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World Class by Diageo Announces Its Top 20 Bartenders for India, Nepal & Sri Lanka

The top 100 competed in the Hop Scotch Challenge which encouraged them to use Johnnie Walker Black Label in three creative cocktail formatsBENGALURU, India, Feb. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — After over 800 entries and multiple competitive rounds, World Class by Diageo has concluded its Regional Finals across India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The Top 20 bartenders will now go head-to-head at the National Finals in Delhi on March 27, 2026, where one will be crowned World Class India, Nepal and Sri Lanka Champion for 2026.

For the Regional round, participants took on the Hop Scotch challenge, creating three cocktails with Johnnie Walker Black Label: a tall serve, a short serve and a ritual drink, all within six minutes. Rather than defaulting to classic formats, bartenders were encouraged to reinterpret the spirit in unexpected and creative ways, in line with the Whisky Experiments philosophy. Johnnie Walker has long been synonymous with craftsmanship, but today the brand is pushing boundaries to reimagine how whisky is experienced. Central to this evolution is its experimental approach, turning the liquid into a versatile medium for creativity, culture, and modern storytelling.Insights from the Regional FinalsAnchal Kaushal, Vice President of Customer Marketing, Diageo India, said, “What really stood out at this stage was how deeply the bartenders were connected to their concepts. Many chose to showcase something personal — whether inspired by their hometowns or cherished memories — instead of relying on classic templates. It was exciting to see how each of them reimagined cocktails, transforming them into elevated creations worthy of a place on the menus of some of the country’s finest bars. Since the very beginning, that has been our mission with World Class: to raise the standard of cocktail culture by encouraging young bartenders to push creative boundaries.””Across the regionals, it was lovely to see how talent is starting to respect, understand and showcase ingredients from their regions and terroir on a global stage like this. Bartenders incorporated elements like gundruk from Nepal and pineapple pachadi from the South into their drinks,” says Vijeta Singh, Founder of Rare Ideas, and jury member of World Class India 2026. “We saw many bartenders from Tier 2 cities do very well this year, bringing strong ideas and individuality to the counter. As a jury, we actively encourage participants to present in the language they are most comfortable with as it allows their ideas to land with greater clarity and their personality to come through much more naturally,” says Gagan Sharma, Director at Indulge India, and jury member of World Class India 2026.”At the Regional stage, it’s not just the jury interacting with participants. In Nepal and Sri Lanka, we also had previous country winners present, sharing their experience and offering practical guidance. That peer exchange adds another layer of learning to the process. As we move ahead with the Top 20, we look forward to some more fun challenges where we’ll see how the finalists apply everything they’ve absorbed so far,” says Vikram KU, jury member and Lead of World Class India, Nepal and Sri Lanka 2026.Across India’s regional finals, bartenders brought inspiration and memories from their hometowns into both their drinks and the stories they shared while presenting them. In Nepal and Sri Lanka, this theme was combined with many of the participants’ global exposure. South India also stood out for having the highest female representation at this stage.The Regional WinnersNameOutletCityAnshul TiwariThe Bagh AmritsarAnkur AdhanaKAMEINew DelhiChitra MNOVY GurgaonRajneesh BarthwalNo Vacancy New DelhiMukul PandeyMisosexyChandigarhDishant Kanojia1932 Trevi JaipurSarbani MukherjeeConversation RoomKolkataLaksh Tamang2:Fifty9 The bar KolkataSwastik ChattopadhyayaATM Bar & KitchenKolkataManoj Singh RawatMehicoKolkataSher Singh ThakurCopitasBengaluruAman BansalLiliHyderabadGracy ChoureySoka Cocktail BarBengaluruSiddhesh PalandeThe Bombay CanteenMumbaiGuruprasad TripathySlink & BardotMumbaiUttkarsh Anthwal Quinta CantinaGoaDheeraj BhattQuinta CantinaGoaKaran DhaneliaAtelier VIndoreGunjan LamaBeach House Bar & DiningKathmanduAkash RajapakshaColombarColomboThe Top 20 will now compete at the National Finals on March 27, where one bartender will be crowned World Class India, Nepal and Sri Lanka Champion for 2026 and go on to represent the region at the Global Finals later this year. In the lead-up, World Class will also host two cocktail festivals in March in Mumbai (March 14) and Delhi (March 28), inviting consumers to engage more closely with the platform and its bartending community.For more details on the competition, please visit: https://www.instagram.com/worldclassin/.About Diageo IndiaDiageo India is among India’s leading beverage alcohol (alcobev) companies with an outstanding portfolio of premium brands. A subsidiary of Diageo Plc., it is listed in India on both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) under the name United Spirits Limited (USL).Headquartered in Bengaluru, Diageo India has one of the largest alcohol manufacturing footprints in India, with 36 facilities across the country. It manufactures, sells and distributes Johnnie Walker, Black Dog, Black & White, VAT 69, Antiquity, Signature, The Singleton, Royal Challenge, McDowell’s No1, Smirnoff, Ketel One, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan and Godawan, an artisanal single malt whisky from India, bringing together global expertise and local pride to deliver innovative, world-class products and experiences to consumers. With a strong focus on driving positive impact on society, Diageo India has been working on collective action to improve livelihoods, champion Grain-to-Glass sustainability, responsible consumption, and nurture the alcobev ecosystem to contribute to India’s growth agenda. For more information about Diageo India, our people, our brands, and our performance, visit us at www.diageoindia.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, http://www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practices.Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2918114/DIAGEO_World_Class_2026.jpg 

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Reliance Digital Launches ‘Baaptaa’, a Father’s Day Campaign Celebrating the Many Expressions of Fatherhood

MUMBAI, India, June 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Reliance Digital has launched ‘Baaptaa’, a Father’s Day campaign to celebrate the many expressions of fatherhood. Built around a simple cultural observation, while “Maa ki Mamta” has long been a part of India’s collective vocabulary, there has never been a word that captures the distinct ways fathers express love, the campaign introduces ‘Baaptaa’ as a tribute to the many shades of fatherhood.

Conceptualised as an original music-led campaign, Baaptaa celebrates fathers not as idealised figures, but as they are experienced in everyday life, protective, dependable, emotional, quirky, practical, occasionally embarrassing, and always present. Through a relatable narrative, the campaign acknowledges the countless ways fathers care for their families, often through actions rather than words.Watch Video: https://youtu.be/9XyUsJB33Ds?si=PM67vhxrzth1JEkz At the heart of the campaign is an original music video told from a father’s perspective, capturing the different roles he plays across life’s moments and milestones. The film brings to life the humour, warmth and unspoken affection that characterise father-child relationships, while giving a name to a form of love that many recognise but few have articulated.The campaign stems from a simple insight: while motherhood has often found expression through familiar phrases and popular references, the unique language of fatherhood has remained largely undefined. Baaptaa seeks to fill that gap by creating a term that reflects the everyday gestures, practical wisdom and quiet sacrifices that fathers make.Father’s Day communication often leans into familiar emotional territory, but Reliance Digital’s campaign celebrates fathers in a way that feels more culturally authentic and relatable. The idea for ‘Baaptaa’ came from a simple observation — mother’s love has been immortalised in a number of heartfelt, emotional songs, there needed to be an anthem dedicated to dad’s love. And thus was born Baaptaa – a love language that is often awkward, practical, protective, humorous and deeply felt, even if rarely verbalised. It’s a celebration of fatherhood in all its wonderfully imperfect forms immortalized by a song that you won’t be able to stop humming.Shop for the widest range of electronics at Reliance Digital and thank your father for his Baaptaa.

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Canara HSBC Life Insurance Celebrates Father’s Day with a Heartwarming Tribute to Dad Jokes

The digital film highlights how fathers express love through humour, turning everyday moments into lifelong memoriesNEW DELHI, June 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited (“Canara HSBC Life Insurance”) today announced the launch of its Father’s Day digital film, a light-hearted and heartfelt tribute to fathers and their unique way of expressing love through humour. Celebrating the universally relatable phenomenon of ‘Dad Jokes’, the campaign shines a spotlight on the small yet meaningful moments that often become some of the most cherished family memories.

Presented in the style of a mock documentary, the film follows a sibling duo as they recount some of their father’s most memorable jokes—ranging from playful puns to classic one-liners. While the film begins with humour and nostalgia, it gradually reveals a deeper truth: behind every seemingly cringe-worthy dad joke lies a father’s sincere effort to connect, bring joy, and remind his family that he is always there for them.The campaign is rooted in the insight that fathers often express their emotions differently. Rather than through words alone, they communicate their care through everyday actions, practical guidance, shared experiences, and sometimes, through humour. Dad jokes may not always receive the loudest laughs, but they often become lasting reminders of a father’s presence, warmth, and unwavering support.Through relatable storytelling and candid family moments, the film celebrates fathers who may not always wear their emotions on their sleeves but consistently show up for their loved ones in their own unique ways. It captures how these seemingly ordinary interactions become treasured memories that families carry forward for years.Reflecting the campaign’s central message, Canara HSBC Life Insurance reiterates its belief in standing by every promise that matters. Just as fathers quietly support and protect their families through every stage of life, the company remains committed to helping customers secure their loved ones’ future and fulfil their financial commitments, truly embodying its promise of being a ‘Promises Ka Partner’.The campaign is now live across Canara HSBC Life Insurance’s X (twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram channels.IG- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZwH5IKhCzG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== FB- https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1cSkxsFWNY/X- https://x.com/CanaraHSBCLI/status/2067808467205918962?s=20Li- https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7473574831364468737Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2997652/Canara_HSBC.jpgLogo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2739906/6008480/Canara_HSBC_Logo.jpg

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Harper Collins Publishers India is Delighted to Announce the Recent Publication of ‘People We Love’ by Preeti Shenoy

NEW DELHI, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HarperCollins Publishers India is delighted to share the recent publication of People We Love by bestselling author Preeti Shenoy. At once tender and sharp, this collection of stories offers intimate, truthful and relatable portraits of the people we cherish, the ones we lose, and the people we become.

ABOUT THE BOOKThe people we love never truly leave our story…In these tender yet piercing stories, Preeti Shenoy returns to some of her most beloved characters to reveal who they were before they appeared in her bestselling novels It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have.Aniket, a coder, carries the weight of a longing for Trisha that he cannot bring himself to act on. Nidhi abandons her corporate life to teach pottery, only to discover that clay is far more forgiving than the people she loves. A quiz competition sparks an unlikely romance between Aman and Shruti, one that must withstand parental disapproval and class divides. And Anjali, a journalist, is so busy chasing stories that she almost misses the one unfolding in her own life.Set against the pulse of contemporary India, People We Love explores the tug-of-war between duty and desire, family and freedom, who we are and who we dare to be. Intimate and deeply felt, these are stories about love that stays, leaves and almost slips away … love that quietly and irrevocably shapes the people we become.Preeti Shenoy, author, says, “People We Love is a collection of three long stories, prequels to my bestsellers It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have. If you have read those books, you already know how these characters’ stories unfold. But what you don’t know yet is where it all began, the loves they carried, the choices they made, and the people they were before life shaped them into who you met on those pages. Writing these prequels felt like returning to a home I hadn’t realised I missed, and discovering rooms I had never been in before.”Rashmi Menon, Associate Publisher – HarperCollins India, adds, “Preeti Shenoy has an extraordinary gift for finding the heartbeat of ordinary lives. People We Love is a warm, wise and deeply humane collection of short stories that reunites readers with favourite characters from her bestselling novels It’s All in the Planets and The One You Cannot Have, weaving them into fresh, deeply satisfying narratives. These characters feel like people you know, and their journeys will move, comfort and surprise you. This uplifting, thought–provoking collection reminds us why we turn to stories in the first place. We couldn’t be more excited to share it with our readers.”ABOUT THE AUTHOR Preeti Shenoy is among the highest-selling authors in India. She was featured on the Forbes longlist of the most influential celebrities in India. Her books include When Love Came Calling, Wake Up Life, Is Calling, Life Is What You Make It, The Rule Breakers, A Hundred Little Flames, It’s All in the Planets, Why We Love the Way We Do, The Secret Wish List, The One You Cannot Have and many others. Her work has been translated into many Indian languages. Preeti is also a motivational speaker, an avid fitness enthusiast, and an artist specializing in portraiture and illustrated journalling. Preeti lives in Bengaluru, Karnataka.ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIAAt HarperCollins Publishers India, we believe in telling the best stories and ensuring they reach the widest readership. We publish around 250 new books every year across 10 imprints, adding to a diverse catalogue of more than 3,000 titles in print and digital formats, with an array of genres and voices that ensure there is a book for every reader. Our authors have won some of the most prestigious literary awards, and we are proud to publish many acclaimed writers, alongside new and emerging voices shaping contemporary literature. We are also the publishers of The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga, winner of the Booker Prize 2008, and Girl in White Cotton by Avni Doshi, shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2020, and HarperCollins India itself has been awarded “Publisher of the Year” several times. In addition, we represent some of the finest global publishers such as Harvard University Press, Lonely Planet, Oneworld, Nosy Crow, Usborne, and National Geographic Children, bringing Indian readers access to world-class books and ideas. We are also proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work for two consecutive years, a recognition of our culture, people, and values that make HarperCollins India a truly inspiring workplace. PRESS CONTACT:Nandini Tripathi, Manager – Marketing (Commercial)Email: nandini.tripathi@harpercollins.co.in | Mobile: +91 9718928839Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2997583/HarperCollins_People_We_Love.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2105077/4665143/HarperCollins_Logo.jpg 

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