The cocktail world is buzzing, and all eyes are on Tokyo. This October, Southeast Asia’s brightest bartenders converge for the inaugural Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC) Regional Finals, a high-energy celebration of skill, creativity, and the pure craft of hospitality. Forget smoke and spectacle; this is about precision, rhythm, and heart: the “skills that pay the bills.” From over 8,000 competitors across 21 countries, … Continue reading Tipple Time: An Interview with Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Championship Regional finalists Wong Wee Siong (Singapore) and Ivon Soon (Malaysia), and Brand Spokesperson Tao (Thailand)

Forget the ordinary gin and tonic. At the Marriott International APEC Rising Star 2025 competition in Bangkok, mixologists turned back the clock and turned up the creativity by reviving forgotten ingredients in cocktails that celebrate culture, sustainability, and pure artistry. From Thai gardens to Indian spice racks and Singaporean coffee grounds, 14 of Marriott’s most talented bartenders from across Asia Pacific (excluding China) went head-to-head … Continue reading Tipple Time: Marriott’s Rising Star Mixologists Revive Forgotten Flavors Across Asia Pacific

The world of bartending has never been more electrifying. Once tucked away in dimly lit bars and cocktail lounges, the art of mixing drinks has now stepped into the spotlight, commanding the kind of attention once reserved for athletes and performers. This October, all eyes turn to Tokyo, where Southeast Asia’s brightest bartending stars will face off in the first-ever Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Championship … Continue reading Southeast Asia’s Best Bartenders Head to Tokyo for Monkey Shoulder’s Ultimate Showdown