Uno Jang: Winner of Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2025
With a decade of experience in Singapore and a creative approach worthy of an engineer, Uno Jang strengthens Jigger & Pony’s leadership in the global cocktail scene by receiving the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2025, the only award voted on by bartenders from the 50 Best Bars.
The first cocktail that Uno Jang, winner of Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2025, prepared on his very first day of work was supposedly a “gin and tonic”… but he made it in a rather explosive way.
Instead of preparing one of the guests’ favorite mixed drinks, he actually made a soju bomb, also known as somaek, a very popular Korean drink that mixes soju (traditional Korean liquor) with lager beer. It is basically a bomb shot. You pour beer into a glass, place a shot of soju on crossed chopsticks or directly inside the glass, drop the shot into the beer, and drink it immediately.
The soju bomb is festive, energetic, and very typical at gatherings and social celebrations in South Korea, Jang’s home country.
Our favorite bartender was recognized as the winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award within The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025, the only prize voted exclusively by his peers around the world.
He arrived in Singapore a decade ago, spoke very little English, and had no experience behind the bar. Today, he helps shape one of the most influential bars in Asia: Jigger & Pony.
Like many of us, he began by familiarizing himself with craft cocktails, then joined Jigger & Pony in 2017 and started gaining experience in national and international beverage competitions.
But what makes Uno Jang different? The way he explains his creative process when conceiving extraordinary cocktails. His methodology resembles an engineer’s flowchart. Uno explains that he first defines the classic cocktail, then breaks it down, formulates a hypothesis, and tests different prototypes.
For example, his reinterpretation of the espresso martini, which appears on the Jigger & Pony menu, is based on fresh coffee but focuses above all on building a stable foam. These are the small details that elevate the cocktail without altering its spirit.
This precision and relentless drive have enabled both Uno and Jigger & Pony to become pillars of cocktail culture in Singapore, with Jigger & Pony consistently making the list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars since its inception in 2016.
Today, Uno is the creative director at Jigger & Pony. You may find him behind the bar most nights, but he has also passed on his knowledge to new generations thanks to his talent, confidence, and calm demeanor. He is also responsible for the beverage program at the flagship bar in the Amara Hotel and oversees the menus at Gibson, Live Twice (in Bukit Pasoh), and Cosmo Pony (in Jakarta). A true authority.
For our Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2025, “it’s an honor to receive this award because it’s voted for by my industry peers. If you look at the other winners, it really is a special group, so I’m humbled.”
According to 50 Best, the Bartenders’ Bartender Award is how the global bartender community recognizes colleagues like Uno who have had a significant impact on the industry in the last 18 months.
Winners of this award often see it as a new opportunity to stay motivated, keep challenging themselves, and become better every day.
The story of Uno Jang is a reminder that no beginning determines the destination. His relentless curiosity and work ethic pushed him to question everything, to learn, and to perfect his craft behind the bar. His journey shows that cocktail making is a discipline, an act of imagination, and a constant will to evolve.
Dear bartenders: never underestimate the power of small details, patient training, and the desire to create something that honors our craft and the people who enjoy it. You too can turn every service into the first step toward your own version of greatness. That is the true spirit behind the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender. And it is a path we can strive for. We cannot wait to find out who will be the next Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2026.