Fin & Fino’s Eli Privette was named on the USBG’s World Class 100 list. Photo courtesy of Plaid Penguin

Eli Privette, a bartender at Fin & Fino in Uptown, was named on the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild 2020 World Class 100 list. The World Class competition, which takes place globally, selects 100 bartenders to earn a place on the list from submissions that include a written response and recipe. Those bartenders will then go on to compete for the title of World Class winner.

Privette’s recipe was a take on a highball. He called the drink Cloudy Sky, inspired by two of the drink’s ingredients: Talisker Scotch, made on the Isle of Skye, and Ron Zacapa rum, which is produced in the House Above the Clouds.

“It was pretty much pure shock,” Privette says of learning he made the list, “then followed through with being super excited and really thankful for being put in systems at Dogwood and Porter’s House and Fin & Fino to really learn as much information as I can to get here.”

At 23 years old, Privette is a young but extremely talented mixologist, currently working under Brittany Kellum at Fin & Fino as one “the clams” (the bar staff at the seafood restaurant is nicknamed BK and the Clams). Privette’s drinks tend to be complex and unexpected, making use of amari and infusions to create his own signature style of inventive cocktails.

The next step in the competition will narrow the field down to 50 bartenders, who will then compete in regional finals. To make the cut, Privette and the rest of the World Class 100 must submit a flight of cocktails meant to be enjoyed in a specific order. If he advances, Privette will next compete in the Southern finals March 22 through March 25 in Jacksonville. From there, winners will go on to compete nationally.

Since the list was released Wednesday, Privette says he’s gotten a lot of support from other bartenders around town.

“A ton of people reached out to me — a bunch of people who I know pretty well, a lot of people who I know kind of well, and a lot of people who I don’t really know, which is really cool,” he says. “It’s really nice to have people come after me and give me some love. It really shows how nice and tight our industry can be.”

The competition culminates in a global final, which will take place in Sydney, Australia. —Kristen Wile