Ten Years to Toronto 

In just a few short weeks, the 2025 World Class Competition will come to its thrilling conclusion in Toronto, Canada September 27th - October 2nd. With over 400,000 bartenders across 60+ countries having participated globally in the 2025 World Class Competition, US Bartender of Year, Nic Wallace is fiercely preparing to represent America on the global stage. 

In Toronto, five initial challenges will take place, and those scores will be used to determine who progresses to the Top 10. The Top 10 competitors will then compete in a mystery challenge to be revealed onsite in Toronto! Finally, the Top 3 highest scoring competitors will go head to head in the Semi-Finals on October 2nd to crown the ultimate global champion. 

Nic Wallace is no stranger to the pressures of World Class. With more than 20 years in hospitality and over a decade competing in World Class, he has long been a fixture in the bartending community. His win is a testament to persistence, passion and a commitment to growing year over year. 

The collective joy and pride during the 2025 US World Class National Finals Announcement, was overwhelming as the crowd rallied together to congratulate Nic on his much deserved victory.  

Immediately after Nic’s emotional triumph, he was whisked away to the first of what would be many interviews over the subsequent days. In the cramped hotel room that had been expertly converted to a photography studio, he proceeded to show me a folder on his phone. A folder that kept every single World Class recipe he submitted from the last ten years, a veritable time capsule of hard work and creativity. I asked him to share with me a few of his favorites from over the years.