SIMDI Group’s beverage division, SIMDI Bev, has announced Nik Muhammad Mikail Zain from Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa as the Champion of the MONIN Cup Maldives 2026.
The live finals took place on 18 May at Niva at Kurumba Maldives, where Nik emerged victorious after competing against some of the country’s leading bartending talents.
Following the evaluation process conducted during the competition, the final results were announced as follows:
- Champion: Nik Muhammad Mikail Zain — Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa
- First Runner-Up: Jack Quinn — JA Manafaru Maldives
- Second Runner-Up: Andreas Petra Gultom — JOALI BEING
As the 2026 Champion, Nik Muhammad Mikail Zain will represent the Maldives at the next regional qualifying stage on the path to the international MONIN competition.
This year marked the second edition of the Maldives MONIN Cup. The inaugural competition was held in 2024, where Eresta Diantara from The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands secured the title and represented the Maldives internationally.
The MONIN Cup is an international bartending competition organised by MONIN since 2014. The competition takes place in national and international stages and aims to recognise and develop bartending talent worldwide. According to SIMDI, MONIN has become one of the most recognised premium beverage brands within the hospitality industry, with increasing demand across resorts, cafés, and restaurants in the Maldives.
The partnership between SIMDI Bev and MONIN began in 2009 and continues to support the growth of the local beverage industry. SIMDI Group stated that the collaboration focuses on introducing global beverage trends to the Maldives while creating more opportunities for bartenders and hospitality professionals.
The 2026 competition attracted more than 50 original signature recipe submissions from bartenders representing resorts and hospitality properties across the Maldives. The Top 7 finalists advanced to the live stage, where judges assessed their creations based on creativity, flavour balance, technical execution, presentation, and storytelling.
Reflecting on the initiative, Managing Director of SIMDI Group, Mishal Didi, stated: “What we are doing is bigger than a competition; we are building an ecosystem where talent is celebrated and given a clear pathway to the world stage. We see your creativity. We are immensely proud of your journey, and we are honoured to provide this platform for your growth.”
The judging panel included internationally recognised beverage professionals and local industry experts. The panel featured Nana Sechere, Angelo Kerum, and Ali Hamdhaan.
Stated by the SIMDI, SIMDI Bev was established in the 1980s to support the hospitality industry through beverage supply and distribution services. The company stated that it currently markets and distributes a full range of beverages to both resort and commercial sectors across the Maldives.
