Diageo Korea, the local unit of the global drinks group, announced Wednesday that Mickey Lee of W Hotel’s Woobar has won the regional final of its international bartending competition.

Lee reserved a ticket as a Korean representative to the annual World Class 2011 contest scheduled for July 11-14 in New Delhi, India, the host said.

“Having tried out for the contest three years in a row, I’m unbelievably glad I won,” Lee said. “I will best prepare myself so I can introduce Korea’s advanced cocktail culture to the world.”

About 200 local bartenders have participated in the six month-long race, which brought 10 qualifiers into the final in Seoul on Tuesday.

The competitors were required to present a creative cocktail using Diageo’s Johnnie Walker Gold and Singleton whiskies, Tanqueray No. 10 gin, Zacapa rum or Ketel One vodka, and a bottle serve with Windsor XR whisky. Then they went through a speed challenge, in which they had to make five cocktails in a limited time.

“We will develop the World Class into not just a bartending competition but a chance to step up the local cocktail and bar culture,” said Lee Won-ho, vice president of Diageo Korea.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)