Check out who’s in the running for our very own awards in Shanghai on November 19. By Holly Graham.

After successfully celebrating China’s bar scene at the inaugural DMBA in 2016, 2017 saw the ceremony expanded to include its first ever categories recognising the Asia region. For the second year running, two of the awards will be dedicated to the wider Asia industry – Asia Bartender of the Year and Asia Bar of the Year.

On top of these, DMBA 2018 sees new title International Bartender of the Year, introduced to celebrate a bartender based outside our region who has made the biggest impact on the Asia scene in terms of education and inspiration. Both Asia awards and International Bartender of the Year were nominated by this year’s Asia academy, made up of industry experts based across the region.

Below are the Top 4 bars in the running for Asia Bar of the Year and Asia Bartender of the Year, as well as all the nominees in China. The internally-decided Founders Award and Asia academy-decided International Bartender of the Year awards, will remain top secret until the ceremony itself at the Jing An Shangri-La in Shanghai on November 19.

Here are the Asia Top 4s, listed in no particular order:

Bartender of the Year (Asia), Presented by Montenegro
Lorenzo Antinori
Shingo Gokan
Jay Khan
Agung Prabowo

Asia Bar of the Year (Asia), Presented by Peddlers Gin
COA
Manhattan
Native
The Old Man

Here are the China Top 4s, listed in no particular order:

Sustainability (New for 2018), presented by Nespresso
BACARDI No Straws Campaign
Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
The Cannery, Shanghai
The Sanya EDITION 

Innovation (New for 2018), presented by RATIO Coffee and Cocktail Bar
24/7 by Secoo
Campari Red Hand
Cityson
Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou

Bartender Brand, presented by Thirsty Work Productions
Bacardí
Campari
Fernet Branca
Plantation 

Brand Ambassador, presented by Thirsty Work Productions
David Ding 丁大伟, William Grant & Sons
Nacho Del Toro Gomez, Olmeca Altos
Peter Hong 洪笙, BACARDI
Ethan Liu 刘明, Proof & Company

Design, presented by Orrefors
Atelier by Taste Buds, Shanghai
Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
Punch Room, The Shanghai EDITION
The Cannery, Shanghai

Music Program, presented by K-Array
Janes & Hooch, Beijing
JZ Club, Shanghai
Le Baron, Shanghai
Shake, Shanghai 

Wine Program, presented by Penfolds
Bistro 321 Le Bec, Shanghai
Hakkasan, Shanghai
Le Verre a Vin, Shanghai
RAC, Shanghai

Beer Program, presented by Boxing Cat Brewery
Jing-A Brewpub, Beijing
Stone Brewing Tap Room Shanghai
The Beer Lady, Shanghai
The Cannery, Shanghai 

Service, presented by Small Batch Learning
Ars & Delecto, Shanghai
E.P.I.C., Shanghai
Sober Company, Shanghai
The Union Trading Company, Shanghai

Restaurant Bar, presented by Licor 43
Hakkasan, Shanghai
Highline, Shanghai
Sober Company, Shanghai
The Nest, Shanghai

High Volume Bar, presented by Jack Daniel’s
Le Baron, Shanghai
Song’s Club, Guangzhou
Speak Low, Shanghai
The Nest, Shanghai 

Hotel Bar, presented by Summergate Fine Wine & Spirits
1515 West Chophouse & Bar, Jing An Shangri-La, West Shanghai
EQUIS, Four Seasons Hotel Beijing
Punch Room, The Shanghai EDITION
The Zuk Bar, The Sukhothai Shanghai

Cocktail Program, presented by Havana Club
Ars & Delecto, Shanghai
Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
Sober Company, Shanghai
Speak Low, Shanghai

Bar Team, presented by Chivas Regal
Ars & Delecto, Shanghai
E.P.I.C., Shanghai
Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
Sober Company, Shanghai

Entrepreneurship (New for 2018), presented by Hennessy
金衆磊 Kin, Constellation
The SG Group
杨大庆 Eddy Yang, The Tailor Group
谢玉算 Xie Yusuan, Joy • Mr tipsy Bar

Founders Award, presented by Thirsty Work Productions
To be revealed at DMBA 2018

International Bartender of the Year (New for 2018), presented by Cityson
To be revealed at DMBA 2018

Bartender of the Year (China), presented by Gotham East, Luxardo, Cocchi, Nouaison
Michael Chen
Sam Kuan 关汉山
Jackie Lo 卢雪君
Cross Yu 余天音

Bar of the Year (China), presented by Perrier
Ars & Delecto, Shanghai
Atelier by Taste Buds, Shanghai
Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
Sober Company, Shanghai


If you can’t be there, check out the live stream on Youtube from 5.3opm. DRiNK Facebook page, Instagram @drinkmagasia using the hashtag #DMBA2018 – or stay tuned to our official WeChat account on the night of November 20 to see the results.

Please note, Tickets to DMBA 2018 are sold out.