Finalists
We raise our glass to the 2012 World’s Greatest Bartender, Hiroyuki “Mark” Yamada!
Hiroyuki’s combination top-shelf bar skills and personality helped him win the 22nd Annual World Bartender Championship. Hiroyuki beat out nine other world-class bartenders with by acing the product knowledge tests, compulsory and speed rounds, and showing off his skills in the freestyle showcase.
Cheers to our Fan Favorite, Russell Ward!
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Joachim “Jack” Reichel
Europe
Hometown: Oslo, Norway
History with T.G.i. Friday’s : 1 1/2 years
How Long Bartending: 2 years
Funniest thing to happen to you on a shift?: I have nickname at work. Some people call me Arnold and it is on my name tag. Once a lady kept calling for Arnold. I kept looking around wondering who Arnold and I finally looked up and it was a customer who said, “Hi, can I please get a glass of wine?”.
What are your future plans?: To build a corner bar and become a helicopter pilot.
What do you do in your spare time?: Extreme sports
If you were a drink, what drink would you be and why?: An Old Fashioned
Have you been in any other competitions?: Yes
One word that sums up your essence?: Determined
What is your favorite drink to mix?: The Caipirinha
What is the strangest question you have been asked while on a shift?: Someone once asked me if Jack Daniels is a Captain Morgan.
What is your most essential or favorite liquor?: Angostura bitters because it is a classic and just raises the drink to a whole new and better level.
What celebrity would you most like to make a drink for?: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Scott Christian
USHometown: Beaver Creek, OH
History with T.G.i. Friday’s : 9 years
How Long Bartending: 8 years
Funniest thing to happen to you on a shift?: I had a guest say what I thought was, “Dude your mouth is on fire.” I was obviously confused and misunderstood because he said his mouth is on fire. Thanks to a co-worker I spent the rest of the night having every employee and guest asking me if my mouth was on fire.
What are your future plans?: Be all of your boss! I kid, I would like to pay off my student loans.
What do you do in your spare time?: The last three years my spare time has been school so now that I graduated it’s going to be practice flairtending.
If you were a drink, what drink would you be and why?: Jameson neat. I don’t mess around and I like to party.
Have you been in any other competitions?: Yes, many.
One word that sums up your essence?: Tenacious
What is your favorite drink to mix?: Anything with Captain Morgan or Malibu. I don’t drink them but love to flip them. Those bottles are gold to a serious flair tender.
What is the best drink for a first date and why?: Anything I make for them. Some solid flair and a great drink is the perfect icebreaker.
What is your most essential or favorite liquor?: Captain Morgan 750ml. I have lots of recipes and am extremely comfortable flipping that bottle.
What celebrity would you most like to make a drink for?: Levi Donaldson. According to my Facebook page he’s my favorite athlete. I’m OK with the fact that he’s only a celebrity to about 50 or so people I know.
Paul Gil
Latin AmericaHometown: Santiago, Dominican Republic
How Long Bartending: 5 years
What do you do in your spare time?: Play basketball and go to the movies.
If you were a drink, what drink would you be and why?: A Cosmo because ladies love it!
One word that sums up your essence?: Original
What is your favorite drink to mix?: A margarita
What is your most essential or favorite liquor?: Jack Daniels
What celebrity would you most like to make a drink for?: Denzel Washington
Kristian Mihailin
USHometown: Las Vegas, NV
History with T.G.i. Friday’s : 12 years
How Long Bartending: 9 years
Funniest thing to happen to you on a shift?: Someone fell asleep and their face went into their plate of food, woke up and continued to eat.
What are your future plans?: Take one day at a time.
What do you do in your spare time?: Fishing, snowboarding and mechanic work.
If you were a drink, what drink would you be and why?: Vodka and Red Bull. Full of speed.
Have you been in any other competitions?: Yes, this is my fourth visit to World’s.
Aaron Hardy
USHometown: Orlando, FL
History with T.G.i. Friday’s : 10 years
How Long Bartending: 7 years
Funniest thing to happen to you on a shift?: When someone asked for unsweetened tea in his Long Island Iced Tea. I mean, WOW!
What are your future plans?: To run a hot bar with a solid concept.
If you were a drink, what drink would you be and why?: A Malibu Bay Breeze because it’s sweet and chicks dig it.
Have you been in any other competitions?: Yes, many but this is my first time at the WBC.
One word that sums up your essence?: Precise
What is your favorite drink to mix?: A Long Island Iced Tea because it can be tweaked into so many different variations and flavors.
What is the strangest question you have been asked while on a shift?: How am I a bartender if I don’t care about sports? I said, “You’re thirsty, see how that works?”
What is the best drink for a first date and why?: Anything with Captain Morgan Rum because the “Captain makes it happen.”
What is your most essential or favorite liquor?: Whisky, because it makes me smile.
What celebrity would you most like to make a drink for?: Kevin Hart because I just wonder if I could see him from the other side of the bar.
Other comments: Big shout out to my bar manager Jen for all the support and everyone who has ever had a good time with me at my bar – together we’ll make the world go around.
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HIROYUKI “MARK” YAMADA
WORLD BARTENDER CHAMPION
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Andy Hool
USHometown: Canton, MI
History with T.G.i. Friday’s : 6 years
How Long Bartending: 4 1/2 years
Funniest thing to happen to you on a shift?: Sometimes we throw beers to guests and one time my coworker ended up wearing one on accident.
What are your future plans?: To have a high beverage split.
What do you do in your spare time?: I do everything I can to take care of my 4-year-old daughter Payton.
If you were a drink, what drink would you be and why?: Hollywood Nights Martini, because it is smooth, intense and passionate.
Have you been in any other competitions?: Yes
One word that sums up your essence?: Intense
What is your favorite drink to mix?: Ultimate June Bug
What is the best drink for a first date and why?: A bottle of moscoto with grenadine on the side for a real sweet mood setter.
What is your most essential or favorite liquor?: Malibu Rum
What celebrity would you most like to make a drink for?: Payton Manning because he is so decent, respectable, driven and determined.
Other comments: Oh yeah!!! Get it bro!!!
Jessica Myers
USHometown: Vestal, NY
History with T.G.i. Friday’s : 13 years
How Long Bartending: 12 years
Funniest thing to happen to you on a shift?: I laugh every time someone walks into the elevator while looking for the bathroom. It never gets old.
What are your future plans?: Be an awesome Mom. Maybe have another child.
What do you do in your spare time?: I am a Mom, so there isn’t a lot of free time. But I would love to have spare time to go snowboarding or to the beach.
If you were a drink, what drink would you be and why?: A shot of Fireball or a “Fiery Redhead” – I had to be cliché at some point.
Have you been in any other competitions?: I made it to divisionals four consecutive years. This is my first time at the WBC.
One word that sums up your essence?: Fiery
What is your favorite drink to mix?: Fun layered shots and martinis.
What is the strangest question you have been asked while on a shift?: I am asked about my age all the time. While it’s rude to ask a lady her age, I’m usually flattered, I don’t mind.
What is the best drink for a first date and why?: Vodka martini. It’s straight up and to the point.
What is your most essential or favorite liquor?: Grand Marnier. It’s so smooth and versatile.
What celebrity would you most like to make a drink for?: President Obama.
Other comments: One of my very best friends of 12 years was in the WBC last year and I travelled to cheer her on. Lisa Montero will be in the crow for me this year!!!
Hiroyuki “Mark” Yamada
AsiaHometown: Tokyo, Japan
History with T.G.i. Friday’s : 2 years
How Long Bartending: 5 years
Funniest thing to happen to you on a shift?: I failed a flair show because I was so nervous because my ex-girlfriend was there to see me compete.
What are your future plans?: To bring the WBC winner’s propeller back to Japan.
What do you do in your spare time?: Sleeping like a baby, going out to bars or being with friends.
If you were a drink, what drink would you be and why?: A Gold Medalist
Have you been in any other competitions?: Yes, not only in Japan but outside too. I have many experiences to win prizes and cups.
One word that sums up your essence?: Passionate
What is your favorite drink to mix?: Boston Tea Party
What is the strangest question you have been asked while on a shift?: Can you please make my tequila and coke with Captain Morgan?
What is the best drink for a first date and why?: Ultimate Mudslide. Two can drink together and I think this drink is really like Friday’s!
What is your most essential or favorite liquor?: Jaeger Meister
What celebrity would you most like to make a drink for?: Jennifer Lopez
Other comments: I am proud of myself to make my way to the World Championship. I will just do all my best to entertain people. I also would like to thank all my friends who support me. Let’s have a crazy fun time.
Russell Ward
UKHometown: Sheffield, UK
History with T.G.i. Friday’s :
How Long Bartending: 8 years
What are your future plans?: Keep being a great bartender.
What do you do in your spare time?: Drinking red wine with my girlfriend.
If you were a drink, what drink would you be and why?: Hairy navel
Have you been in any other competitions?: I have been in many competitions in the UK.
One word that sums up your essence?: Intelligent
What is your favorite drink to mix?: Long Island Ice Tea
What is the strangest question you have been asked while on a shift?: Where is the bar?
What is the best drink for a first date and why?: Anything as long as you don’t have too much.
What is your most essential or favorite liquor?: Rum
What celebrity would you most like to make a drink for?: Bob Marley
Chantry Coffman
USHometown: Dallas, TX
History with T.G.i. Friday’s : 8 years
How Long Bartending: 8 1/2 years
Funniest thing to happen to you on a shift?: Had a guy drive his car into the restaurant because he wanted a drive-thru!
What are your future plans?: To mold young minds.
What do you do in your spare time?: Spend time with family and friends, play guitar and practice flairtending.
If you were a drink, what drink would you be and why?: Scotch neat, because like me every year it gets a little bit better.
Have you been in any other competitions?: Yes
One word that sums up your essence?: Determined
What is your favorite drink to mix?: Watermelon Mojito
What is the strangest question you have been asked while on a shift?: Can I get a virgin rum and Coke?
What is the best drink for a first date and why?: Patron Rita Shaker. It’s a great tasting spin on a margarita and loosens you up just enough to make a great first impression.
What is your most essential or favorite liquor?: Rumple Minze
What celebrity would you most like to make a drink for?: Adam Sandler