Indonesia's Best Bartender Heads to Mexico

Prior to his departure to Alfado joined a special training in Bangkok and met with the media at FLOW Jakarta to share some insights on the competition in Indonesia and present his winning concoction – a cocktail named “Granny’s Gold Teeth”.

But the World Class bartending competition by Diageo is much more than being able to mix a tasty drink.

“You have to make your guests feel at home,” Alfado said when asked what makes a good bartender. “Sounds simple – but of course, a bartender these days is also a scientist, a psychologist, a doctor and a storyteller.”

When stepping behind the bar, he added, it is most important to be able to anticipate who your guests want you to be: a person who cares and listens to your problems, an entertainer who can make you laugh, or just a mixologist who serves you your favorite drink.

Almost 180 bartenders from across the archipelago joined the competition this year – more than ever before.

“I’d say I won the competition because maybe I was more experienced than the other participants,” said Aldo, who has already worked overseas. “But of course, in the end, when it came to the last eight, it was also about being lucky, as the other finalists were also very talented.”