Kolkata: Monkey Shoulder, the free-spirited blended malt whisky from William Grant & Sons, launched the 8th edition of its much-anticipated Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC), bringing an electrifying start to this year’s city rounds in Kolkata. The event was hosted at Little Bit Sober, one of the city’s popular bar destinations.
Building on the momentum of seven successful editions, the second city round of UBC 2025 saw over 130 young and talented bartenders competing in an adrenaline-charged atmosphere. The participants underwent a rigorous series of five mixology challenges under the Bartender Rumble format, designed to assess real-world bar skills—from precision pouring and nosing to mixing, product knowledge, and crafting the perfect serve.
The top three finalists from the Kolkata round were:
- Surajit from Olterra
- Anil from ATM Bar
- Ishardeep from Highland Nectar, ITC Sonar
These finalists will move forward to the national grand finale, joining other winners from upcoming city rounds.
This year, the championship is being hosted by industry stalwart Pankaj Balachandran, a veteran of the Indian bar scene and former brand ambassador of Monkey Shoulder. His return to UBC as a special host added depth and excitement to the event, bringing both personal passion and professional insight to the platform.
Kapila Sethi Kad, Head of Marketing at William Grant & Sons India, expressed her pride, saying,
“The Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Championship is our commitment to nurturing talent and empowering India’s bartending community. With this 8th edition, we’re thrilled to raise the bar even higher—especially with the national winner now set to represent India at the regional finale in Tokyo. Kolkata has kicked things off with incredible energy.”
Speaking on his return to the stage, Pankaj Balachandran added,
“Returning to UBC as a special host has been a full-circle moment. The enthusiasm, the talent, and the love for the craft I witnessed in Kolkata was inspiring. Monkey Shoulder has truly turned UBC into a celebration of bartending excellence.”
Following Kolkata, the championship will continue its exciting journey through Goa, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Gurugram, with the India finale scheduled for September 2025. The ultimate champion will not only take home the national glory but will also represent India in Tokyo at the DMC World DJ Championship, marking a unique crossover between bar craft and performance art.
