Melbourne Bartender Kayla Saito Makes History as Australia’s 2026 World Class Champion
Melbourne’s hospitality scene is celebrating after Kayla Saito of The Mulberry Group was crowned the 2026 World Class Australian Bartender of the Year, becoming the first Australian woman to ever win the prestigious national title.
The pressure was palpable inside Le Club at Maison Bâtard on Monday, 29 June, as eight of Australia’s finest bartenders battled for the industry’s most coveted title at the 17th annual World Class Australian Bartender of the Year final.
Hosted by Don Julio Tequila and Lucas Collective at Maison Bâtard, the prestigious competition brought together the nation’s leading cocktail talent after months of challenges, with one incredible prize awaiting the winner—the opportunity to represent Australia against the world’s best bartenders at the World Class Global Finals in Edinburgh, Scotland, later this year.
The finalists included Eduardo Conde (No. 92 GPR, Sydney), Jacob Frisch (The Gresham, Brisbane), Judith Zhu (Bistro Ebony, Sydney), Koby Harris (Three Horses, Melbourne), Kayla Saito (The Mulberry Group, Melbourne), Lachlan Gunner (Trap, Adelaide), Charles Chang (Moku and Linla, Sydney) and Rohan Massie (Rude Boy, Tasmania), who had already been put through their paces earlier in the day.
Melbourne’s Best Bartenders Face the Ultimate World Class Challenge
With just one hour on the clock, each competitor was challenged to create an original menu of Don Julio tequila cocktails inspired by Melbourne’s iconic coffee culture. The challenge tested not only their technical ability but also their creativity and storytelling, using fresh market ingredients.
Then came the grand finale.
Each bartender had just five minutes to prepare before facing the ultimate pressure test: seven minutes to produce 10 cocktails without knowing what drinks they would be making until the orders appeared. To make things even tougher, a fresh docket landed every two minutes, forcing competitors to think quickly while delivering flawless cocktails under the watchful eyes of the judges.
Those judges included 2018 World Class Bartender of the Year Orlando Marzo, Head of Beverage John Ross-Jones, Black Pearl founder Tash Conte and internationally renowned bartender Remy Savage, ensuring every shake, stir and garnish counted.
Kayla Saito Creates History for Melbourne Hospitality
When the final scores were announced, it was Melbourne’s Kayla Saito of The Mulberry Group who claimed the title of 2026 World Class Australian Bartender of the Year, making history as the first Australian woman ever to win the national competition.
Reflecting on her remarkable achievement, Saito said:
“I completely bombed in the speed round during my first two years competing in World Class. To return to a stage shared with the country’s best bartenders, not only win that round but ultimately be crowned National Champion, is incredibly rewarding. It’s a reminder that growth comes through practice, and I couldn’t be more excited to represent Australia on the world stage in Scotland.”
Following her historic victory, Saito is now preparing to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland, in October, where she will represent Australia against competitors from 55 countries at the prestigious World Class Global Finals.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading cocktail competitions, World Class has helped shape the global bartending industry for more than 17 years, showcasing exceptional creativity, technical precision and innovation across more than 60 countries.
Saito’s historic victory marks a proud moment for Melbourne’s hospitality industry, with one of the city’s brightest bartending talents preparing to represent Australia on the world stage later this year.
Written by Bella Blake
Also visit https://www.donjulio.com/en-au
