lcoholic beverage maker Diageo, which owns brands like Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Baileys and Guinness, recently launched the Johnnie Walker Bartending Academy to impart knowledge of professional bartending. "In today's changing hospitality scenario, a well-trained and professional bartender is a necessary asset. It is fast emerging as a budding profession," says Asif Adil, Diageo India's managing director. The academy will draw on the best practices of similar Johnnie Walker academies in Korea and Brazil.

Located in Andheri, Mumbai, the academy will initially offer a six-month professional course priced at approximately Rs 30,000. Short module courses for consumers and connoisseurs will be introduced later. The first batch, for which recruitments have started, will commence this month. Each batch will have 20-25 students. ... more