Singapore, 18 November 2025 – After a month of competition, Mel John Chavez from Bar Somma has emerged triumphant as the All-Star Champion of The Wonderful Race 2025. His winning creation, “King’s Melon” captivated judges with its creativity, craftsmanship, and distinctive character — securing the ultimate title in this year’s prestigious showcase of bartending excellence.
Judged by an esteemed panel of industry luminaries — Colton Payne (APAC Marketing Director, Brown-Forman), Daniel Goh (Co-Founder, Spirited Asia), and Kelvin Saquilayan (Head Bartender, St. Regis and Woodford Reserve The Wonderful Race 2025 Asia Champion) — the selection of this year’s winner was no easy feat. Each finalist displayed outstanding technique and innovation, but it was the remarkable harmony of taste, creativity, and storytelling, all while embodying the true essence of Woodford Reserve, that ultimately revealed our All-Star Champion.
The Competition Format
In the first round, the Top 10 finalists were tasked to craft their unique interpretation of the Old Fashioned — one of the world’s most iconic cocktails — under the theme ‘All-Star’. Each creation reflected the bartenders’ personal stories, inspirations, and flair, impressing the judges with both flavour and presentation.
The Top 5 then advanced to an intense yet exhilarating second round, where they faced a surprise challenge curated by Chef Joel Tan of HighHouse — to pair their mystery ingredient to a brand-new Woodford Reserve cocktail that they are required to craft on the spot. This challenge was specially curated as Woodford Reserve is the Official American Whiskey Sponsor of the World’s 50 Best Restaurant.
The 5 ingredients given were 1924 Blue Cheese, Wakaba Mush Melon, Jamón Ibérico de Bellota, Spanish Canned Baby Sardines, and Tom Yum Spice Padron Peppers.
The finalists were given only an hour to brainstorm on their concept, presentation, and come up with the best pairing of their mystery ingredient with the Old Fashioned. Despite the short amount of time, the top 5 finalists demonstrated exceptional creativity, composure, and craftsmanship, rising to the occasion with agility and mastery as they integrated the unexpected ingredient into their creations. After a thrilling round that kept the audience captivated, the Top 3 emerged:
from Origin Bar
Chai Yu Heng from Nutmeg & Clove as Second Runner-Up, Huang Geng from Origin Bar as First Runner-Up, and ultimately, Mel John Chavez from Bar Somma, who claimed the coveted Championship Title.
The 2025 All-Star Champion
Our winner, Mel John Chavez, was presented with Mush Melon as his mystery ingredient. His winning cocktail showcased a vibrant fruity profile, combining the sweetness of Mush Melon with fresh lemon juice, elderflower, apple tonic, and Hojicha-infused bourbon whiskey, elegantly finished with a crown-shaped melon garnish. Keeping to the roots of the Old Fashioned and how it brings a tinge of sweetness, Mel John Chavez took that into account as he chose ingredients that were lower in sweetness to allow the flavour of the Old Fashioned to come through and complement each other.
As the champion, Mel will embark on an exclusive journey to the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, for an immersive experience in bourbon artistry, craftsmanship, and heritage — a fitting reward for this year’s most exceptional talent. He will also represent Singapore in the Woodford Reserve The Wonderful Race Asia Final competition 2026, where he would compete with regional champions across Asia as they vie for the coveted Asia Championship.
Kelvin Saquilayan, one of the judges and the champion of last year’s edition, shared his thoughts. “Standing on the other side of the bar this year reminded me how much passion and heart this competition inspires. Every finalist showed creativity in their versions of Old Fashioned while still respecting its roots, and that’s what The Wonderful Race is all about.”
The All-Star Old Fashioned: Reimagined A Timeless Classic
Now in its third edition, The Wonderful Race continues to honour bartending mastery as part of Old Fashioned Month, a global celebration of one of the world’s most iconic cocktails.
This year’s theme, the “All-Star Old Fashioned”, called on Singapore’s finest bartenders to reinterpret the timeless drink through creativity, storytelling, and innovation, transforming traditions into their unique version of an All-Star Old Fashioned.
Each cocktail holds a special story, from cultural inspirations to personal journeys, showcasing how techniques, emotions, and imagination can elevate a three-ingredient classic into artistry.
Chef Joel Tan Of Highhouse Raised The Stakes With A Flavour Challenge
Taking this year’s The Wonderful Race to a whole new level, the 2025 finale introduced a surprise twist — the Chef Joel Tan Challenge, where the boundaries between culinary artistry and mixology blurred in the most flavourful way.
In the second round, the Top 5 finalists faced a blind draw of five mystery ingredients hand-picked by Chef Joel Tan, Head Chef at HighHouse, Singapore’s renowned modern Pan-Asian rooftop restaurant. Each bartender was tasked to create an original Woodford Reserve cocktail pairing that complemented or elevated their chosen ingredient — ranging from 1924 Blue Cheese, Wakaba Mush Melon, Jamón Ibérico de Bellota to Spanish Canned Baby Sardines and Tom Yum Spice Padron Peppers.
“This challenge was all about pushing boundaries and bringing the kitchen and bar together. It was inspiring to see how each bartender transformed their mystery ingredient into something unexpected yet harmonious.” Said Chef Joel Tan.
This one-of-a-kind collaboration underscored Woodford Reserve’s position as a whiskey of remarkable depth and versatility, while strengthening its partnership with the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Aligned with the brand’s identity of complexity, quality, and craftsmanship, the challenge brought together the worlds of gastronomy and mixology to engage and connect with a global audience of culinary enthusiasts. It also showcased the shared values that connect Woodford Reserve and HighHouse, such as focus, dedication, passion, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence as both champion fine craftsmanship,
diverse flavours, and exceptional, elevated experiences.
