A long way from home, Aldi Zulyatmiko only recently moved from the neighboring island of Java to Bali. Here in Bali he works as the head bartender for 40 Thieves, located on Jalan Petitenget in Seminyak. Originally from the city of Solo, in Central Java, Aldi didn’t always have the best experiences with alcohol. Growing up as a youth, he decided to find work as a bartender as a means to have easy access to alcohol. Young and immature, his early work was a means to an end up until he began to have a new perspective on spirits.
Moving to Jakarta from his hometown at the age of 20, Aldi immediately found work at Loewy, at Mega Kuningan. It was here where he started at the very bottom of the food chain and learned the tools of the trade under the tutelage of the more senior bartenders there. At Loewy, he gained a new understanding and perspective on alcohol
and eventually developed his passion in bartending. No longer seeking an easy drink, Aldi recalls that the supportive environment at Loewy heavily contributed to his maturity as a person and as a bartender. Specifically mentioning Erik Opung as one of his mentors who heavily influenced his growth and his style of mixology.
In mid 2017, looking for a new challenge, Aldi swapped the concrete jungle of Jakarta for the island paradise of Bali. Gaining employment at 40 Thieves, a hidden bar on top of a ramen shop, he began as a regular bartender. It wasn’t long till he was promoted to head bartender, where he currently looks for ways to turn traditional Indonesian flavors and tastes into modern cocktails. Out of the box and unorthodox in some of his creations, Aldi still tries to emulate the teachings of his mentor by shooting outside his comfort zone in his style.
Cereal Killer
Homemade Banana Marmalade
Citrus
Blended Rum
Bourbon Whiskey
Basil
Hazelnut Syrup
In an attempt to design a tropical cocktail that suits the 40 Thieves American style of drinks, Aldi created the Cereal Killer. A unique drink that incorporates tropical fruits into a cocktail which tastes like your first bite of cereal in the morning. Blended together well, the drink is topped with Marie Regal biscuit flakes that adds to the body of the cocktail.
Read the original article in Foodies Magazine Issue 02 August/September 2018
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