“I want to lead the bartending industry. This is not the end of my journey, it’s just the beginning…” These are the self-assured words of Kelvin Thairu, the winner of Diageo’s prestigious bartending competition in Kenya. Known officially as the WORLD CLASS, the competition brings together thousands of bartenders from across the globe, giving them a chance to compete for the coveted title of World Class Bartender of the Year.
The World Class Bartender Competition is a global bartending competition by Diageo that celebrates the skills and craftsmanship of bartenders worldwide. It also highlights the latest trends by industry leaders where players get to witness innovations that will shape and define future drinking experiences. The competition took a hiatus in 2020 after the COVID-19 outbreak but returned with a different direction this year by going virtual. The lack of face-to-face interaction did not hinder the competitors from doing their best, with Kelvin Thairu flooring 20 other contestants to emerge the winner of the Kenyan chapter. He will now represent the country in the global competition this July. We got a chance to have a candid chat with Thairu during the Media Winner Reveal event that took place at Emara Ole Sereni Hotel on May 4th, and he gave us a brief insight into how his experience was.
Kelvin Thairu is the head bartender at Trademark Hotel and his rise to bartending glory was not as easy as one might think. Spanning a period of 10 years, Thairu’s journey in bartending began while working as a barman in one of Nairobi’s top clubs. “My interest in bartending began in 2011, when I was working as a barman in Nairobi. I got interested after seeing what people did behind the bar and slowly got involved in the industry by attending trainings and conferences. EABL highly assisted in training and techniques…”
Thairu’s journey in the World Class competition tells of his tenacity and willingness to become the best, having submitted for every year’s competition since 2015. “My first submission was in 2015. I submitted every year until I eventually got to win in 2021”, Thairu shares.
Although this is Thairu’s biggest achievement as a bartender, he has also had other major milestones like getting to represent Kenya at the Remy Martin Bartender Competition in France a few years back. Having forgotten most of his main ingredients on the day of the competition, his extensive experience was a key contributing factor to his win, as he was not fazed by the minor setback. “When we were competing, I forgot four ingredients for my cocktails. I was pressured at first but relaxed and asked a colleague at work to send them. He sent them through Bolt boda boda and I was able to continue… This time I was relaxed, maybe due to the long experience. I had prepared and researched well to win.”
Thairu speaks passionately about his love for bartending, a demanding career that he emphasizes involves long hours and a lot of research. “My family has given me full support since I joined the industry because bartending takes most of the time. Long shifts take time away from family. I don’t mind working overtime to perfect my skills because I am very passionate…”
As Thairu sets his eyes on the global competition in Madrid, his dreams for the future shine even brighter. “I want to lead the bartending industry in Kenya. This is not the end of my journey, it’s just the beginning. I want to take bartending to the next level, discover more bartenders, work with them, and show them that bartending is also a (good) career.”
After the hearty conversation with Thairu, we also got to speak with EABL’s Luxury Spirits Ambassador, Alex Kavita. Once a competitor as well, Alex now works behind the scenes to ensure that bartenders like Thairu receive the support they need to learn and improve their skills. He speaks highly of the World Class, a competition that now sets the scope and scale for the bartending industry worldwide. “World Class is different because it educates and does things at the highest level possible. Over the years, the best bartenders globally have evolved from World Class.” Alex says. He also believes that the Kenyan bartending industry is now in a position to compete with other global players after witnessing a high-level improvement since the competition was inaugurated on Kenyan soil in 2015. “Competition experience has improved over the years since the contents the competitors are showcasing has improved a lot.” He therefore hopes more aspiring bartenders join the now thriving bartending industry for a successful and sustainable career.
As the competition moves to Madrid, Thairu will compete among 55 mixologists for the ultimate title. The fully virtual event will run from 4th to 8th July, and is described to be an immersive experience for both the competitors and spectators with a lineup that includes trend-led panels, master classes and AR Bars. We wish the best for Kelvin Thairu as he goes after the World Class Bartender of the Year title.
— Written by Mary Njehia.
