Diageo Global Travel has announced the final three cruise line bartenders who have made it into the company’s World Class Bartender of the Year semi final which is being held next week on Tuesday 20 June.

They are Celebrity Cruises’ Lazar Milosavljevic, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Marc McArthur and Seabourn Cruise Line’s Claudio Santos Liborio,

The event will take place at the Diageo Bar 396 in Miami, with Diageo adding that the winner will then have the opportunity to compete in the global final where he or she will be up against the best of the rest.

Diageo says its competition is amongst the best of its kind in the world, with the grand final set to be held in Mexico City on 20-24 August this year.

Just some of the Diageo brands used by the bartenders to realise their original creations.

THREE BARTENDERS FROM THREE CRUISE LINES

In terms of the finalists themselves, Celebrity Cruises’ Lazar Milosavljevic is 28 years old from Serbia and is a Senior Bartender on-board the Celebrity Reflection. Diageo said: “Since partaking in the world class training programme, Lazar’s talent in making outstanding cocktails has been widely recognised by his cruise line guests and crew. His signature serve is CÎROC Ocean Peach.”

By contrast, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Marc McArthur is also 28 and from South Africa and he is currently the Head Mixologist on the Norwegian Escape.

Diageo said: “McArthur has been selected as a semi-finalist for the second year in a row. He believes winning the competition takes profound practice and education. If he did win, there would be no words for him to describe such as achievement. His signature serve is The Autumn Dram, featuring HAIG CLUB.”

Last, but not least, Seabourn Cruise Line’s Claudio Santos Liborio is 32 years old from Portugal and currently tending his bar on board the Seabourn Sojourn. Diageo commented: “Claudio’s signature serve is Sherry Blossom, featuring BULLEIT RYE and BULLEIT BOURBON, inspired by the beauty of the Cherry Blossom tree which he encountered during his travels around Japan on-board Seabourn Sojourn.”