Welcome to the applications portal for the life-changing scholarship for aspiring bartenders launched by The World’s 50 Best Bars in partnership with Roku Gin.

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What should I prepare for the application?

• Your general details
• What you think the 5 skills for a modern bartender are (5 keywords)
• A short written statement on what you think can be achieved by the hospitality industry to create a more sustainable, inclusive and positive impact on the sector (up to 250 words)
  
• A short video introducing yourself and explaining your Future Positive vision: what small adjustments to everyday practices, or large-scale overhauls, you think would drive meaningful changes in our industry that would help our planet, community, guests and ourselves (under 60 seconds)
• A few photos of yourself behind the bar or making cocktails without any branded bottles in hand or visible in shot (3 to 5)
  

The prize

The lucky winner of the 2024 scholarship, who will be revealed and hosted at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 ceremony in Madrid, will be invited to complete three expenses-paid bar stages (internships) in some of the world’s most-renowned cocktail establishments: the high-flying Maybe Sammy in Sydney, Virtù and High Five in Tokyo, Japan.

Applications for the scholarship are open from 6th-24th June. The scholarship is open to bartenders across the world over the age of 21 and with under five full years’ professional experience.

The theme of the 50 Best Bars Roku Scholarship for 2024 is 'Future Positive' , encouraging bartending practices and attitudes that will have a positive impact on the planet and its people, such as low-waste philosophies or pushes for greater diversity and representation within the workplace. Scholarship applicants will need to show a readiness to contribute to this outlook.

The selection process

The scholarship recipient will be selected after a three-stage judging process:

Round One: Applicants will be asked to introduce themselves and share their vision of ‘Future Positive’ and what it means to them as a bartender in a short video, as well as answering some questions about their career to date. The 25 successful applicants from Round One will be informed in July 2024.

Round Two: The shortlisted candidates will design a drink, inspired by the ‘Future Positive’ theme, that heroes one local ingredient. The design must be accompanied by evidence of the research, development and creative process.

This stage will be assessed by a panel of industry veterans including Claudia Cabrera (Kaito del Valle, Mexico City), Philip Bischoff (BKK Social Club, Bangkok), and James Bowker, Global Advocacy Manager for House of Suntory.

Round Three: The five selected candidates will be invited for an interview with representatives from 50 Best, Roku Gin and the Sustainable Restaurant Association alongside representatives from the stagiaire hosts, including Stefano Catino of Maybe Sammy, Hidetsugu Ueno of High Five, and Keith Motsi of Virtù.

Three finalists will be hosted at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 ceremony in Madrid, where the ultimate winner will be announced.

Click here to read the Terms and Conditions

Got questions on how the 50 Best Bars Roku Scholarship works? Or not sure on how to make your application shine?

Check out some of the most frequently asked questions here – or if you can’t find the answer you were looking for, drop a message at barsscholarship@wrbm.com

50 Best Bars Roku Scholarship

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