Erik Lorincz, a Slovakian bartender based in London, won this year's Best Bartender award representing the UK in the World Class 2010, "the Oscars of bartending" organised by Diageo Reserve. The senior mixologist at The Connaught Bar in Mayfair will now compete against 12 other finalists in Athens next month.

Mr Lorincz, 30, created a new cocktail which he named 'Rising To The Sky'. A combination of gin, dry sherry, coriander, lemon and pineapple, it also contains yuzu juice - a type of sour mandarin orange.

He served his cocktail with a "botanical steam" consisting of coriander, juniper and grapefruit peel macerated in hot water and poured over dry ice.

According to his interview on the Evening Standard, judges called the cocktail "a masterpiece".

Mr Lorincz explained his approach to mixing cocktails: "For me bartending is not just about drinks, it is a philosophy of etiquette... Your guests aren't there just to remember the drink but to remember the night."

The panel of judges for the final included Masterchef's John Torode and Greg Wallace.

Last year, over 6,000 bartenders in 24 countries competed for the coveted title of World Class Bartender of the Year. Greece's Aristotelis Papadopoulos beat tough competition to be crowned the 2009 World Class bartender.

Diageo Reserve dub the competition "the biggest stage there is for the craft of mixology". You'll find lots more information on the official website, WeAreWorldClass.com.

Learn how to prepare Erik Lorincz's winning cocktail, Rising To The Sky!