Following Edinburgh cocktail bar Bramble's placing in the 50 Best Bar Awards last October, a mixologist from the venue has now made it through to the semi finals of an industry-leading bartending competition.

Jon Hughes beat off stiff rivalry from 45 regional finalists to take his place in the UK final of World Class 2015, a competition designed to acknowledge the next generation of bartending talent.

The UK final will take place at Drummuir Castle, in Banffshire, where another five semi-finalists will be in the mix to take the top spot.

Daniel Dove, Diageo World Class brand ambassador commented: "World Class is a celebration of the world's best bartenders, the world's best drinks and the world's best spirits.

"The competition itself aims to inspire the world to drink better, and to care about what, where and how they drink in the same way they do about food. Our new semi-finalists have the skill, creativity and ambition to do just that. 

"This year we have put competing bartenders through the paces more than ever, with rigorous challenges designed to test their sensory, accuracy, hosting and mixology skills.  

"The standard has been higher than ever and we can't wait to see our finalists compete for a place in the global final, taking place in South Africa this September."

Hughes, the only Scottish semi-finalist, mixed his way to the final with his Earheart cocktail.

Earheart

Ingredients

45ml Ron Zacapa 23

10ml Vulson White Rhino Rye Spirit

15ml Green apple shrub

5ml Vanilla syrup

Method

Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Garnish with a dehydrated apple slice and a spray of cinnamon tincture