Ayip Muhammad Dzuhri Crowned Indonesian Bartender of the Year

Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort’s own bar expert, Ayip Muhammad Dzuhri, was recently crowned Indonesia’s ‘Bartender of the Year’ in the South East Asian semi-finals of the Diageo World Class (DWC) semi-finals and bar show 2015, held earlier this month in Bangkok, Thailand.

Throughout the DWC SEA Semi Finals Ayip competed against bartenders from notable establishments in Jakarta, namely Widya Prasetyo from E&O and Yosi Pranantaka from Cork & Screw Pacific Place, and I Gusti Salit Made Ari Naryana from Woo Bar in Bali who passed the national finals stage that were held in Jakarta and Bali in May 2015.

One of the cocktails Ayip created in the challenges, Old Java, was inspired by Indonesian flavours. Old Java is made up of Ron Zacapa, homemade blend of turmeric and tamarind or ‘kunyit asam’, chocolate truffle syrup, and Peychaud’s Bitters.

Commercial Director of Nava+ Diageo, Nakul Pathak, said, “This evening saw some of the best craftsmanship in bartending we have from Southeast Asia, and it showed that our world class programme can truly groom and harness the highest level of knowledge and skills from participants, helping them elevate towards being a world class bartender. I have seen much potential in Indonesian bartenders in the national finals held last May in Jakarta and Bali. They have such dedication and commitment to the art of mixology in Indonesia and in creating some innovative and flavour combinations.”

The competition boasted an international judging panel consisting of globally renowned mixology experts, including Marian Beke (bar manager of Nightjar, London), Dennis Tamse (Distillery Ambassador of Ketel One), Hidetsugu Ueno (owner of High Five, Tokyo), Jeff Bell (Head Bartender of PDT New York), Tim Philips (World Class Bartender of 2012), Lam Chi Mun (Asia Pacific Director, Diageo Bar Academy), Angus Winchester (Ambassador Emeritus for Tanqueray gin), Igor Hadzismajlovic (co-owner of Employees Only, New York City) and Charles Joly (World Class Bartender of 2014).

As Indonesia’s Bartender of the Year, Ayip will join Bartenders of the Year from other 24 countries, which include Antonio Lai (Hong Kong); Kenneth Bandivas (Philippines); Pongpak Sudthipongse (Thailand); Shawn Chong (Malaysia) and Steve Leong (Singapore) and Duy Tu Hoang (Vietnam).

They all will be competing against in each other in the DWC Global Finals in Cape Town, South Africa in September this year.