Regional Winners Set to Showcase their “Skills That Pay The Bills” on the Global Stage
Monkey Shoulder’s bold “Make It Monkey” spirit sets the stage for the Monkey Shoulder Regional Final
After months of intense national competitions, five of Southeast Asia’s top bartenders are preparing to represent their countries at the inaugural Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC) Regional Finals in Tokyo this October. Winners from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines will compete against peers from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and India in a showdown to crown Asia’s Ultimate Bartender Champion.
Launched in 2025, Monkey Shoulder UBC has redefined the cocktail competition landscape by moving away from conceptual showpieces and focusing instead on what Monkey Shoulder calls the “skills that pay the bills” – the real-world techniques, speed, accuracy, and creativity that make a bartender exceptional. Over 8,000 bartenders across 21 countries have participated since its inception, and in 2025 the stakes are higher than ever with the addition of the regional finals.
Monkey Shoulder’s Bold Spirit Sets the Stage
This year’s winners emerged victorious after six demanding challenges designed to test every facet of bartending: a rapid-fire quiz on industry knowledge, a precision pouring test where every milliliter matters, the nosing challenge requiring competitors to identify spirits by aroma alone, a high-pressure table service trial, the perfect serve of Monkey Shoulder’s signature Gold Rush cocktail, and the adrenaline-fueled Round Building finale; a head-to-head race to prepare 10 classic cocktails with flawless execution.
Thailand and Malaysia’s Monkey Shoulder UBC 2025 champions celebrate their victories on the road to Tokyo
Representing Thailand is the champion from WYWS Cocktail Bar in Bangkok, whose composure and technical mastery in the Bangkok final impressed referees and secured a coveted spot in Tokyo. Sharing his thoughts on Thailand’s role in the upcoming Regional Finals, Phaothong Dykins (Tao), Monkey Shoulder Brand Ambassador for Thailand, said: “Thailand has built a reputation as one of the most exciting bar scenes in Asia, full of passion, creativity, and hospitality. Our Monkey Shoulder UBC winner embodies that spirit and will showcase to the region exactly why Thai bartenders are respected across the world. We’re proud to see WYWS Cocktail Bar carry the Thai flag in Tokyo, and I believe they will inspire the next generation of bartenders back home.”
Malaysia will be represented by Ivon Soon, Head Bartender at Enso Izakaya & Bar, Hyatt Regency, Kuala Lumpur, who clinched the title after four years of perseverance and declared, “This is my fourth time competing in UBC, my second time in the final round for Malaysia, and I finally get the honour to bring the title home! I did quite a bit of homework on the William Grant & Sons portfolio, studying both their signature serves, and the classic cocktails that feature them,” she said. “This is more than just a personal victory – it’s a chance to represent Malaysia on the regional stage.”
Wong Wee Siong of Singapore and Yesaya Rotinsulu of Indonesia celebrate in style as Monkey Shoulder UBC 2025 champions
From Singapore, Wong Wee Siong, Head Bartender at The Lobby Bar, The Singapore EDITION, triumphed over 60 contenders with his calm precision and consistency. “Tokyo will be my first time competing internationally, and I can’t wait to embrace the experience, showcase my skills, and enjoy every moment of it,” he said after his win. “Competitions like UBC push us to strip everything back to the fundamentals and refine the basics that truly matter. For me, this victory is a reminder that patience, composure, and passion for the craft will always shine through under pressure.”
Indonesia’s champion, Yesaya Rotinsulu, Head Bartender of 8Souls Jazz Club, Jakarta, brings 17 years of bartending experience and eight years of competing in UBC to the finals. Reflecting on his victory, he noted: “Finally winning feels incredible. This milestone isn’t the finish line; it’s the start of a new responsibility – to keep pushing boundaries, raising the standards of bartending, and proudly representing Indonesia on the regional stage.” He added: “What makes Monkey Shoulder UBC so unique is that it tests not just creativity, but consistency and composure when the pressure is highest. For me, the journey has been just as valuable as the win – learning from peers, refining my approach year after year, and finding joy in the process. Now, standing as Indonesia’s champion, I feel motivated to carry that spirit forward and showcase the strength of our bar community in Tokyo.”
David Abalayan of the Philippines secured his Monkey Shoulder UBC 2025 win and a boarding pass to Tokyo
The Philippines will be represented by David Abalayan, Bar Manager at No Entry Cocktail Club in Manila, whose speed and precision secured unanimous approval from referees. “This win is hugely exciting; I didn’t expect it, and it feels amazing that all the hard work has brought me here. Tokyo is going to be a new experience, and I can’t wait to continue practicing my skills for this incredible opportunity,” he said. “Winning in Manila felt surreal, but it also gave me confidence that the years I’ve spent honing my craft are worth it. I’m proud to represent the Philippines in this next stage of the competition.”
Celebrating Local Wins Before the Regional Stage
Speaking about the broader significance of this year’s competitions, Brendon Khoo, Monkey Shoulder’s Regional Brand Ambassador for Southeast Asia, emphasised the spirit of community and excellence: “Monkey Shoulder UBC is more than a title. It’s a launchpad for bartenders to test themselves, connect with peers, and raise the bar for the entire industry. The calibre of Southeast Asia’s champions this year proves that the region is ready to shine on an international stage.”
To mark their national triumphs before heading to Tokyo, the champions will also host celebratory shifts in their home countries, giving guests a chance to experience firsthand the craft and energy that won them the national crown. Malaysia’s Ivon Soon will take over the bar at ENSŌ Izakaya & Bar, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur, on 4 October 2025 from 7pm to 11pm. In Indonesia, Yesaya Rotinsulu will host his celebratory shift at STALK Bar, SCBD, Jakarta, on 1 October 2025 from 8pm to 11pm.
The Regional Finals will take place in Tokyo from 10–12 October 2025, alongside the DMC World DJ Championships, underscoring Monkey Shoulder’s close ties with music culture and its mission to champion creativity across industries.
