The Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC) is making a comeback, and this year, Monkey Shoulder is taking it to a whole new level. Recognized as one of the largest events of its kind in the world, the Ultimate Bartender Championship in Indonesia promises an unparalleled level of excitement and competition.

Monkey Shoulder has expanded the Indonesian edition of the Ultimate Bartender Championship, providing a bigger platform for bartenders to showcase their ‘Skills Pay Bills’. Previously hosted in Jakarta, the event now encompasses Bandung, Surabaya, Semarang, and Bali, signifying a key milestone in the competition’s evolution and the industry’s advancement.

In a departure from traditional bartending competitions, the Ultimate Bartender Championship encourages participants to embrace the fun side of bartending with scotch. The event features a series of high-energy challenges designed to test essential industry skills while inspiring creativity and innovation.

“For me, UBC is more than just an ordinary competition; it pushes our skills as bartenders and strengthens our sense of camaraderie. Returning for a second year isn’t just about competing – it’s a vital mission for the industry. Last year, I was so nervous, and it held me back. Still, this year, I’m calmer and more determined to achieve my mission: to elevate Indonesia’s bartending industry and showcase our unique flavors to the world,” said Putu Agus Setiawan, the National Winner of UBC 2024.

Over the past three weeks, 360 of the country’s best mixologists competed for the championship in their cities, and five have emerged victorious, claiming the title of Ultimate Bartender 2024.

“We’ve always been excited about the energy participants bring in the Ultimate Bartender Championships. Therefore in this UBC 2024, we’re adding new games and entertainment to make it even more fun while building a strong community, celebrating our top bartenders’ hard work, inspiring healthy competition, and highlighting those who truly embody the Monkey Shoulder spirit,” mentioned Wawan Kurniawan, Brand Ambassador of Monkey Shoulder Indonesia.

In addition to eternal bragging rights, each city’s first and second place winners will get a prize of bottle of Monkey Shoulder and an exclusive two-night bartending workshop, Monkey Camp, led by Monkey Shoulder’s Brand Ambassadors: Brendon Khoo (SEA) dan Wawan Kurniawan (ID). Meanwhile, the national champion will also receive a UBC ring and a flight to Taipei, Taiwan, for the international competition in 2025.

A Test of ‘Skills Pay Bills’

Unlike conventional bartending competitions, the Ultimate Bartender Championship challenges participants in five high-energy challenges to prove their competency as top bartenders.

The competition kicks off with a quick-fire quiz on industry knowledge, followed by the Pouring Challenge, where participants must accurately serve five drinks in the shortest time possible.

Next is the Nosing Challenge, where participants must identify five different spirits using only their memory and sense of smell within three minutes.

Following that was the Table Service Challenge, where participants had the tall task of serving a table with orders as quickly as possible without committing any blunders.

 

Finally, the Perfect Serve Challenge tests participants’ ability to make and serve a Monkey Sour cocktail as quickly and accurately as possible. They are judged on speed, balance, taste, and most importantly, customer satisfaction.

The two highest scoring competitors then faced off in the Round Building challenge, which comprised the semi-final and final stages. The finalists raced against the clock to make six drinks in the semi-finals, and 10 drinks in the finals.

Determining the Ultimate Bartender Champion depended on only the highest standards of the judging panel, who were asked if they would pay for the drink based on accuracy of ingredients and method, speed, and of course, taste. 

 

In addition to expanding the competition to more bartenders in Indonesia, the Ultimate Bartender Championship is also held in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore