St. George’s Tuomas Hämäläinen Wins Silver at World Cocktail Championship
Tuomas Hämäläinen, Bar Manager at Wintergarden Bar in Helsinki, won silver at the IBA World Cocktail Championship in Macao, achieving record-breaking victories in earlier rounds. His cocktail, Cloud Dancer, was named Sparkling Cocktail of the Year.
HELSINKI, FINLAND – Tuomas Hämäläinen, Bar Manager at Wintergarden Bar in Helsinki’s luxury Hotel St. George, has returned from the IBA World Cocktail Championship in Macao with a silver medal. Hämäläinen secured overall second place, having dominated the tournament by winning the preliminary round, quarter-finals, and semi-finals. In the Super Final round, Spain’s Gabriel Mari edged ahead to claim the world title.
Hämäläinen’s preliminary creation, Cloud Dancer, was awarded the prestigious title of Sparkling Cocktail of the Year. The accolades carry exceptional weight this year, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the International Bartenders Association (IBA), hosted in the home country of the organization’s president.
The Macao championship was Hämäläinen’s third consecutive appearance on the global stage, earned through three consecutive Finnish National Championship titles (2024–2026). In line with competition regulations, he now enters a mandatory two-year hiatus, making the silver medal an exceptional capstone to a dominant competition cycle.
“The experience was incredible. The competition was complex and intensely demanding, both physically and mentally. Alongside the silver medal, by sweeping every preceding round, I set a new record in IBA history as the competitor with the most individual awards [four] won in a single year. Naturally, that softens the blow of missing out on the ultimate world title,” says Tuomas Hämäläinen, Bar Manager at Wintergarden Bar.
The award-winning cocktail, Cloud Dancer, draws inspiration from Eastern Zen philosophy and the Pantone Color of the Year. Departing from conventional sparkling cocktails, it offers a rich and full-bodied palate, balanced by an understated aesthetic that reflects the mindful concept behind the serve.
Hämäläinen’s mixology is celebrated for its ingredient-forward ethos, experimental spirit, reverence for Nordic craftsmanship, and meticulous precision—elevating flavor profile, technique, and presentation into cohesive works of art.
New Signature Cocktail Menu Debuts at Wintergarden on November 6
Curated by Hämäläinen and his team, Wintergarden Bar’s new cocktail list will launch on November 6. Characteristically versatile and curated specifically for the upcoming season, the menu will also feature the Macao-winning Cloud Dancer.
St. George TALKS Evening at Wintergarden on December 3
Hotel St. George will host a public discussion evening on Thursday, December 3, starting at 6 pm EET. Hämäläinen will share behind-the-scenes stories from the championship circuit, discuss his mixology philosophy, and break down the anatomy of the winning cocktail.
The event takes place in the distinct setting of Wintergarden Bar and is open to the public with free admission. Media representatives are warmly welcome; advance accreditation is requested via press@stgeorgehelsinki.com.
Wintergarden Bar serves hotel guests and locals inside Hotel St. George—a design-led 5-star hotel in central Helsinki, known for its curated art collection, wellness philosophy, and conceptual approach to holistic Nordic luxury.
Media Inquiries & Interview Requests:
Kati Jousimies
General Manager
kati.jousimies@stgeorgehelsinki.com
press@stgeorgehelsinki.com
Hotel St. George
Yrjönkatu 13
00120 Helsinki
Finland
