Charles mesmerised the judges from the very first cocktail but it was his unique and show-stopping signature serve that will help cement his name in cocktail history. His signature cocktail Above the Clouds, crafted for the final Punch and Glass challenge, blew the judges away. Throughout the week Charles consistently proved his winning credentials to the esteemed panel of judges that included legends and luminaries of the cocktail scene such as Dale DeGroff, Salvatore Calabrese, Julie Reiner, Steve Olsen and Gaz Regan.

“Wow, I just feel totally overawed by this. I know it sounds like a cliché but to be announced as the DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS™ BARTENDER OF THE YEAR 2014 is like a dream – I half expect to wake up at any moment. The other finalists really are the best bartenders in the world today so for the judges to pick me as the winner is incredible” said Joly.
“This journey didn’t start today at the ceremony, this week at the finals, or even last year when I entered the heats – it started many years ago when I first started working in a local bar. The flavours, the smells, the sounds, the techniques, the history, the theatre – I realized I did not want to create just another drink. I make drinks with my heart and it makes me happy to see customers happy. The possibilities open to a bartender are limitless, not just in terms of your career but your creations – the only limit is your imagination.”

Matteo Fantacchiotti, Global Vice President Commercial, DIAGEO RESERVE, said: “Right from the beginning Charles’ passion, creativity and unrivalled mixology skills blew the judges away. His desire to create unique serves that combined sophisticated tastes with innovative modern twists never faltered at any stage of the competition. It’s a real honor to have Charles as our 2014 Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS™ ambassador, and I look forward to working with him in the future. Together we hope to inspire a new generation of mixology talent across the world, helping raise the profile of bartenders to where chefs are today.”
Charles Joly becomes the sixth bartender to be awarded the revered WORLD CLASS™ Bartender of The Year title, following in the footsteps of mixologists giants who have gone on to influence cocktail culture around the world, including David Rios, Tim Philips, Manabu Ohtake, Erik Lorincz and Aristotelis Papadopoulos.

The 48 bartenders that reached the WORLD CLASS™ Global Final 2014 had already demonstrated unwavering commitment to their craft after conquering a year-long journey of qualifiers, earning them the right to represent their country and compete against the best bartenders in the world in the industry’s most prestigious and respected mixology competition.
Charles Joly will now become a global ambassador for Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS™, a role which will see him travel the world, educating and inspiring new talent whilst developing his own skills and knowledge through the different tastes and techniques they experiences along the way.

The 2014 WORLD CLASS™ Finals consisted of a series of innovative challenges staged around Great Britain, starting in Gleneagles, Scotland, before travelling via the iconic Orient Express to London. Discovery was at the heart of the competition, a theme brought to life by the series of innovative challenges that immersed the 48 finalists in Great British culture and inspired them to create premium serves, using the world’s finest spirits, that told stories of places, people and the local history of this year’s host nation – the birthplace of WORLD CLASS™ over six year ago.

This year, for the first time ever, consumers were also invited to participate in the WORLD CLASS™ Global Final and discover a world of fine drinking culture at the WORLD CLASS™ House. Set over five floors of a beautiful townhouse, this exclusive pop-up experience was created to coincide with Finals week, providing hands-on mixology masterclasses run by world-renowned bartenders, unique cocktails and food tasting sessions that made the WORLD CLASS™ House, the spiritual home of fine drinking experiences this summer.

In 2015, the WORLD CLASS Global Final will travel to Africa for the first time, and take place in 2014’s World Design Capital; Cape Town. This iconic city was voted the World’s Top Travel Destination by The New York Times, and boasts an abundance of natural beauty and cultural diversity. With a vibrant and cosmopolitan mixology culture, as well as thriving creative sectors, Cape Town is set to provide all the inspiration the contenders will need to thrive in 2015’s Global Final.

You can find out more about WORLD CLASS™ and discover a world of fine drinking by visiting Definitivedrinkingguide.com on tumblr, liking www.facebook.com/worldclass or tweeting @worldclass using #WORLDCLASS14

DDenied my usual allotment of gorgeous “winter” patio days, I find myself irrationally eager to pop a cork outdoors to eat, drink & make merry .

Spring is finally in the air, and it’s also in the glass of the following wines–ones I’ll be quaffing until the mercury forces me in to Margarita mode to ward off the South Texas heat.

Emilio Lustau NV Puerto Fino Sherry $22
WAIT! Before skipping past this one to find a “real” wine recommendation, consider this: Never (ever!) has such a fresh bottling of high quality fino sherry been so readily available in our market. Scrap the tiny Sherry copita glasses–drink this one in regular white wine glasses straight out of the ice bucket! Its modest-for-its-category 15.5% alcohol is really no different from many a “big” CA white or red, and its freshness & delicacy on the nose and liveliness on the palate make it waayyyy too easy to drink. A revelation to me and a stunning value to boot.

J.J. Vincent 2011 Pouilly-Fuisse “Marie Antoinette” $25
OK, I’m not one to be seduced by the “Pouilly-Fuisse” appellation on a label. Too often these French Chardonnays cost half again or more what a lowly Macon from neighboring villages might run, but deliver nothing more in quality. This cuvee, however, a negociant bottling from the proprietors of the iconic Chateau de Fuisse, really delivers the goods. All Fiji-like apple blossom on the nose, it broadens on the palate to include hints of pear & apricot, only to clean up again on the finish with cool minerality. A classic example of a Chardonnay for people who hate Chardonnay: Devoid of the buttery French Toast/Cream Cheese Danish effect of most CA barrel-fermented Chards, the Vincent Pouilly-Fuisse hits all the notes many assume can only be voiced by other varietals. Serve this Wine Spectator Top 100 bottle well-chilled with or without food.

Mulderbosch 2013 Rose $12
I’m not sure what’s happening with the Rand nowadays, but this estate – bottled rose of Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa’s prestigious Stellenbosch region is cheaper and better than ever. Bright, juicy black cherry fruit with just enough minty/blackcurranty character to tell you it’s all Cab, this bottle is a worthy addition to any patio table. Its gorgeous color and classy packaging add a visual component to its utterly delightful presence. A perennial pink pick!

David Family 2009 Monterey Pinot Noir $25
The crowd-sourced wine website Cellartracker shows this as a $40 bottle receiving 90-point-something-or-other from its owners. At $25 or less, therefore, this is my 100-point patio Pinot! Gushing with freshly crushed red cherries, it avoids the cloying jamminess of other Monterey Pinots, finishing clean & fresh rather than tawdry & gooey. Pull from the refrigerator just minutes before serving and serve in a goblet-style glass to show off its lovely aromatics.

Pingus 2011 “Psi” Ribera del Duero $35
While I unequivocally advocate moving indoors for maximum appreciation of both its $200 big-brother Flor de Pingus and its $1200 big-big-brother Pingus, this super-pretty take on Tempranillo is best enjoyed al fresco. Oak is definitely in the background in this cuvee, which achieves a balletic, Burgundian beauty that I’ve frequently found in Rioja, but never before experienced so vividly in Ribera del Duero. Again best served quite cool from Burgundy goblets, and will benefit from pairing with anything (veggies through shellfish, chicken or lamb) fresh off the grill.

Justin 2011 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon $22
In case you haven’t heard, 2011 is the worst vintage for Napa/Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon since 1998. While I don’t necessarily dislike the minty, herbacious, Bordeaux-like character of those wines, I do appreciate the beauty that Mother Nature wrought in Paso Robles Cab that year. All the cool temperature without the rains during harvest–just perfect for a region whose torrid temperatures most years melt away any tannic spine in Cabernet Sauvignon. While still full of soft black & red plumminess, the 2011 Justin has a freshness & focus not at all typical of the region. Serve in large straight-sided glasses straight from a wine refrigerator or 10 minutes out of a regular fridge. Great with or without food.

Cheers