After two days of intense competition, Kasper Riewe Henriksen from Ruby in Copenhagen won the title as Denmark's best bartender at the first Western European World Class Finals, held at the luxurious five-star Waldorf Astoria Syon Park in London on 30 May 2012.

Kasper thrilled the judges with his unique talent, and won the title after having surpassed more than 41 bartenders.

Kasper battled through four individual rounds and created a number of superb cocktails.

The judges comprised of an elite panel of industry experts and two former winners of the World Class Global Final - Manabu Ohtake, head bartender at Towers Bar Bellovisto, Cerulean Tower Tokyo Hotel, Japan, and Erik Lorincz, head bartender at The American Bar, The Savoy, London.

"The first Western European finals has set a high standard for the further competition, and the bartenders have surpassed all expectations. Kasper has demonstrated an amazing taste understanding, great insight into the repertoire of drinks and exceptional bartender skills. It shone through in his bid for new cocktails that were served with a great deal of personality. I look forward to welcoming Kasper welcome in Rio for the biggest bartender show, there is, World Class Global Final, "says Spike Marchant, World Class Global Brand Ambassador.

For the competition discovered new talents that give their take on new recipes and interpretations of familiar classics to the delight of cocktail fans worldwide. The internationally renowned World Class competition has in many ways a great influence on cocktail culture around the world.