Meet Singapore most high-profile bar mentor, Indra Kantono, co-founder of the Jigger & Pony Group

If there’s one person who can speak about what real mentorship looks like in Singapore’s cocktail game, it’s Jigger & Pony Group’s co-founder Indra Kantono. Not only is he the force behind acclaimed bars like Jigger & Pony and Gibson, but he was also nominated for Best International Bar Mentor at the Tales of the Cocktail 2025’s Spirited Awards, which celebrate the global bar industry.

Recently, Jigger & Pony, the group’s flagship bar, once again took the title of “The Best Bar in Singapore 2025”, remaining at No. 3 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars for the second year.

“When we opened Jigger & Pony 13 years ago, many Singaporeans were just discovering cocktails,” the 41-year-old says. “Today, people travel globally to visit top bars, and the cocktail scene is much more competitive with rapidly changing consumer tastes and expectations. Mentorship is essential to equip bartenders for this evolving landscape.”

To him, effective mentorship is a threefold process. Firstly, listening allows one to truly understand what the mentee wants to achieve and find out about their struggles and ambitions.

Secondly, a mentor should offer a broader perspective.

“Many driven individuals like Uno Jang, the group’s creative director, can have tunnel vision when they’re laser-focused on one goal. As a mentor, I challenge assumptions and help them see if their goals truly align, or if there are other paths worth exploring.” 

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, it involves being a cheerleader. “Growth is rarely a smooth, linear path; it’s often meandering with ups and downs. Part of mentorship is helping mentees understand the journey, keep perspective, and remember how far they’ve come.”

Expanded vision

Korean-born Jang, who is now also a partner at Jigger & Pony Group, didn’t have directorship in mind when he joined the team. “Ten years ago, I had a long-term goal of owning a bar. Indra helped me expand my vision, and helped me to think beyond cocktails and bartending,” he reveals.

“These days, mentorship isn’t just about building bartenders. It’s become more business-oriented. It’s about helping people figure out their long-term paths, whether that’s starting their own thing or doing something else.” 

The 33-year-old hasn’t quite given up on running his own bar one day. “But maybe that dream has shifted. Maybe I won’t be the sole bar owner, but a partner instead. Moving forward, I would like to explore new areas, not just cocktails. I have ideas for bars, restaurants, and brand concepts.”

Sharing the same ethos

In 2024, Jigger & Pony Group also launched the Pony Academy, an online platform for the group’s 120 employees to use as a learning resource. Designed for both front-of-house and back-of-house staff, it includes information such as the correct type of glassware, how to open a wine bottle correctly, as well as quizzes to test their knowledge.

“Given the size of our group now, I can’t mentor every staff member individually in the traditional sense. Even if I had coffee chats with everyone, it wouldn’t be sustainable or productive for either party,” Kantono points out.

Originally from Indonesia, the entrepreneur, who spent his formative years in Singapore, is focused on building a strong company culture. “Just as Lee Kuan Yew, whom I admired greatly, paved ‘the Singapore way’, we create a foundation that turns every employee into a mentee or mentor at different stages of their careers, sharing the same ethos and values.”

Looking to the future, Kantono remains optimistic. “I read a report that Gen Zs are finally catching up with their alcohol consumption — turns out young people are just coming to drinking a little later. They have disposable income, and they’ll be looking for places that are inclusive, genuine and hospitable.”

However, for business owners, the cost of rent and labour is still a massive hurdle. “We need government policies that will ensure rent stability and accessibility to manpower to encourage innovations from SMEs and entrepreneurs.”

Even as the group’s rum-focused cocktail bar Sugarhall closed in July, the team is already aiming to launch a new concept by 2025. On the new vision: “We’re renovating the Sugarhall space to create two distinct areas. It’s no longer just about worshipping the cocktail. The drinks will be great, but we want people to come for the music, the ambience, the hospitality, and the interactions.”