After a grueling two-round battle against the nation’s top mixologists, Zana Möhlmann, beverage manager at Manhattan, has been named Singapore’s World Class Bartender of the Year 2026. The finals, held at Avenue, saw ten competitors push the limits of creativity, speed, and technical skill before a panel of global champions—securing Möhlmann a spot at the World Class Global Final in Scotland this October.
The Road to the Crown
The competition kicked off with the top ten finalists tasked to reimagine the theme “Above the Clouds” through a Latin celebration, using Zacapa rum as their base. Judges evaluated each entry on cocktail taste, innovative presentation, bar skills, and brand knowledge of Zacapa. The results were theatrical: bartenders produced foams, curated Latin-inspired playlists, and even crafted an “air” element using hibiscus oloroso stabilized with soy lecithin.
From that first round, five bartenders advanced to the final speed challenge: Möhlmann and her former Manhattan colleague Happy, Ellen Su (Restaurant Born), Ooi Foo Giap (Last Word), and Josiah Chee (Bar Bon Funk).
Pressure Cooker: The Speed Round
In the deciding round, finalists had just one minute to prep their stations before racing the clock to make six cocktails—featuring Johnnie Walker, The Singleton, Tanqueray, Don Julio, and Zacapa—in five minutes. Bartenders selected their six recipes from a deck of 15 options and had to execute them from memory, balancing speed with hospitality, finesse, and precision. A technical judge also scored cleanliness, workflow, and station management.
A Full-Circle Victory
For Möhlmann, the win was a culmination of persistence. She had previously placed in the top five during the 2025 competition. Returning this year with sharper focus, she topped both Round One and the semi-finals before claiming the overall title. “It’s a full-circle moment,” she said after the ceremony.
A distinguished panel judged the finals: Vanessa Leon (Global Brand Ambassador for Ron Zacapa), Nicole-Marie Ng (Content Director APAC at Time Out), and a trio of World Class Hall of Fame champions—Bannie Kang (Global Champion 2019), Orlando Marzo (Global Champion 2018), and Michito Kaneko (Global Champion 2015).
Industry Recognition
Beyond the main trophy, the evening honored Elisabeth Lim of 28 HongKong Street with the Bartender’s Bartender Award, a peer-voted accolade celebrating camaraderie and respect among Singapore’s bar community.
What’s Next
Möhlmann now heads to the World Class Global Final 2026, set for Oct. 18–23 in Scotland, where she will compete against bartenders from more than 60 countries. The international stage will present an entirely new set of challenges, but if this year’s performance is any indication, Singapore’s champion is ready to mix with the best in the world.
For those inspired to follow Möhlmann’s journey, keep an eye on Manhattan’s cocktail menu in the coming months—her award-winning creations often make appearances. For aspiring bartenders, the World Class competition offers a useful blueprint: creativity, consistency, and composure under pressure are as crucial as a perfect pour.