Tryson Quek from Side Door crowned World Class Singapore 2025 champion
After months of fierce competition, Singapore has crowned its new World Class Bartender of the Year. At last night's finale held at Baia, Tryson Quek, the affable chef-turned-bartender and owner of Side Door, emerged as the winner of one of the country's most prestigious cocktail competitions.
He beat out a strong field of finalists: Marco Maiorano (КОМА), Zana Möhlmann (Manhattan), Kelvin Saquilayan (Republic Bar), Ooi Foo Giap (Last Word), and Sam Pang (Night Hawk), who each brought their own distinct style and skill to the competition.
This year's final unfolded in two parts, designed to push the boundaries of innovation, speed and bartending finesse. First up was the Drink to the Future challenge, which asked contestants to imagine what the world of cocktails might look like in the decades to come. Their creations had to incorporate either Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Don Julio 1942, or Zacapa XO, and make use of technology.
What we saw was a forward-looking display of imagination: plants turned into music to suggest a future where we might converse with our food, magnetic stirrers and ultrasonic infusers aimed at improving bar efficiency, and thoughtful ingredients like hydroponically grown tomatoes and carbon-capturing seaweed that point towards a more sustainable approach to drinking.
Next came The Showdown, a speed challenge that tested both composure and technical skill. Finalists had five minutes to shake, stir and present five elevated classic cocktails: a highball with Johnnie Walker Blue Label, a Paloma with Don Julio 1942, an Old Fashioned with Zacapa XO, a Manhattan using Singleton 15 Year Old, and a Martini with Tanqueray No. Ten. They were free to interpret the drinks, as long as the core of each cocktail remained intact. It was a tight, high-energy round where each finalist had to work with precision and pace while demonstrating showmanship and brand knowledge.
The judging panel comprised Ervin Trykowski, Diageo's global brand ambassador for New Age Whisky; Pedison Kao, Taiwan's World Class Bartender of the Year and global third-place winner; Adam Bursik, director of beverage at Shangri-La Singapore; and Nicole-Marie Ng, Time Out's regional content director for APAC. Together, we assessed a strong showing of ingenuity, technical precision and excellent drinks.
In the end, it was Tryson's blend of bold flavours, charming confidence and relentless creativity that earned him the top spot. While he hasn't been behind the bar for long, he used his background as a chef to his advantage. His win also marks a full-circle moment for Singapore's cocktail scene. The last time World Class was held in Singapore was in 2019, when Bannie Kang, Tryson's wife, took home both the national and global titles. Now, five years on, she passes the baton to her husband to represent Singapore at the World Class Global Finals in Toronto this September.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Tom Brady rips an Eli Manning jersey apart in ultimate act of disrespect towards his former nemesis
Tom Brady brutally trolled his former rival Eli Manning on Friday by ripping his New York Giants jersey in half. The seven-time Super Bowl champion made an appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York City, much to the delight of the thousands of fans in attendance. Brady spoke to some of the crowd at Manhattan's Javits Center before then taking part in a WWE-style performance later on. The Fox commentator came out to the theme song of pro wrestler Cody Rhodes wearing sunglasses and carrying a WWE-style championship belt. But, as he made his way down to the walkway, Brady was presented with a Giants jersey that had 'Manning 10' on the back. The former New England Patriots quarterback then ripped the jersey in half in a playful dig at Manning. Brady's actions prompted Manning, who was watching on, to storm the stage and climb on his rival's back. Their rivalry dates back to their stellar NFL careers, when Manning and the Giants were able to briefly halt the Patriots' dominant run to beat them in two Super Bowls. The Giants stunned Bill Belichick's team to win 17-14 in Arizona in 2008, despite being heavy underdogs after Brady led his men to a perfect 16-0 regular season. Then, four years after, the Patriots were stunned by the Giants again when they were beaten 21-17 in Indianapolis. Manning was named Super Bowl MVP that year. Brady and Manning quickly regained their composure and were later pictured competing against each other in a baseball pitching contest.
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
90s actor who starred with Julia Roberts and Melanie Griffith is unrecognizable with shockingly thin frame
Fans of '80s and '90s movies were in for a treat when one of the most beloved scene-stealers from those decades made a rare appearance in Manhattan on Friday. The iconic actor, now 65, turned heads during a brisk walk through the West Village—looking shockingly thin and nearly unrecognizable. The slimmed-down look was a far cry from the full-figured stockbroker he played opposite Melanie Griffith in 1989's Working Girl. It also marked a major departure from his heftier appearance in 1990's Flatliners, where he starred alongside Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, and Kiefer Sutherland. Dressed in a gray polo and navy shorts, the Tony-nominated star—who also appeared in Indecent Proposal and Benny & Joon—seemed to be getting in a workout, breaking a sweat while carrying a water bottle. Can you guess the star? Fans of '80s and '90s movies were in for a treat when one of the most beloved scene-stealers from those decades made a rare appearance in Manhattan on Friday The iconic actor, now 65, turned heads during a brisk walk through the West Village—looking shockingly thin and nearly unrecognizable If you said Oliver Platt, you're right! Back in 1999, Platt reflected on his career during a particularly busy moment, with three major films hitting theaters: Three to Tango with Matthew Perry, Bicentennial Man alongside Robin Williams, and Lake Placid with Betty White. 'I look back at the movies I've made, and there's not a single one I regret,' he told Esquire. 'But I like them for different reasons—some were fun to do, and for others the result was satisfying.' Platt singled out a few personal favorites. 'Funny Bones is really dear to me, but such a tense experience. Then there's The Impostors, which was criminally fun to make,' he said, referencing the 1998 comedy in which he and Stanley Tucci played struggling New York actors posing as stewards aboard a luxury liner bound for France. 'We kept saying to each other, "I can't believe we're getting paid for this—oh, yeah, we aren't."' In addition to his film career, Platt has earned critical acclaim across both television and theater. He's received five Primetime Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe nod, and two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, including recognition for his role as George Steinbrenner in ESPN's The Bronx Is Burning (2007). He was also Emmy-nominated for standout guest appearances in The West Wing (2001), Huff (2005–2006), and Nip/Tuck (2008). Platt is a familiar face on the small screen, known for major roles in The Big C, Fargo, and The Good Wife, as well as his ongoing performances as Uncle Jimmy on Hulu's The Bear. On Broadway, he made his debut in Conor McPherson's Shining City in 2006, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor. He later returned to the stage as Nathan Detroit in the 2009 revival of Guys and Dolls.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
I looked P Diddy in the eye as brave Cassie gave her stomach-churning testimony – his brutal reaction left me cold
THE trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs has transformed the US District Courthouse in Lower Manhattan into the hottest ticket in the Big Apple. Since the start of jury selection on May 5, the world's media, online influencers, and true crime podcasters have descended onto 500 Pearl Street, hiring professional line sitters and standing on the courthouse's sidewalk before sunrise. 7 7 7 I was among the more than two dozen who attended jury selection and the first week of Combs' federal trial. During day three of jury selection, I locked eyes with Combs as he entered the 26th-floor courtroom, shackleless and with his hands pressed together. In that eerie moment, as Combs scanned the gallery, it felt as if he was conducting a deep analysis of each reporter, recording a photographic snap about the individual in his brain. The spectators in the courtroom exhaled a huge sigh during the graphic testimonies from exotic dancer Daniel Phillips, who was invited into the rapper's "freak offs", and his ex, singer Cassandra " Cassie" Ventura. Combs' twin daughters, D'Lila and Jessie, were noticeably missing from the gallery after day one of their father's trial. I watched as Combs stared daggers through his ex-girlfriend, never flinching, seemingly without an ounce of remorse as Ventura wiped away tears from her eyes Israel Salas-Rodriguez Still, Combs' three sons, Justin, Quincy, and Christian, and his mother, Janice, sat through the stomach-turning testimony from Ventura, who described in great detail the hellish sex marathons she was allegedly coerced into with over a dozen male escorts. I watched as some public spectators and journalists turned their heads away in distress as Ventura told jurors about the time Combs and an escort urinated on her. Ventura's husband, Alex Fine, who the defence wanted removed from the courtroom during her testimony, fearing outbursts, bravely watched from the gallery as his wife acknowledged the photos of male escorts she had sex with. The atmosphere in the courtroom grew sorrowful as Ventura continued her testimony, recalling the weekly drug-fuelled "freak-offs" and traumatising abuse she suffered at the hands of Combs. Throughout her nearly 96 hours on the stand, Ventura never looked in the direction of Combs. Diddy 'victim went DEAF after staying awake for 5 days to meet sick demands' However, I watched as Combs stared daggers through his ex-girlfriend, never flinching, seemingly without an ounce of remorse as Ventura wiped away tears from her eyes. Each time Ventura finished her testimony, she walked past Combs, seated steps away, without ever acknowledging his presence. 7 7 At the end of each day, reporters, influencers, and podcasters race toward the building's exit, rushing to retrieve their electronic devices from court officers. As I exited the courthouse, I witnessed a sea of journalists, TikTokers, and podcasters stationed under a tree at the neighbouring Columbus Park, or any available space near the federal building, filing notes, on the phone with editors, or recording roundup videos. As the sun sets on Lower Manhattan, many continue working their way through scripts or wait for their live shots on the evening newscast - all the while the sounds of emergency sirens and irate drivers blare in the background. And in the midst of the end-of-day filing chaos, steps away, there is another group of fresh journalists and professional line sitters seated on beach chairs, inside tents, near the courthouse entrance, waiting to do it all again the next day. We are now 26 days into the star's sex-trafficking and racketeering trial that has seen bombshell testimony and a cache of shocking evidence. The case centres on the accounts of three women, the eight men and four women of the jury were told, including Casandra Ventura, while several witnesses have also been called into the dock. As the trial enters its sixth week, key pieces of evidence have come to light - among those a trove of messages from Diddy's former chief of staff, who was tasked with planning sex marathons, personal texts between Diddy and Ventura and videos from the wild sex parties. Diddy's charges explained by a lawyer Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani explained the set of charges Diddy is facing to The U.S. Sun: "Diddy is facing three charges, or three sets of charges. "The first is racketeering, which you typically see with organized crime enterprises - so the mob, cartels, street gangs - but we're seeing it a lot more in sex trafficking cases. "And you don't need an organization like the mob, as long as it's an enterprise, which is something that consists of two or more people, and they engage in two or more RICO predicate acts, that's enough for racketeering. "Racketeering is a powerful charge because it allows the government to bring in all sorts of evidence of criminal activity, as well as all sorts of people, into that racketeering conspiracy. "And anyone who's a co-conspirator, they're on the hook for any criminal acts committed in furtherance of the conspiracy. "The most serious charge, though, is sex trafficking. "What separates sex trafficking from normal sex? Adults, of course, can consent to any type of sex, no matter how freaky it is. But sex trafficking has one of three elements: force, fraud, or coercion. "And the government is saying that Diddy used force to force these men and women to participate in these freak-offs, and he coerced them by drugging them. "The least serious charge is the prostitution, sometimes called the Man Act, and that's engaging in prostitution using some sort of interstate commerce across state lines. That obviously is unlawful. "Typically, you don't see federal cases for prostitution only, which is why it's the least serious of the crimes." Audio of a distraught Ventura threatening to kill a man over a "freak off" video was also released during the trial as part of her cross-examination by the disgraced star's lawyers. Cassie can be heard telling the unidentified man, who had claimed to have seen the video in 2014: "It's my f***ing life and I'll kill you". The audio evidence had been presented by Diddy's lawyers in an attempt to prove that Ventura had been a willing participant in the sex marathons. But she claimed that she was fearful the man would release the sex tape saying that it made her "feel sick". The trial continues, but one thing is for sure: there'll be more twists, turns and bombshells to come in the music mogul's shocking fall from grace. 7 7
