The Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC) returned to Indonesia this week with high-energy competition and standout performances from the nation’s top bartenders. Held on Monday, 4 August, at Zoo SCBD, the event concluded with Yesaya Rotinsulu, Head Bartender at 8Souls Jazz Club, claiming the title of Indonesia’s Ultimate Bartender Champion 2025.

Yesaya, who has 17 years of bartending experience and eight years competing in UBC, outperformed a strong line-up of eight finalists in six rigorous rounds. His calm precision, technical skill, and consistency set him apart, particularly in the final Round Building challenge, securing his win and a ticket to the UBC Regional Finals in Tokyo this October. There, he will compete against champions from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore.

“The Ultimate Bartender Championship is all about energy, creativity, and true hospitality,” Yesaya said after his win. “Finally winning after eight years feels incredible, but this is just the beginning. I hope to keep pushing boundaries, raising the standards of bartending, and representing Indonesia proudly on the regional stage.”

Testing “Skills That Pay the Bills”

Launched in 2015, Monkey Shoulder’s UBC is held in over 21 countries and has hosted more than 8,000 participants to date. Unlike traditional cocktail competitions, UBC focuses on real-world skills essential to modern bartending.

This year’s competition featured six challenges:

  • Quiz — testing industry knowledge under time pressure.

  • Pouring Round — measuring precision to the milliliter.

  • Nosing Challenge — identifying spirits by aroma alone.

  • Table Service — assessing hospitality and composure under pressure.

  • Perfect Serve — crafting Monkey Shoulder’s Gold Rush cocktail with speed, accuracy, and presentation.

  • Round Building — preparing a full order of classic cocktails within a strict time limit.

Competitors demonstrated speed, creativity, and technical mastery, cheered on by an audience of industry peers.

Judges and Special Awards

The 2025 panel featured prominent figures from Indonesia’s bar scene, including past UBC champions and finalists: Maudy Widitya (Pati Group), Rafli Razaq Rangkuti (Puero Jakarta), Afnan Nulhak (SUBI Lounge), Alex Hutagaol (Gozadera & Deconstruction), Alviyan Nugroho (UNION Jakarta), and Rhesa Andrean (Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa).

New to this year’s format was the “Best of the Best” challenge, which gathered past city champions for a dedicated Round Building competition in Jakarta. Rhesa Andrean claimed the title, winning a portable DJ controller in recognition of Monkey Shoulder’s partnership with the DMC World DJ Championships in Tokyo.

Praising Yesaya’s performance, Rhesa said: “He built that cocktail round with precision and purpose, without wasted movement. His approach, technique, and accuracy were flawless.”

The first-ever UBC Regional Finals will take place in Tokyo from 10–12 October 2025, alongside the DMC World DJ Championships, marking a new chapter for the competition in Asia-Pacific.