Gurgaon, December 26, 2025: McDowell’s X-Series has announced the winners of the inaugural edition of X Masters, a national bartending platform created to expand access to the Diageo World Class ecosystem for emerging talent beyond India’s metropolitan centres. Developed by McDowell’s X-Series and supported by Diageo Bar Academy, X Masters brings together learning, mentorship, and live competition to create a clear progression from local bars to national and global stages.
After a multi-city selection process spanning eight markets, Mahi Rajput from 1932 Trevi, Jaipur and Karan Dhanelia from Atelier V, Indore were named the top two bartenders and will now advance to compete in the Diageo World Class Regional Finals. Their win marks a significant milestone for bartenders from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, reinforcing that creative excellence and technical skill can unlock global opportunities regardless of geography.
The inaugural edition of X Masters saw participation from bartenders across Agra, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, Udaipur, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Gurgaon, culminating in a live jury evaluation held in Gurgaon. Finalists were assessed on creativity, technique, flavour balance, and storytelling—core pillars of the World Class framework.
Speaking about the win, Mahi Rajput said, “X Masters gave me a platform I never imagined I would access from my city. Competing alongside bartenders from across the country and earning a place on the World Class pathway has been incredibly motivating.”
Karan Dhanelia added, “This competition pushed me to think beyond the bar I work at every day. The exposure, the learning, and the opportunity to move forward to World Class has changed how I see my future in the industry.”
Developed by McDowell’s X-Series and supported by Diageo Bar Academy, X Masters was created to address a long-standing gap in the bartending ecosystem – limited access to structured competition and progression for talent outside major metros. The platform combines learning, mentorship, and live evaluation, offering bartenders a clear route from local recognition to national and global stages.
Anchal Kaushal, Vice President – Customer Marketing, Diageo India, shared, “X Masters reflects our commitment to building a more inclusive bartending ecosystem. Exceptional talent exists well beyond metros, and through platforms like X Masters, we are creating real pathways for that talent to be seen, nurtured, and challenged at the highest level, including World Class.”
The competition journey included city-level engagement and training sessions, followed by a consumer-facing service challenge and a live regional jury round. The finale concluded with the announcement of the Top 2 winners, who now move into the next phase of their World Class journey.
