Sandesh Thapa has been named the MONIN Cup 2026 New Zealand Champion and will now represent his country on the global stage.
Innovation and creativity are the biggest drivers for beverages, especially at a foodservice level. This was on show at the recent MONIN Cup finals, where the future of mixology and up-and-coming trends were in focus.
The MONIN Cup 2026 New Zealand National Final brought together some of the country’s most talented bartenders for an inspiring showcase of creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation behind the bar.
Held at Bar Albert in Auckland, this year’s competition challenged finalists to reinterpret classic cocktails through the theme Timeless Twists, which encouraged competitors to look beyond tradition and reimagine familiar favourites through modern techniques, bold flavour pairings, and contemporary presentation.
The result was an exceptional evening that highlighted the depth of talent emerging across New Zealand’s hospitality industry. From refined execution to original storytelling and flavour innovation, each finalist delivered a unique perspective on modern cocktail culture.
The six national finalists represented a diverse mix of venues and regions across the country. Leon Sittisart from Auckland represented Panacea, Mijash Hamal Thakuri from Auckland represented The Grill, SkyCity Auckland, Theodore Tjandra of Auckland represented Truth or Dare, Niamh Haszard from Te Anau represented The Fat Duck Gastropub, Sandesh Thapa from Auckland represented Himalayan Fusion, and Stefani from The Langlands Hotel travelled from Invercargill to compete.
Following a highly competitive final, Sandesh Thapa was named the MONIN Cup 2026 New Zealand Champion.
Thapa impressed the judging panel with a cocktail that combined technical precision, creativity, and a strong interpretation of the Timeless Twists brief. His ability to balance flavour innovation with classic inspiration secured him the national title and the opportunity to represent New Zealand on the global stage.
His cocktail, ‘From Sea to the Garden’, was inspired by the naval history of the classic Gimlet. He said he has always loved simple sour-style cocktails, and the Gimlet has always been one of his favourites.
These days, Thapa has felt the popularity of the Gimlet has become quieter, so he wanted to reintroduce and elevate it through modern techniques while still preserving its original structure of gin, citrus and balance.
“MONIN was one of the first syrup brands introduced to me during my early bartending journey, so it has always felt familiar and inspiring. The legacy, consistency, and constant development of new flavours from MONIN are truly amazing. Competitions like MONIN Cup are also very important because they are not just platforms to make cocktails, they are platforms for bartenders to shine, grow, and rise toward the world stage,” said Thapa.
Winning the competition has meant a lot to him personally and professionally.
“It motivates me even more to continue sharpening my knowledge and skills, represent New Zealand proudly, and showcase my passion for modern bartending to the world.”
The MONIN Cup has become one of the hospitality industry’s leading platforms for recognising and developing emerging bartending talent, while fostering creativity and innovation within the on-premise community.
MONIN New Zealand extended its thanks to all finalists, judges, venue partners, and attendees who helped bring the event to life.
As cocktail culture continues to evolve, the MONIN Cup 2026 demonstrated that New Zealand’s bartending scene is in exceptionally strong hands.
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