an accolade voted for by fellow competitors in recognition of someone they looked up to throughout the journey.

The 2026 Singapore edition marks another significant year for World Class, Diageo’s global platform dedicated to elevating cocktail culture and nurturing the next generation of bartending talent. Beyond competition, World Class continues to champion education and collaboration across the drinks industry, connecting bartenders, bars and consumers through the art of fine drinking.