Tryson Quek of Side Door Crowned World Class Bartender of the Year 2025 Singapore
Singapore’s most anticipated cocktail competition culminated in a thrilling finale at Baia, with standout performances, peer accolades, and celebration of modern cocktail artistry.
(Singapore 20 June 2025) After months of rigorous challenges, spirited creativity and boundary-pushing serves, Tryson Quek of Side Door emerged victorious as the World Class Bartender of the Year 2025 Singapore, earning the honour of representing the nation at the World Class Global Finals in Toronto, Canada. Joining him at the top were Marco Maiorano of KOMA and Samuel Pang of Night Hawk, who rounded out the Top 3 with their exceptional performances, creativity, and finesse behind the bar.
Held at Baia on 16 June, the Singapore Finals marked the culmination of the World Class Bartender of the Year Competition, with six of the country’s top bartenders vying for the ultimate title through two dynamic challenges that tested innovation, speed, and storytelling.
L to R: Kelvin Saquilayan (Republic Bar), Zana Mohlmann (Manhattan), Samuel Pang (Night Hawk), Marco Maiorano (KOMA), Ooi Foo Giap (Last Word), Tryson Quek (Side Door), Caryn Cheah, Nicole Marie-Ng (Regional Content Director, Time Out APAC), Pedison Kao (World Class Taiwan Winner — World Class Bartender of the Year 2024 Taiwan), Ervin Trykowski (Global Brand Ambassador for New Age Whisky) and Adam Bursik (Director of Beverage, Shangri-La Singapore)
The Final Showdown
The night’s first challenge, “Drink to the Future,” called for an immersive luxury cocktail experience elevated by modern technology. Finalists were invited to imagine the cocktail of tomorrow — integrating flavour, form and storytelling in a multi-sensory experience.
Highlights included Zana Mohlmann (Manhattan) with her herbaceous Botanical Symphony; Tryson Quek (Side Door) and his umami-rich Possibilities featuring Zacapa XO and kumquat foam; and Ooi Foo Giap (Last Word) with the smoky Resonance finished with an edible QR code. Kelvin Saquilayan (Republic Bar) served A Minute to the Moon with pine mint and kombu mist; Marco Maiorano (KOMA) impressed with Drink for Thought topped with a seaweed “AI chip”; and Samuel Pang (Night Hawk) delivered Nuts & Bolts, paired with pandan cake and pistachio notes.
This was followed by “The Showdown”, a high-intensity service round designed to simulate the fast pace of a real-life bar. Each finalist had just five minutes to craft five cocktails, each inspired by a classic serve and showcasing the artistry behind five iconic World Class spirits: a Highball with a Twist using Johnnie Walker Blue Label, a Don Paloma with Don Julio 1942, a Zacapa Old Fashioned featuring Zacapa XO, a Singleton Manhattan with The Singleton 15YO, and a Martini made with Tanqueray No. TEN. Tryson’s inventive approach, precision under pressure, and emotional storytelling set him apart, ultimately clinching the top honour.
Tryson’s win also marks a meaningful milestone for Singapore’s cocktail scene. Tryson’s wife, Bannie Kang, was crowned World Class Bartender of the Year Singapore in 2019 and went on to win the global title that same year. Together, the couple co-founded Side Door, which is now the first bar in Singapore to be home to two World Class Singapore champions — a remarkable achievement and testament to their shared passion and commitment to the craft.
As Singapore’s newly crowned World Class Bartender of the Year, Tryson Quek will go on to represent the nation on the world stage in Toronto, standing alongside the most exceptional bartenders from across the globe.
Celebrating Craft, Creativity, and Camaraderie In a nod to peer recognition, Ooi Foo Giap of Last Word was named “World Class Singapore 2025 Bartender’s Bartender”, a special award voted by all bartenders who participated in this year’s competition, reflecting his camaraderie, support, and leadership throughout the competition. Adding to the night’s celebrations, SUSHISAMBA Singapore was awarded “World Class Cocktail Festival Experience of 2025”, honouring the venue’s commitment to service excellence, innovation, and guest engagement in the cocktail space. Represented in the competition by Daniel Fong and Josh Goh, the SUSHISAMBA team showcased bold creativity and strong showings throughout the programme, reinforcing the venue’s reputation as one of Singapore’s most exciting cocktail destinations.
THE JUDGES
Ervin Trykowski
Global Brand Ambassador for New Age Whisky Ervin Trykowski is a distinguished figure in the Scotch whisky industry, celebrated for his innovative approach to whisky education and advocacy. As the Global Scotch Whisky Ambassador for Diageo, he has redefined traditional perceptions of single malt, emphasizing its versatility and accessibility.
Pedison Kao
World Class Bartender of the Year 2024 (Taiwan), Top 3 in the World Class Bartender of the Year Global Finals 2024 Pedison Kao is the Director of Bar Without, one of Taiwan’s most innovative cocktail bars redefining modern mixology. A celebrated figure in the industry, Kao was named World Class Bartender of the Year 2024 in Taiwan and placed third globally, one of the most prestigious competitions in the bartending world. He is also the recipient of Bartender of the Year at the Taiwan Bar Awards.
Nicole Marie-Ng
Regional Content Director, Time Out APAC Nicole-Marie Ng is the APAC Content Director for Time Out and a seasoned food and drinks journalist based in Singapore. With over a decade of experience in media, she has reviewed the region’s top restaurants and bars, and profiled some of Asia’s most exciting chefs, bartenders, and restaurateurs.
Adam Bursik
Director of Beverage, Shangri-La Singapore Adam “Eddy” Bursik is a Slovak-born mixologist and the Director of Beverage at Shangri-La Singapore. After establishing himself in Slovakia by managing well-known bars and creating unconventional drinks, Bursik moved to Singapore over ten years ago. There, he managed esteemed establishments like Nutmeg & Clove and The Library before launching Origin Bar at Shangri-La Singapore.
