Meet the semifinalists of the World Class 2023 from Paraná

Two people from Paraná are in the semifinals of the biggest cocktail making competition in the world, the World Class 2023. Tati Guimas and Vitória Kurihara were among the top 20 mixologists in the contest and are now disputing one of the 6 spots for the final, to be held on June 5 , at the Ibirapuera Biennial Pavilion (SP).

In the first stage of the championship, held virtually, more than a thousand candidates entered their cocktails with social impact projects based on the theme: “Cocktail for Good”, by Ketel One. In the semifinal events, held in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, throughout the month of May, the competitors show the judges and guests the drinks for tasting, and tell the story of the entire project linked to the proposed cocktail. Flavor, balance, creativity, connection with the project, hospitality and the presence of the distillate are the evaluation criteria to qualify for the final.

Before this initial stage, as part of the World Class Studios programme, Diageo, a global premium drinks company, held free of charge workshops between the months of March and April, aimed at professionals in the bar sector, in Curitiba and in other cities in the country. . The main trends in the sector were presented at the meetings based on social sustainability, encouraging bartenders to develop cocktails that are not limited to just not wasting ingredients, but that also impact the community.

Projects with social impact

Based on this proposal, Tatiana Guimarães Simões, known as Tati Guima, head bartender at Ginger Bar, proposed the creation of sustainability strategies at all stages of creating the cocktail that she named as “Caiçara Gold”. The main ingredient of the drink is the cataia leaf originating from the sustainable collection carried out by the women of Barra Ararapira in Superagui, a caiçara community in Paraná with about 70 inhabitants.

According to Tati, the saccharum oil that goes in the cocktail is made from the peels of Bahia orange, Sicilian lemon and Tahiti lemon that would otherwise be discarded. Even the glass where the cocktail is served is made from cutting a Ketel One bottle, and the remaining waste is sent for recycling. The remains of organic materials are composted. As a result of the project, part of the profits from the sale of the cocktail will be destined for the community, in particular, for the women who are the main labor force in the region in the collection of cataia.

“Ouro Caiçara can add many values ​​in my professional life and in the lives of these women from Barra do Ararapira”, she says.

Vitória Kurihara, head bartender at Duq and also a semifinalist at the World Class 2023, proposed the production of the “Manná” cocktail, using unconventional inputs from family farming at the Maria Emília farm, in Ponta Grossa (PR). The business of local producers, in addition to organic farming, is open to the community and receives schools for guided tours on planting and conscious eating.

In the project, Vitória proposed the elaboration of a cocktail with fig leaves and Sicilian lemon. “Manná is an herbal cocktail made from inputs that are normally discarded, but which are essential for food”, she reports.

The glass used for the cocktail, made from Ketel One bottles, was also made by a local family cooperative that works with recycling. The cocktail is presented on a coaster with the project link. It contains all the information on how to contact the small producer and the consumption of non-conventional inputs, in addition to instructions on how to take bottles for recycling. In this way, the head bartender project connects the family business of the Maria Emília farm to a new economy: the bars.

The 2023 World Class Grand Final

Of the 20 semifinalists, 6 will qualify for the grand final, which will go through two stages. In the first, the competitors will present an authorial drink and, in the second, will be the “great test of challenge that considers technique, speed and creativity”, explains Nicola Pietroluongo, head of World Class Brasil. Among the panel of judges are Gabriel Santano and Bianca Lima, champions of past editions.

The result of the competitors who will go to the final of the World Class 2023 will be announced this Friday (19). The winner of the national stage will compete with other competitors from more than 50 countries, in the World Class Global, which will take place in September 2023, in São Paulo.