Monkey Shoulder x Bengaluru

Who says the real action happens only on the dance floor? At Monkey Shoulder’s Ultimate Bartender Championship, the drama unfolds behind the bar, where speed meets skill, creativity gets shaken up and a perfect pour can make or break a contender. TheGlitz dives into Bengaluru’s spirited battle of the bartenders.

If you thought bartending was simply about tossing a few bottles in the air, shaking a cocktail tin with dramatic flair and looking impossibly cool while doing it, think again. Behind every memorable cocktail is a cocktail of its own: technique, timing, knowledge, precision and the ability to keep your cool when the pressure is on.

Monkey Shoulder’s Ultimate Bartender Championship understands this deliciously well. The ninth edition of the competition brought its Bengaluru round to Pangeo in October 2026, transforming the venue into a lively arena for bartending talent. With more than 150 bartenders participating on the ground, the city’s bar stars had plenty to prove. And naturally, TheGlitz was all eyes on this spirited showdown where the pour had to be perfect and the performance had to deliver!

Bengaluru, Let the Bartending Games Begin!

The Ultimate Bartender Championship is the Indian leg of Monkey Shoulder’s global World Ultimate Bartender Championship, a competition that puts the professionals behind the bar firmly in the spotlight.

Hosted by Vidit Mantri, Brand Ambassador for Monkey Shoulder India, the Bengaluru round brought together bartenders ready to demonstrate that great drinks are built on much more than good looks and a flashy flourish. The challenges tested the fundamentals that separate an enthusiastic cocktail enthusiast from a serious professional: pouring, nosing, industry knowledge, service and the ability to craft the perfect serve.

In other words, this wasn’t merely a contest to determine who could produce the most Instagram-worthy cocktail. It was about knowing your craft, trusting your technique and delivering consistently when the spotlight is firmly on you.

More Than Just a Pretty Pour

Let’s face it: cocktail culture has become quite the lifestyle statement. From sophisticated speakeasies to glamorous hotel bars, bartenders are increasingly recognised as creative professionals who blend hospitality with craftsmanship.

But behind the theatre lies the technical discipline. The right measure matters. Understanding aromas matters. So does knowing your ingredients, anticipating a guest’s expectations and maintaining composure when the orders pile up.

That is precisely the philosophy underpinning the championship. Speaking about the India edition, Vidit Mantri, Brand Ambassador, Monkey Shoulder India, said: “Creativity behind the bar has the greatest impact when it is supported by sound technique. That is the idea we are bringing to the Bengaluru round: giving bartenders room to express themselves while testing the knowledge and control behind their choices. The Ultimate Bartender Championship is an opportunity to challenge familiar habits, discover where there is room to improve and take that ambition forward to the India finale.”

It’s a refreshing reminder that behind every spectacular cocktail is a professional who has spent time mastering the basics.

Meet Bengaluru’s Two Finalists

After putting their skills through the wringer, two contenders emerged victorious in the Bengaluru round: Ashwin from Bar Spirit Forward and Sushan from Dali & Gala.

The duo will advance to the India finale, where they will compete against finalists from the other city rounds. With the national winner earning the opportunity to represent India at the World Ultimate Bartender Championship Global Final in November, the stakes are considerably higher than simply winning bragging rights at the local bar.

For Ashwin and Sushan, the next challenge will be to translate their Bengaluru success into a national-level performance. The competition is also an opportunity to showcase the depth of Indian bartending talent on a global platform.

From Bengaluru to the World Stage

The championship’s India journey spans multiple cities, including New Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Hyderabad and Jaipur. Guwahati, Chennai and Jaipur are among the cities highlighted in the 2026 expansion of the competition.

Speaking about the World Ultimate Bartender Championship Global Final, Joe Petch, Monkey Shoulder Global Brand Ambassador, said: “Individuality is one of the things that makes bartending such an exciting profession. The challenge is to give that individuality a strong technical base, so that a bartender’s ideas translate into a great serve. As Bengaluru joins the India journey, we look forward to seeing the national winner take their own approach to the World Ultimate Bartender Championship Global Final and share it with the wider bartending community.”

The India finale will determine who gets to take that philosophy onto the international stage, representing the country’s bartending community before a wider audience.

TheGlitz Take

Bartending deserves far more respect than the occasional appreciative nod from someone sipping a beautifully garnished cocktail. It is hospitality, performance, precision and creativity rolled into one demanding profession.

Monkey Shoulder’s Ultimate Bartender Championship gets one thing absolutely right: it celebrates the people who turn a drinks menu into an experience. And with more than 150 bartenders participating in Bengaluru, the city’s talent pool certainly has something to say.

TheGlitz verdict? The best bartender isn’t necessarily the one who throws the bottles highest or produces the most theatrical flourish. It’s the one who understands the craft, respects the ingredients and delivers a brilliant drink when it counts. Here’s raising a glass to Ashwin and Sushan… and to the art of making every pour count.