EDINBURGH, United Kingdom, Oct. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zana Möhlmann from Singapore has been crowned Diageo World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2026 at the world’s biggest cocktail competition, taking top place among finalists from six continents.
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Möhlmann of East47 at Conrad Singapore Orchard combined technical mastery and creative flair with the warm, intuitive hospitality that defines a truly world class bartender.
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Originally from the Netherlands, she found bartending on a gap year in Asia and trained in Amsterdam’s bars.
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She then joined the opening team of Ryan Chetiyawardana’s Super Lyan, rising to Head Bartender.
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She spent months refining every serve in preparation for the Global Finals, dedication that paid off last night in Edinburgh.
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that → spend → Edinburgh
Alongside the title, Zana will represent Diageo and its brands in a year-long opportunity to showcase her bartending skills around the world and, for the first time, this year’s Global Bartender of the Year will partner with Diageo to create a ready-to-drink cocktail that will launch in multiple markets next year.
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The title also includes an all-expenses trip to the 2027 World Class Global Final.
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A 16-strong international judging panel of well-known leading figures from the global bar industry, including Ago Perrone of London’s Connaught Bar, Monica Berg of Tayēr + Elementary, and Lorenzo Antinori of Hong Kong’s Bar Leone (recently named The World’s Best Bar at The 50 Best Bars 2026, for the second consecutive year) judged competitors across a series of live brand challenges (challenges listed in notes to editors, below).
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Speaking on behalf of the judging panel, Ago Perrone said:
“My fellow judges and I have been impressed by the dedication and the efforts that have gone into each creation this year.
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It’s always so inspiring to watch the next generation at work, even more so Zana.
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Zana won us over thanks to the imagination, commitment and real heart she put into the challenges showing the warmth of a true host.
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And that’s what really makes a World Class bartender.”
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The World Class programme showcases Diageo’s commitment to a vibrant hospitality sector, the on-trade and its customers, while creating a space to share insights on the latest drinking trends.
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programme → showcase → trends
Since 2009, the programme has celebrated and nurtured the careers of over 500,000 bartenders.
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Kevin Delaney, Global Head of World Class, said:
“World Class is the ultimate toast to the beating heart of the hospitality industry: rockstar bartenders pushing the boundaries of their creativity and skill through competition - hosting tirelessly, serving responsibly and setting the trends we’ll all experience in the future.
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It’s a program dedicated to the trade – because when bartenders flourish, the experience is enhanced for everyone.
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experience → ’ → everyone
We are delighted to welcome Zana into the Diageo World Class Hall of Fame.
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This year, the Global Finals were marked with Scotland Served, a World Class Festival transforming more than 400 venues across the country into destinations for exploration into Scotch Whisky, showcasing a new generation of Scotch cocktails from Johnnie Walker and The Singleton.
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Celebrating both the World Class win and her 29th birthday on the same night, Zana Möhlmann World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2026, said:
“It’s unbelievable.
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I don’t think I know how to feel yet.
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I’d let myself imagine this moment a little, but I was almost scared to, and there were moments I didn’t think I would win.
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With the Global Finals on Scottish soil, the judging panel also included Scottish talent, including Iain McPherson of Edinburgh’s award-winning Panda & Sons; Andy Gemmell, owner of The Gate pub in Glasgow; and Kaitlin Wilkes, co-founder of The Ada Coleman Project.
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The bartender challenges included:
- ‘Community Spirit’, Ketel One Vodka high-stakes relay of precision and speed
- ‘The Slow Train’, an intimate cocktail and food pairing featuring The Singleton Whisky aboard a private train to the brand’s Glen Ord Distillery
- ‘Under Pressure’, reimagining Don Julio Tequila as a ready-to-drink, carbonated serve with original label artwork
- ‘Iconology’, a head-turning Tanqueray No. TEN Gin cocktail built to command a room
- ‘Fast Forward’, a three-drink Johnnie Walker Black Label mixtape flight, each cocktail paired with a music track from [HIS/HER/THEIR] bartending journey.
Assets available: Images of winner, spokesperson for interviews.
WINNER’S BIO
Zana Möhlmann is the Beverage Manager of Manhattan and East47 at Conrad Singapore Orchard.
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At Manhattan, she builds upon the fvenue’s celebrated legacy, honouring the Golden Age of cocktails while evolving its story through innovative menu concepts such as Seasons of Manhattan.
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At East47, she champions a more experimental approach, pushing creative boundaries while maintaining a relentless focus on flavour and guest experience.
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Previously Manhattan’s Head Bartender, Zana played a key role in shaping the bar’s creative identity while fostering a culture of collaboration, mentorship, and inclusivity.
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Today, she oversees the beverage vision for both venues, balancing heritage with innovation and strengthening Manhattan’s global reputation while establishing East47 as an emerging destination on the international cocktail scene.
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Originally from the Netherlands, Zana discovered bartending during a gap year travelling through Asia.
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She refined her craft in acclaimed Amsterdam bars before joining the opening team of Super Lyan by Ryan Chetiyawardana, rising to Head Bartender.
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Her achievements include being crowned in several bartending competitions.
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Her work has also been featured in Difford’s Guide, The Spirits Business, and Drink Magazine Asia.
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Through creativity, leadership, and an inclusive approach, Zana continues to shape exceptional bar experiences and inspire the global bartending community.
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Zana → continue → community
World Class is on a mission to inspire people to drink better and create unforgettable experiences in the process.
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Whether at home or in a bar, World Class encourages consumers to think and care about what, where and how they drink, and in doing so, discover the best of cocktail culture.
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World Class has supported, trained and inspired over 500,000 bartenders across the globe over the past seventeen years, while partnering them with the world’s finest spirits.
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These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
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Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in nearly 180 countries around the world.
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The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO).
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The Aporia
