Canada’s cocktail maestro triumphs at the prestigious World Class competition in Shanghai, stunning judges with creativity and innovation
Keegan McGregor, hailing from the Highwayman Bar in Halifax, Canada, has earned the coveted title of 2024’s World Class Global Bartender of the Year. In a contest hosted by Diageo and held in Shanghai, McGregor outshone finalists from 44 regions across six continents, impressing an elite panel of industry legends.
Celebrated for his groundbreaking approach to bartending, McGregor’s signature serves highlighted community, sustainability, and innovation. His journey through the competition included a show-stopping Scotch whisky experience, where he harnessed cutting-edge technology to deliver a bespoke Johnnie Walker Blue Label serve. He also reimagined drinks inspired by his hometown, Halifax, and Shanghai, blending local ingredients with Don Julio tequila in a tribute to both cities.
McGregor drew inspiration from the region’s iconic Hodge Podge dish to craft a modern twist on eggnog for the Halifax challenge, while a Ketel One vodka challenge saw him designing a cocktail initiative aimed at strengthening the hospitality community in Halifax. He further delighted judges with a trio of Tanqueray No. Ten gin cocktails that paid homage to bartending greats, leading the panel on a journey from past to future.
Commenting on his title win, McGregor remarks, “The camaraderie amongst the competitors this week has been both inspiring and has kept me going. The biggest piece of advice I was given was to be myself and that’s exactly what I did.”
“World Class has gone from strength to strength over the last 15 years and has grown a reputation as a hotbed of trends and a pinnacle of bar culture,” shares Kevin Delaney, global senior brand manager of World Class. “Diageo has long been committed to celebrating the best of this industry, and tonight we celebrate everyone who has been part of World Class over the last decade and a half.”
