Returning this year, World Class Vietnam reaffirms its status as the country’s most prestigious bartending competition, gathering the top talents from across Vietnam and opening the door to a global community of mixologists.
At the heart of this year’s edition is the well-earned victory of Nguyễn Ngọc Khánh, also known as Patrick, Head Bartender at The Hudson Rooms (Capella Hanoi). After five years of perseverance, Patrick’s journey is a living testament to the idea that a cocktail can indeed carry the weight of culture.
The “World Cup” Of Mixology, Where Ingredients Become Language
Held on May 27–28 at SAVOR Cocktail Club in Ho Chi Minh City, the national finals brought together 20 of Vietnam’s most promising bartenders. But World Class isn’t about who can mix the fastest or pour the cleanest.
It’s about storytelling. Each challenge asked more than “Does it taste good?”, it asked: “What are you trying to say? What does this ingredient mean to you? What should someone feel when they sip this?”
- Tanqueray No.TEN – “Industry Legend”
A deeply personal challenge: reinterpret the essence of someone who inspired your career—not just who they are, but why they mattered..
- Don Julio – “Hyper-local”
A test of terroir and identity: use ingredients found within 20km of your bar to create a cocktail that honors your locality, while also incorporating a nod to Canadian cuisine, host of the upcoming Global Finals. It’s a “mix” between the local and the global, the familiar and the far.
- Ron Zacapa 23 – “Aperitif & Digestif”
Create a flavor journey with two cocktails, one to open the experience, one to close it. Not just pairings, but emotional transitions told through taste.
- Top 8 Showdown – “The Mystery Ingredient”
The wildcard round: bartenders had to craft four cocktails using coffee and fish sauce, two ingredients not typically seen as mixology-friendly. Each drink had to feature one, and both had to be used overall. A test of fearlessness, palate precision, and creative restraint.
Five Years, One Sonata: Patrick’s Long Game Pays Off
For his final presentation, Patrick unveiled a pair of cocktails titled “Sunset & Moonlight Sonata”, crafted like a three-movement musical piece. The drinks intertwined the legacy of Guatemala, where Ron Zacapa is produced, with the soul of Vietnam, where Patrick lives and works.
- The Sunset (aperitif) blended bitter osmanthus, Buddha’s hand, and rice paddy herb. Light, layered, and reminiscent of dusk.
- The Moonlight (digestif) used cold brew coffee, six-month-aged chocomint liqueur, green cardamom, and orange peel. Deep, reflective, and quietly powerful.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Patrick wowed the judges with “Syzygy” - a bold combination of Canadian icewine, fermented dracontomelon beer, and Tajín-spiced pickled dracontomelon. A sensory detonation with cinematic flair, reflecting his fearless creativity and nuanced understanding of flavor.
“Sunset & Moonlight Sonata” didn’t just win the title, it communicated Patrick’s core belief: A cocktail should say something without needing to explain itself.
A Moment For Vietnamese Bartending
Patrick’s victory marks more than the end of a competition, it’s a milestone for Vietnam’s growing mixology scene. It’s a moment of pride for Capella Hanoi, home to The Hudson Rooms and Track 61, where Patrick mentors a new generation of bartenders.
And it’s a sign that Vietnam is ready to take its unique flavor language to the world stage. Looking ahead to the World Class Global Final in Toronto, Patrick shared:
“There are two things I need to focus on: First: health. The international stage is tough. Second: learning. I want to go deeper into Vietnamese ingredients and culture, and tell our story through a global cocktail language.”
When World Class Moves Beyond The Competition
World Class isn’t just a two-day event, it’s a cultural movement. This June and July, World Class Cocktail Month and Zacapa Rum Cocktail Month will bring that spirit of innovation to life through collaborations with top bars across Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, including Layla, Summer Experiment, Drinking & Healing, and more.
These venues will offer exclusive, hand-crafted cocktails inspired by the very challenges, themes, and contestants of World Class 2025.
This isn’t just about drinking something good. It’s a chance to experience what happens when cocktails become cultural expressions told through flavor, memory, and imagination.
Because Some Cocktails Stay With You
World Class Vietnam 2025 did more than crown a winner. It showcased a new generation of Vietnamese bartenders who are unafraid to blend tradition with innovation, intuition with technique.
And at the center of it all is Patrick, with a sonata in hand, ready to take the stage in Toronto.
“Congratulations to Nguyễn Ngọc Khánh. May your journey echo beyond borders, crafted in courage, culture, and creativity.”
Drink responsibly
Don't share with those under the legal drinking age.