Cape Town barman is SA champ

Runners-up were Haroon Haffajee from Harry's Cocktail Bar in Durban, and wild-card entrant Marson Strydom from Buena Vista Social Café, R44, Cape Town. Perremore will go on to represent South Africa in the Diageo Reserve World Class Global Final to be held in the UK later this month.

In the Diageo Reserve World Class Global Final, more than 50 of the world's best bartenders compete in a series of innovative challenges in a bid to be crowned the World's Best Bartender. This year's Global Final takes place in Scotland and London from 28 July to 1 August.

Signature style, innovation and attention to detail

"Winning the opportunity to compete in the Global Final is a great honour. World Class is about elevating the standard of mixology across the world, and I am very excited to represent South Africa in London and Scotland," said Perremore, who stunned the judges with his signature style, innovation and attention to detail across all four challenges. In the first, Al Fresco, he created the fresh King Alfonso's Summer Punch featuring Tanqueray No. Ten, and in the second challenge, After Dark, he presented the theatrical Alfred Hitchcock-inspired Night Flight with Caol Ila 12 YO, replete with an accompanying crow to compliment his theme.

In Day Two's The Real McCoy challenge, he impressed judges with Mama Kuru's Lucky Pot Pie featuring Ron Zacapa Centenario, and in the Tribute to a South African Icon challenge, he presented a tribute to his father with Beyond the Pines, featuring Johnnie Walker Blue and Gold Label Reserve.