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A few days ago I posted on Twitter: " If you think you have TALENTO,want to become WORLD CLASS or create your LEGACY, proof it in your bar every night & stop doing competitions" Jacob Briars, Global Trade Advocacy Director of Bacardi, a person I highly respect in our Industry,  responded to me on twitter and it become quite a discussion. But I like to roll out my thoughts behind this tweet also here on my blog, cause I felt uncomfortable with a 140 character discussion on twitter. Because, first of all, I don't want to be unfair. To Bacardi (LEGACY), Diageo (WORLD CLASS) or Pernod Ricard ( Havana Club) with (TALENTO and their Global Cocktail Competition). First of all, this is not a critic on this three competitions. There are many in our Industry. These are the most famous ones. We have so many. International and Global ones. But also National ones like the German GSA Competition from MIXOLOGY Magazin. etc. Dozens. Hundreds? Second of all, my tweet is...

DIAGEO invited me to be part of the World Class Nordic Semi Finals in Stockholm this monday. I will give a presentation for the attendees and be part of the jury. The Ladies and Gentleman fighting for the WORLD CLASS finals coming from Sweden: Johan Mattsson, Viktor Eriksson, Abdallah Ghostine, Jimmie Hult, Ludvig Eriksson, André Berlund, Emil Areng, Erik Andersson, Jesper Hartmann and Elias Wennberg. Attendees from Norway:  Christoffer Magnusson, Ivan Karlsen, Stian Sandnes, Chris Grøtvedt, Steinar Hansen, Therese Østervold, Guido Sorrentini, Flemming Iversen, Monica Berg, Kristian Bejer, Alexandr Ruas, Mauro Monteiro, Johan Bengtson. Also, and this is the greatest pleasure for me, after I fine Zacapa Dinner, I am responsible to serve this great bartenders from scandinavia fine drinks at my bar. Great Job for a bartender I guess... So, looking forward to catch some WORLD CLASS experience - and will tell you about it soon ... WORLD CLASS on Facebook

Oh, what a week. This OPEN LETTER to DIAGEO was a little bit time consuming . Reading and answering quite a lot of email & comments. But first of all, I really like the fact that Mrs Louise Mc Guane, Global Commercial Marketing Manager from DIAGEO Reserve toke the time the answer every Question on this case here in the comments . I think, the IBB Brothers from Moscow and their „Problem with WORLD CLASS“  is now also noticed in London. And also, DIAGEOS point of view is clear and to me comprehensible. Some more point on this case: Adam Elmegirab wrote his take about WORLD CLASS on his THE JERRY THOMAS PROJECT blog. „WORLD CLASS 3? More like WORLD WAR 3... In the comments, Miguel F. Lancha from Spain is writing about the spanish experience with WORLD CLASS Kind a lot of Bartenders from Russia now united and you can follow their acitivites on a facebook group. They call themselve : Diageo World „Class B“ Russia Rustam Ganeev, Bartender Moscow, let me know that many Headba...

Dear DIAGEO, After the last few days I felt compelled to write to you directly to tell you a few details on an issue that seems to upset a few of the professional bartending world. We know each other, but you might or might not recognise me. Although we do not have any large contracts,  I used to take part in the TEN TABLE here in Germany when it was first introduced. A thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all at the events at your companies expense. We also stock a lot of your fantastic brands in our bar "Le Lion" in Hamburg and all of your company representatives in Germany I know, are pleasant guys. I might point out that your Brand Ambassador here in Hamburg, Mr. Tagawa, due to his background as a bartender, comes very highly recommended. The same really goes for your guys in Berlin who also create some amazing events. The reason why I am explaining all this is to make sure that by no means this is misunderstood as DIAGIO in Germany is appreciated by us bartenders -...