The stars of bars slug it out

Lori Wallace shows off her Draught Masters trophy.

Five of the nation’s finest cocktail makers compete to represent NZ in world final.

Some of the country's best and brightest bartenders showcased their "mixologist" skills in Auckland last night, vying for a chance to attend an international cocktail-making competition.

The Diageo Reserve World Class New Zealand final, which took place at the Seafarers building in Auckland's Britomart precinct, saw five Kiwi bartenders demonstrating their finely-honed drink-making talent.

The winner was set to receive an all-expenses paid trip to the global final in South Africa in August, where over the course of five days they will compete against other national titleholders in a bid to win the Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year 2015.

The Kiwi finalists - Aucklanders Alison Kwan from 1885 Basement, Bill Scott from Mexico, Lorietta Bahr from Matterhorn, Philip Spector from Racket and Ray Letoa from Roxy in Wellington - had already been tested on their "ingenuity, skill and knowledge of spirits".

Last night's final began with a panel of three judges evaluating the entrants' signature cocktail.

These creative concoctions included names such as The Ray Way, Lady of Journey, Finish Strong, The Golden Ticket and Fruits of Labour.

More than 80 guests at the event then took part in a People's Choice judging round, sampling the cocktails and voting for their favourite bartender experience.

Points from both parts of the competition were then collated before the overall champion was selected, along with a People's Choice winner.

Lori Wallace shows off her Draught Masters trophy.

Around 15,000 mixologists from around the world had entered the competition.

Last year's New Zealand winner was Jason Clark, from Auckland's Bedford Soda & Liquor bar, who took out the title with his Italian-inspired Tanqueray No 10-based cocktail - Non Parlo Italiano.

Meanwhile, young Auckland bartender Lori Wallace, from De Fountain in Mission Bay, earned second place at the finals of the Stella Artois World Draught Masters in London at the weekend.

The 21-year-old faced off against competitors from 30 countries.

Ms Wallace had earned her place at the London finals in November last year, when she beat 20 other finalists from New Zealand.