At the recent Diageo WORLD CLASS Global Bartender 2024 competition, I Putu Aris Sanjaya Putra, the Bar Manager at Syrco BASÈ, secured a remarkable second-place finish, making history by becoming the first Indonesian to clinch a top spot at the world’s largest bartending competition. The renowned culinary hub, located north of Ubud and led by two Michelin-starred chefs, celebrated this historic achievement. Hailing from Buleleng in North Bali, Aris made this remarkable feat at the competition, which featured participants from 44 countries and took place in Shanghai, China, from September 9 to 12.
Diageo WORLD CLASS is known for recognizing industry professionals for their creativity, exceptional preparation techniques, hospitality, professionalism, and commitment to continuous learning. In the final round of the competition, Aris and seven other contestants were tasked with setting up a pop-up bar featuring six cocktails representing a specific concept. Aris’ concept, “Roots to Flower,” drew inspiration from the life cycle of plants. His innovative concoctions utilized various elements of plants, including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and even the bark of the mesoyi tree. This unique approach to ingredient use aligns with Syrco BASÈ’s core principles of transparency, nature, and traceability, which are reflected in the restaurant’s carefully curated alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages designed to complement its innovative cuisine.
In addition to securing the second-place position, Aris also received the WORLD CLASS People’s Choice Award, further solidifying his exceptional performance. His pop-up bar was chosen as the favorite among all the contestants’ offerings by most of the 700 competition attendees. In an interview with local media outlet NusaBali.com, Aris advised aspiring mixologists to “be as original as possible and just be yourself,” emphasizing the potential inspiration that elements of Balinese culture can offer for mixing drinks.
Syrco Bakker, the chef at Syrco BASÈ, expressed immense pride in Aris’ phenomenal achievement, noting that Aris’ winning concept perfectly encapsulates the restaurant’s approach to respecting and celebrating nature. This victory adds to a series of international accolades received by Syrco BASÈ mixology and culinary team members this year. Wisnu Arcana, another bartender at Syrco BASÈ, is set to showcase his skills and love for Indonesian ingredients at the Global Finals of the Giffard West Cup in France from September 23 to 26. Additionally, Assistant Bar Manager Arya Dharmayasa and Bartenders A.A. Putra and Zieshen Giovanni secured second place in the Indonesian final of Campari Red Hands Asia 2024. Furthermore, Stefan de Graaf, the Head of Culinary Services, is competing in the regional finals of the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition, held between September 2024 and January 2025.
“At Syrco BASÈ, we are dedicated to nurturing a culture of excellence, in which the excitement of learning and professional and personal improvement are ongoing priorities,” said Chef Syrco. “Aris’ amazing result at the world’s biggest bartending competition proves Indonesia’s mixology scene and bartenders are truly world-class. His win and our other team members’ outstanding achievements reflect their incredible talent, hard work, and creativity. We are thrilled to have them represent our restaurant and Indonesia on the global stage, and we can’t wait to see what they achieve next,” Chef Syrco concluded.
