SA’s favourite barman: George Hunter to represent SA at Diageo World Class 2026 finals

George Hunter, South Africa’s representative for the 2026 Diageo World Class Global Finals. Picture: Supplied George Hunter has been confirmed as South Africa’s representative for the 2026 Diageo World Class Global Bartender of the Year finals, following a national competition held at Naked Woolf in Rosebank, Johannesburg, in July. The win came after a mixology showdown, a series of innovative challenges and a signature serves showcase, all forming part of Diageo’s World Class competition.

Hunter will now compete against winners from more than 50 countries at the global finals, one of the hospitality industry’s most prestigious platforms since its launch in 2009. Speaking toThe Citizenabout the nerve-wracking nature of the final announcement, Hunter said the day itself was less about performance and more about waiting to see if his preparation had paid off. “Naked Woolf was the announcement only; that means it is pure nerves and hope that you have done enough to win.

What got me through it is knowing that I truly put my heart into every step of the World Class competition and I represented myself in the most authentic way I could,” Hunter said. The award-winning bartender added that while competitions leave little room for error, he was satisfied with what he brought to the table. “Competitions can be extremely difficult, and small mistakes can be costly, but I was very happy with everything I presented for World Class 2026.”According to Cebisa Luzipho, culture manager for Don Julio South, West & Central Africa at Diageo: “World Class is a platform that allows us to celebrate the craftsmanship of mixologists and bartenders, honouring their creativity and excellence in our industry.” “We champion craftsmanship by making tastemakers and taste innovators part of our journey at every level.

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Everything we do stems from the love of our liquid, which was first championed by our founder, Don Julio Gonzalez.” Hunter is the co-owner and director of Rosebank’s Obscura Cocktail Bar & Eatery and he believes South Africa’s relative isolation on the global bartending circuit, usually a disadvantage, could work in his favour at the finals in Scotland. “South Africa can often be an under-recognised country for hospitality; this is mainly because travel to South Africa is long and inconvenient from most places. If we were more centralised and easier to pop over to, we would 100% be a more awarded country.

This gives me the ability to be a dark horse in the competition.” That same isolation, he said, has forced local bartenders to sharpen a different skill set entirely. “We have unique ingredients that most places have never seen or heard of. We also don’t have the same access to ingredients other countries might have as a standard; this forces us to be very adaptable and quick thinking.”

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