Movers and Shakers: Aris Sanjaya on Crafting Drinks, Culture, and a New Indonesian Bar Identity

When Aris Sanjaya first shook a Daiquiri in front of cocktail legend Dre Masso, he wasn’t just making a drink, he was proving himself. That single moment at Akademi Bar, where he presented both a classic and a local twist, marked a turning point in his journey. More than a decade later, Aris is now the founder of Islander Bali, one of the country’s most exciting hospitality ventures, and a bartender whose creativity has carried him onto the global stage.

Aris is widely regarded as one of Indonesia’s most celebrated bartenders. His rise is no accident: a blend of natural charisma, relentless refinement of his craft, and the deeply rooted hospitality that comes with his Balinese heritage. These qualities, paired with his time working abroad in Ho Chi Minh City, gave him layers of experience, adaptability, and the confidence to hold his own on the world’s biggest stage.

photo from Islander

Roots & Rise

Aris’s bartending career began far from the spotlight, at a small pub called Lovina, where the focus was more on Long Island Iced Teas and arrack cocktails than artisanal highballs. It wasn’t glamorous, but it gave him a foundation and a determination to keep pushing forward.

“Back in the day, bullying and seniority were very real,” he recalls. Rather than letting it break him, he turned it into fuel, a drive to sharpen his craft until he could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best.

That determination eventually led him to Akademi, Potato Head’s groundbreaking bar school and experimental space. There, his world expanded. Classic cocktails weren’t just recipes, they were foundations. Local ingredients weren’t just novelties, they were stories waiting to be told.

What sets Aris apart is not only his resilience but also his ability to channel personal and cultural identity into his craft. Coming from Buleleng in North Bali, he carries with him a culture known for warmth and brilliant hospitality. In his hands, these values translate into cocktails that are approachable, generous, and unmistakably his own.

photo from Diageo World Class

Global Stage

The climb wasn’t without challenges, but milestones came quickly. The most defining of these came in September 2024, when Aris competed at the Diageo World Class Global Bartender Competition in Shanghai. Against 44 of the world’s best bartenders, he made history by becoming the first Indonesian to place as a runner-up in the world’s largest bartending competition, missing the top spot by only the slimmest of margins.

The achievement was historic, not only for him but for Indonesia’s bar community as a whole. His performance didn’t just earn him second place but also the People’s Choice Award, with his pop-up bar chosen as the favorite among more than 700 attendees.

His message to aspiring bartenders was simple: “Be as original as possible and just be yourself.” That advice reflects the way he sees cocktails—not as technical exercises alone, but as a stage where authenticity and cultural inspiration shine brightest.

Craft & Creativity

Ask Aris to describe his style, and he keeps it simple: fun, easy-going, creative. That philosophy comes through in his drinks, approachable yet innovative, familiar but memorable.

One of his proudest creations is a highball-style Piña Colada twist, built on local rum infused with jackfruit, clarified pineapple, pandan, sugi leaf, and lime acid. “It’s easy to drink but hard to forget,” he says with a grin. The drink, first mixed in 2019, tells the story of where he comes from: tropical, playful, and distinctly Indonesian.

His curiosity sets him apart. Recently, he has been experimenting with cryoconcentration, a freezing technique that intensifies flavors, showing how he pairs technical exploration with cultural storytelling. Inspiration comes from far and wide—books, culinary research, and Netflix shows like Chef’s Table.

This mix of local grounding and global perspective is what defines the new wave of Indonesian bartenders. Aris doesn’t see creativity as a flashy garnish, but as a responsibility: to innovate in a way that still feels authentic to his guests and his culture.

At Islander, this philosophy runs deeper than drinks. The brand is rooted in Balinese values: respect for nature, people, and culture. For Aris, every cocktail is a chance to express that balance of heritage and hospitality.

photo from Islander

The Indonesian Bar Scene

Though based in Bali, Aris has his eyes on Jakarta. “It’s an emerging hotspot,” he says, pointing to the sheer volume of new venues and the creativity fueling them. He singles out Modernhaus, praising its vibe and its visionary leader, Mas Bule.

Still, he believes there is work to be done. For young bartenders, the biggest missing piece is fundamentals. “Creativity is important, but without a strong grasp of the basics, it’s hard to build something that lasts,” he explains.

This observation cuts to the heart of Indonesia’s growing cocktail culture. The energy and experimentation are undeniable, but for the scene to sustain itself, it must be balanced by discipline and depth. Aris represents this balance—he is both an innovator and a firm believer in the craft’s foundations.

photo from Islander

Future & Legacy

For someone who has already stood on the world stage, Aris’s ambitions are refreshingly grounded. His goals are less about accolades and more about building: mentoring the next generation, expanding Islander into a leading hospitality brand, and eventually opening a bar of his own.

He has a simple piece of advice for anyone just starting out: “Keep walking. Always aim for something bigger than yourself, be proud of who you are, and drink responsibly.”

What makes Aris such a compelling figure is not only his own trajectory but the way he embodies where Indonesia is headed as a bar culture: ambitious, adaptable, and rooted in identity.

photo from Diageo World Class

From shaking Long Islands at a small pub called Lovina to creating globally recognized cocktails rooted in Balinese culture, Aris Sanjaya has become Indonesia’s most successful bartender, a history-maker who proved that the archipelago belongs on the world stage. His journey is proof that the country’s bar scene is no longer just following trends, it is creating them.

What makes him a true mover and shaker is not just his technical skill or his accolades, but his vision of bartending as both craft and community. With charisma, resilience, and a commitment to his roots, Aris is shaping not just drinks, but the identity of an industry finding its voice on the global stage.