Keegan McGregor crowned World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2024 – Thatsmags.com

Representation of Canada, Keegan McGregor (of Highwayman Bar) last night won the coveted title of 2024 World Class Global Bartender of the Year at the world’s largest and most prestigious cocktail competition, organised by Diageo. W Shanghai – The BundWith thousands of participants from around the world in recent months, the list was narrowed down to 44 regions that would compete over four days in Shanghai.

Image courtesy of World Class

This is the 15th year that World Class has organised this highly regarded event, with Shanghai joining international cities such as London, Sydney, São Paulo, Glasgow and Mexico City. This year’s World Class event was dubbed ‘Future Legacy’, with a focus on storytelling and creativity that reflects and celebrates the future of the global cocktail industry. Embodying the event’s theme, the 44 competitors took part in a series of six live event challenges, judged by industry heavyweights including Shelley Tai, Erik Lorincz, Tiffanie Barriere, Millie Tang, Eric van Beek, Shingo Gokan, Ryan Chetiyawardana, Demie Kim and many more.

Image courtesy of World Class

After the first six challenges, the list was narrowed down to the Top 8 candidates who competed in the Shanghai Showdown Final, an immersive bar pop-up experience that sets the tone for the future of cocktail culture. Here are the finalists:

Image by Sophie Steiner/That’s

Immediately following the Shanghai Showdown, nearly 500 guests attended the World Class Global Bartender of the Year Awards Ceremony at WET Bar, with Shanghai’s iconic skyline as a stunning backdrop.

Image courtesy of World Class

Ultimately, Keegan McGregor was crowned World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2024, joining 14 other industry moguls after 2023 winner Jacob Martin, who also hails from Canada.

Image courtesy of World Class

A quick word from Keegan McGregor, World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2024, after his big win:

“My World Class journey began six years ago, so it’s a very special experience to be recognized as the 2024 World Class Global Bartender of the Year. The camaraderie among the competitors this week was both inspiring and kept me going. The best advice I was given was to be myself and that’s exactly what I did.”

During the event, 2025 host city Toronto was named the next destination for next year’s World Class Global Bartender competition.

Image by Sophie Steiner/That’s

The week-long event also included pop-up spaces from brands such as Johnnie Walker Blue Lounge, Singleton Bar, Tanqueray No. Ten Cocktail Studio, Ketel One Secret Garden, Don Julio’s Tequila y Tacos truck, Mortlach: After Dark tasting room and the immersive Ron Zacapa Tales from Above the Clouds experience.

Image by Sophie Steiner/That’s

Enriching the week’s events with further collaboration, learning and development for the ever-changing cocktail culture, alongside the challenges, numerous programs took place where event attendees could take part in tastings, panel discussions and educational forums on topics such as ‘The Perfect Cocktail to Impress’, ‘Brewed Together: An Exhibition of Tea and Coffee in Cocktails’, ‘Socialization Strategy: Empowering and Uniting the Bar Community for the Future’, ‘Future Sips: Mixology with Technology’, ‘From Cocktail Culture to Popular Culture’ and many more.

About World Class

World Class’ mission is to inspire people to drink better and create unforgettable experiences. Whether at home or in a bar, World Class encourages consumers to rethink what, where and how they drink to discover the best of cocktail culture.

Image by Sophie Steiner/That’s

World Class has supported, trained and inspired over 400,000 bartenders around the world over the past 15 years, connecting them with the world’s best spirits. World Class is the global spirits industry authority for information on the latest spirits, trends, cocktail recipes and industry insights.

(Cover image courtesy of World Class)