Search for India’s Ultimate Bartender goes to Kolkata

Search for India’s Ultimate Bartender goes to Kolkata

Arghya Acharya wins Kolkata Round of Ultimate Bartender Championship by Monkey Shoulder  

Monkey Shoulder, a scotch for the new generation of whisky aficionados, brings the 2018 season of ‘Ultimate Bartender Championship’ to India.  This competition is on a journey across the country challenging bartending ‘skills that pay the bills.’

The India leg of the championship which began in Mumbai, moved to Kolkata from Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune and Goa, will be followed by Gurgaon, Delhi and Chandigarh. The contest was hosted by the Monkey Shoulder India Brand Ambassador, Pankaj Balachandran over a daylong session on bartending skills of ingredient knowledge, mixing, pouring, and nosing and stock taking. The participants were tested on their unique techniques, insights, speed and skills behind the bar. This year, the competition has 550 contestants from the various parts of India competing for a spot to go to the most sought after and top notch Global industry event, The Athens Bar Show. The winner also takes home a very exclusive ride with a fully curated and customised 500 CC Bike.

Arghya Acharya won the Kolkata round of the Ultimate Bartender Championship by Monkey Shoulder held at M Bar and Kitchen, Park Street, today. The competition brought together the most talented bartenders of the city with a showcase of their prowess and art of bartending. Commenting on his win Arghya said, “ I am so excited to win this round to go for the India Grand Finale at New Delhi. We had a great competition with the best in the industry competing for this spot. It is a great initiative by Monkey Shoulder to test our skills to do our jobs better.” 

Arghya Acharya and Uttam Singh will go for the India Grand finale on 28 June 2018 at New Delhi. The national winner of the grand finale will gain a coveted place in the world’s most prestigious Industry event, Athens Bar Show with an all expenses paid trip and a customized 500 CC Motorcycle.

Commenting on this championship, Pankaj Balachandran, Brand Ambassador Monkey Shoulder said, "We are committed to empowering our friends in the bartender community to deliver memorable consumer experiences. A high energy industry event, it promises to lift all bartending parameters that make it an epic competition. Monkey Shoulder is 100% malt made for mixing. This competition resonate the Monkey shoulder values of versatility and free spirited smoothness which has made it a preferred drink with bartenders around the world.”

About Monkey Shoulder

Monkey Shoulder is produced by William Grant & Sons, an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887.

Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s most awarded single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third-largest blended Scotch, Grant’s as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s Gin, and Sailor Jerry, and Tullamore DEW Irish Whiskey.