Dominic Laverty from Princess Cruises Crowned Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Global Travel Team's Best Bartender

Miami (ots/PRNewswire) -

Dominic Laverty of Princess Cruises has been crowned best
bartender at the DIAGEO AMERICAS GLOBAL TRAVEL TEAM (GTME) WORLD
CLASS final held last night in Miami.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130607/618763-a )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130607/618763-b )

Following the creation of a new Diageo GTME cruise line
partnership for 2013, the GTME final featured the best bartending
talent from Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line. Dominic and
his fellow competitors were tested on their bartending knowledge,
skill and showmanship. Dominic truly impressed judges with his
signature cocktail.

Dominic will go on to compete against the world's best bartenders
from over 50 countries at the Global Final on 4th-9th July. The final
will be held aboard a boutique cruise ship[1] in the Mediterranean,
where Dominic will be vying for the title of Diageo Reserve WORLD
CLASS Bartender of the Year.

Dominic Laverty commented: "I'm excited to have been selected to
take part in the grand final of one of the world's most prestigious
mixology competitions. WORLD CLASS is taking on-board bartending to a
whole new level and to represent the cruise line sector and Diageo
GTME at the grand final is a dream."

Peter Tobler, Vice President, Food and Beverage Operations,
Princess Cruises noted: "We are really proud that a key member of our
beverage team, Dominic, has been selected and will be representing
Princess Cruises in such a prestigious mixology competition and we
wish him the best of luck in the final competition this July." He
continued: "Thanks to our WORLD CLASS partnership with Diageo GTME we
are pleased that we will be able to delight our cruise guests with a
winning blend of the world's finest luxury spirits and the latest
cocktail trends in order to enhance their fine drinking experience
on-board."

If Dominic is successful at the final it will set him on a
life-changing journey. Previous winners have travelled the globe as
ambassadors, opened bars, to critical acclaim and acted as
consultants for luxury brands including Cartier and films such as the
James Bond movie, Skyfall.

The cocktails created during the competition used the finest
spirits from the Diageo Reserve collection including CIROC(R) vodka,
TANQUERAY(R) No. TEN(TM) gin, ZACAPA(R) rum and JOHNNIE WALKER(R)
BLUE LABEL(TM) Blended Scotch Whisky.

[1]Azamara Club Cruise Ship, Azamara Journey

For Diageo's global resource that promotes responsible drinking
visit http://www.DRINKiQ.com

Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130607/618763-a

http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130607/618763-b

ots Originaltext: Diageo GTME Americas
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contact: Claire.lorimer@smartscommunicate.com, +44-(0)7894-096150