Tong Chong Street to be transformed into a hub of cocktails with gourmet food this June. Centre stage of World Class Competition to shake up the cocktail culture in town.
Taikoo Place and Diageo World Class are proud to present “Cheers at Taikoo Place” - the first-ever World Class cocktail pop-up bar during 12-15 June. The event will see Tong Chong Street transformed into a cocktail paradise, providing the backdrop to the Hong Kong final of the World Class cocktail competition - the precursor to the global final of the world’s largest cocktail competition and the annual search for the world’s best bartender of the year.
“We are happy to be working with Diageo World Class this year and staging World Class Competition Shake Down at Taikoo Place,” said Babby Fung, Head of Office Marketing, Swire Properties. “Taikoo Place is the destination for all things new and exciting and introducing the art of cocktail making to our vibrant community is going to inspire many more unique experiences for the participants.”
This first-ever World Class cocktail pop-up bar will bring four days and nights of events to Taikoo Place, supported by some of the city’s best cocktails and restaurants. Mr & Mrs Fox, Brickhouse and VEA will take up residence at Tong Chong Street serving cocktails featuring Bulleit bourbon, Don Julio tequila and Johnnie Walker scotch whisky alongside casual lunch and dinner created just for the week and the week’s cocktails. The pop-up bar culminates with the final of the 2017 World Class Hong Kong and Macau cocktail competition where the top six bartenders in the region will compete for a place at the World Class Global Final in Mexico City.
The first night of activities is all about “American Classics”. Mr & Mrs Fox will fill the street with the irresistible aroma of Texas BBQ, serving up brisket sliders and Bulleit Bourbon. Alongside party-goers, Hong Kong and Macau’s top six bartenders will face the speed challenge to make a round of classic cocktails in ten minutes. The top three bartenders will be announced that same night, who will have 72 hours to create their own pop-up bars in the middle of Taikoo Place – for the Hong Kong Shake Down on 15th June.
Tuesday will kick-off with tacos and Don Julio tequila. Brickhouse will be in charge adding Mexican flavours to the unique streetscape. Chef Vicky Cheng and VEA will bring his interpretation of Chinese street food to Wednesday’s event, pairing his unique cuisine with cocktails using the exclusive Johnnie Walker Blender’s Batch from former World Class winner Antonio Lai of Angel’s Share.
As part of the campaign promoting the art of cocktail-making, Taikoo Social app users are entitled to enter a lucky draw, in which 36 winners will be able to attend with a friend an exclusive cocktail workshop hosted by Cherry Lam (Instagram: @cherrycocktailgarnish), Diageo Reserve Brand Ambassador and local cocktail guru, held during lunchtime.
“Cheers at Taikoo Place” climaxes with the Hong Kong Shake Down on Thursday night, where the top three bartenders will reveal the pop-up bars they have created over the previous three days. A global panel of judges will decide the winner, these include Angus Winchester, one of the most influential bartenders of the last 30 years and former Tanqueray gins global ambassador; Donald Colville, Global Single Malt Ambassador; Dennis Tamse, Nolet Distillery Ambassador for Dutch vodka: Ketel One; celebrity local chef Jowett Yu of Ho Lee Fook and last year’s Hong Kong champion: James Barker of 208 Duecento Otto. The judges will review the pop-up’s design, concept, service and the drinks themselves. The winner will represent Hong Kong and Macau at the World Class Global Final in Mexico City from the 20th - 25th August.
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About Taikoo Place
Taikoo Place is recognised as one of Hong Kong’s best-planned business hubs, managed by Swire Properties. The portfolio offers over 5 million sq ft of prime commercial space for local and multinational corporations. A wide range of cosmopolitan business and leisure amenities are situated within the area, including TAIKOO PLACE APARTMENTS, the multi-purpose venue ArtisTree, the co-working hub Blueprint, the landscaped garden Taikoo Park, and restaurants and cafes. Within five-minute walking distance are the shopping mall Cityplaza and the lifestyle business hotel EAST, Hong Kong. www.taikooplace.com
About Diageo RESERVE
Diageo RESERVE represents the luxury division of Diageo, a multi-award winning portfolio of fine spirits rich in heritage, craftsmanship and innovation.
The World Class Collection of brands includes: Ciroc vodka, Tanqueray No. TEN and Tanqueray London Dry gins, Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Gold Label Reserve Scotch Whiskies, Tequila Don Julio, Zacapa rum, Ketel One vodka, Haig Club single grain Scotch Whisky, Bulleit Bourbon, Talisker, and Singleton single malt Scotch Whiskies.
Diageo RESERVE promotes responsible drinking.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
About Diageo RESERVE World Class™
DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS™ is transforming fine drinking experiences and cocktail culture around the world and in the home. The industry’s largest, most credible investment in the luxury on trade, it discovers the next generation of bartending talent who set the latest mixology trends and bring these to the best bars worldwide.
At the core is an outstanding, global training programme and internationally recognised platform that elevates the craft of the bartender and builds careers in the industry culminating in an annual luxury landmark week where the DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS™ Bartender of the Year is announced. Launched in 2009, over 20,000 bartenders have been inspired and educated in the craft of mixology using the finest spirits in the DIAGEO RESERVE collection.