The Hong Kong and Macau regional competition was recently held successfully at Gokan. Quentin Luk from Qura Bar stood out with his solid bartending skills and artistic creativity, emerging victorious through multiple rounds of challenges to claim this year’s Hong Kong and Macau championship. He will be heading to Toronto in September to compete in the global finals, bringing pride to Hong Kong and Macau.
The finals feature 10 emerging bartenders from Hong Kong and Macau. After several intense rounds of competition, the top four include Jack Ng from Argo, John Patrick Poon from Soho House, Matt Stephens from Gokan, and Quentin Luk from Qura Bar. In the first challenge Luceo Non Uro, competitors must create two innovative cocktails using The Singleton as their base spirit, striking a balance between modern techniques and classic flavors, putting their understanding of flavor depth to the ultimate test.
As participants dive into the ultimate The 6th Element challenge, they must create five distinct cocktails within six minutes using spirits like Don Julio, Tanqueray No. TEN, Ketel One, Rum Zacapa 23, and Bulleit Bourbon or Rye. Each cocktail presentation is to be infused with elements of painting, music, or literature, showcasing their personal stories and cultural backgrounds through their creations The Sixth Element.
In this segment, Quentin Luk focuses on The Segment and names his creations Erudite, Abnegation, Dauntless, Candor, and Amity. By blending elements like crystal, sand, fire, glass, and flowers with strong spirits, he crafts unique and multi-layered cocktail flavors that leave a lasting impression on the judges.
In the final showdown, Quentin and John Patrick Poon were neck-and-neck, needing to craft a classic Margarita using Don Julio. The competition boiled down to taste and technique. Ultimately, Quentin triumphed with his delicately balanced sweet and sour flavors, complemented by a refreshing finish, earning him the title of Champion Bartender for this year in the Hong Kong and Macau region.
As a key event in the mixology sphere, Diageo World Class has been dedicated to discovering and nurturing new talent in bartending, providing a platform for bartenders to showcase their skills and gain international perspective. The judging panel includes former Hong Kong and Macau champion Shelley Tai, Massimo Zitti from Mother Cocktail Bar, Shingo Gokan, founder of Gokan and SG Club, and beverage culture media personality Charmaine Mok, who will evaluate contestants’ creativity, techniques, and storytelling from various angles.
Quentin expressed his intention to continue blending mixology with different cultural backgrounds and personal experiences. He hopes to engage with champion bartenders from over 60 cities worldwide in Toronto, showcasing the skills of bartenders from Hong Kong and Macau on the international stage. His aim is to raise awareness about the stories and cultural contexts behind mixology.
