In a final presentation attended by hospitality luminaries, this afternoon the judges crowned the best crowned the best bartender to represent Indonesia at the Diageo World Class competition in Shanghai, China, which will take place in September 2024.
The Diageo World Class Indonesia Final is part of Diageo’s annual Diageo World Class event, which has been running for 13 years. This event has inspired more than more than 400,000 bartenders around the world to explore creativity and innovation in making the best to create the best cocktails. Since May 2024, Diageo has started its series of competitions in Indonesia and invited eight of the best bartenders from Jakarta, Malang, Surabaya and Bali to join the semifinal and final event at Bimasena the Dharmawangsa Jakarta today.
“This year Diageo celebrates 15 years of Diageo World Class, an event that has been a great source of inspiration for so many around us. Diageo World Class events help partners, bartenders and bar owners, to better understand responsible drinking culture and explore premium cocktails from Diageo’s premium brands that have such a long heritage and story,” said Alefiyah Sarma, President Director of Diageo Indonesia.
Alefiyah added, “The Diageo World Class mission is very much in line with Diageo’s efforts to build an appreciation for cocktails, to savor every sip from a glass of cocktail served by a bartender.” Alefiyah emphasized that the fine drinking topic brought up by Diageo World Class this year affirms Diageo’s commitment to always practice responsible alcohol production and marketing.
From the work produced and the skills honed during this event, Diageo World Class also plays a role in improving the quality of alcoholic beverage products in Indonesia. “We really appreciate the steps taken by Diageo through Diageo World Class which helps encourage innovation in the beverage industry, especially the alcoholic beverage industry to support the tourism sector. Alcoholic beverage products have also contributed to the export of Indonesian products in 2023 worth 14 million USD. This value can still be increased. We are optimistic that this event will also be an opportunity for Indonesia to introduce Indonesian products at the global level and provide access for the domestic industry to meet the needs of alcoholic beverages for the tourism sector and increase exports,” said Merrijantij Punguan Pintaria, Director of the Beverage Industry, Tobacco Products and Refreshment Materials of the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin).
Cocktails: A Fusion of Bartending Science and Art
The Diageo World Class Indonesia Final invites and challenges talented bartenders to create innovative cocktails using Diageo’s premium brands, Don Julio and The Singleton. Each bartender will create two cocktails with a mix of tequila from Don Julio and single malt from The Singleton and present them to the judges.
“Cocktails are the perfect blend of the art and science of bartending. Every drink has a story to tell from the premium ingredients to the techniques used to mix them. Diageo World Class encourages bartenders to explore these stories and tell them to consumers. Beyond flavor, enjoying a cocktail is an immersive experience that deserves to be appreciated,” said Adrian Michalcik, Diageo World Class Winner 2022 and Diageo World Class 2024 Indonesia final judge. He continued, “Bartending is a profession that requires skills that must be honed through various training and competitions. Bartenders must understand the uniqueness of tequila from Don Julio or single malt from The Singleton in order to present great drink ideas and recipes. Diageo World Class emphasizes quality and craftsmanship and we want to see the creativity and innovation of bartenders and hear the incredible stories of the cocktails they create.”
Apart from Adrian, the judges at the Diageo World Class Indonesia Final are Group Head Bar Manager at Union Group Kiki Moka, Global Relationships Director of Nolet Distillery Schiedam Holland Dennis Tamse, and Whisky Educator and Founder of Highlander Inn Jakarta Andrew Soetiono. The judges will be looking for more than just delicious cocktail flavors, but also the art and story behind each creation, including creativity and presentation.
The organization of the Diageo World Class is part of the Diageo Bar Academy, which is committed to providing training and resources that can be easily accessed by players in the hospitality industry to create a sustainable, inclusive and advanced industry. In Indonesia, Diageo Bar Academy has been running since 2010 and trained more than 30,000 professionals in Jakarta, Medan, Bandung, Semarang, Jogjakarta, Surabaya, Malang, Bali and Makassar.
During the Diageo World Class 2024 Indonesia Final, Merrijantij also expressed his hope and appreciation for the competition, “We see the tremendous impact of the Diageo World Class initiative. This program shows how businesses can actively contribute to improving the quality of people in their respective industries. By fostering an inclusive environment, Diageo World Class is advancing industry standards and creating opportunities for Indonesians to continue to develop their potential and contribute to sustainable economic growth and development.”
At the much-anticipated Indonesia Final, I Putu Aris Sanjaya Putra from Sycro Base Bali was announced as the Diageo World Class Indonesia 2024 winner, beating 100 other contestants and will undergo various preparatory training to represent Indonesia at the Diageo World Class Global Final 2024 in Shanghai, China, competing with other top bartenders from 60 countries.
Aris, Diageo World Class Indonesia Winner 2024 Indonesia said, “I am very happy and proud to be part of Diageo World Class 2024. My win at the Indonesia Final is the first step to progressing to international events and together with Diageo I will bring Indonesia’s amazing cocktail creations to Shanghai. This victory is a victory with my fellow Indonesian bartenders
who were present today and presented our best skills to the judges. Hopefully what my bartender friends and I have gained today at the Diageo World Class Indonesia event can inspire other fellow bartenders to always hone their skills and continue to explore Indonesian cocktail stories, and become professional bartenders to advance Indonesian tourism.”
