The Bar Awards Kuala Lumpur announces its Top 10s. By Holly Graham.
Kuala Lumpur’s bar scene is one of the fastest growing cocktail hubs in Asia, and the fact that The Bar Awards Kuala Lumpur and Penang recorded 1064 public nominations – the highest number of nominations ever – is proof of that and today, the Top 10 long-lists are announced.
The Bar Awards celebrates the best bars and staffers across the Malaysian capital and to get to this point, voting started with public nominations across 12 categories covering drink and dining experiences, as well as the finest bartending talent. These nominees were then passed to The Panel, a group of 49 industry members, to decide the Top 10s.
The Top 10 lists will now be handed back to The Panel to decide the Top 4s for each category and named here on DRiNK on Monday 19 November, along with the Top 4s from the two Penang categories (Bartender of the Year – Penang, presented by Giffard and Bar of the Year – Penang, presented by Havana Club) before the winners for The Bar Awards Kuala Lumpur and Penang are announced on the evening of Sunday 25 November.
The big industry bash, to be held at The Bindery (APW, Bangsar), will be preceded by a week of pop ups and parties. Stay tuned for more details.
Presented in alphabetical order, here are The Bar Awards Kuala Lumpur and Penang Top 10s across the 12 categories:
The Bar Awards Luminaries, presented by the House of Angostura
This is the first year for The Bar Awards Luminaries, presented by the House of Angostura is being introduced to Kuala Lumpur and Penang. The inductees to The Bar Awards Luminaries are those that have greatly contributed to the growth and development of the Malaysian bar community. This award may honour an individual, a number of individuals, a group and/or an initiative, and won’t be announced until the party on Sunday 25 November.
The Rising Star, presented by Perrier
Abel Sukau Bin Antonius (Skullduggery)
Al Imran Ahmed (JungleBird)
Caden Chua Hui Chan (Coley)
Calzeno Clitus (W Kuala Lumpur)
Joe Ngui Wee Kwong (Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Hotel)
Jordan Lim Jen Xian (Pahit)
Mahbub “Rusho” Hasan (Beta)
Mitchell Raymond (Kenshin)
Sam Yap Chun Fai (Three x Co)
Yeo Zhen Yue (Hyde)
Best Restaurant Bar, presented by Tito’s Vodka
Beta
Birch
Chocha Foodstore
Fuego
Joloko
Lavo
Mr Chew’s Chino Latino Bar
Nadodi
Pincho’s Tapas Bar
The Locker & Loft
Best Beer Bar, presented by Peroni
Ales & Lager
Bottle Haus
Brussels Beer Café
Delirium Café
Paus
Sid’s Pubs (All location)
Taps Beer Bar
The Beer Factory (All locations)
The Great Beer Bar
Uncle Don’s (All locations)
Best Wine Bar, presented by Mumm Champagne
Brasserie Fritz
Cellar 18
Chocha Foodstore
Dewakan
Joloko
Lavo
Mr Chew’s Chino Latino Bar
Private Room
Sitka Studio
Vintry
Best Hotel Bar, presented by Pierre Ferrand Cognac
Arthur’s Bar (Shangri-La Hotel)
Astor Bar (St Regis Kuala Lumpur)
Bar Trigona (Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur)
Chambers Bar (Hilton Kuala Lumpur)
Mai Bar (Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral)
Man Tao Bar (Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur)
MO Bar (Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur)
Pacific Standard Bar (Alila Bangsar)
Sky Bar (Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur)
Vertigo (Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur)
Best Specialist Concept
61 Monarchy (Whisky)
Bar Trigona (Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur) (Trigona Honey)
iPong (Themed)
Joloko (Mezcal)
JungleBird (Rum)
Los Flowerpacker (Vermouth)
Pahit (Gin)
The Deceased (Themed)
The Rum Bar (Rum)
The Whisky Bar (Whisky)
Best Hospitality Ambassador, presented by Fever-Tree
Alvin Nirmal George “Loco” (Coley)
Ananda Ruben (Pacific Standard Bar, Alila Bangsar)
Andrew Tan (61 Monarchy, Hyde)
Angel Ng Ji (PS150, Thirsty Trio Trader)
Ashish Sharma (Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur)
David Hans (Three x Co)
James Estes (Huckleberry Group, Jack Rose, Tequila Ocho)
Joshua Ivanovic (JungleBird)
Kho Chee Kheong (Coley, Pahit)
Shawn Chong (Omakase + Appreciate)
Best Hospitality Team, presented by Hendrick’s Gin
Bar Trigona (Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur)
Coley Cocktail Bar
Joloko
JungleBird
Mr Chew’s Chino Latino Bar
Pacific Standard Bar (Alila Bangsar)
Pisco Bar
PS150
The Vault
Three x Co
Most Creative Cocktail Program, presented by Cointreau
Bar Trigona (Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur)
Bar Zhen
Coley Cocktail Bar
JungleBird
Kenshin
Omakase + Appreciate
Pacific Standard Bar (Alila Bangsar)
PS150
The Deceased (Themed)
Three x Co
Best New Bar, presented by Campari
Bar Shake (October 2018)
Bar Trigona (Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur) (July 2018)
Bar Zhen (December 2017)
Beta (June 2018)
Joloko (July 2018)
Kenshin (December 2017)
Knowhere (July 2018)
Pacific Standard Bar (Alila Bangsar) (May 2018)
The Iron Fairies (August 2018)
Three x Co (December 2017)
Bartender of the Year – Kuala Lumpur, presented by Monkey Shoulder
Alvin Nirmal George “Loco” (Coley)
Angel Ng Ji (PS150, Thirsty Trio Trader)
Arsenio Ash Mariano Jnr. (The Vault)
Ashish Sharma (Bar Trigona, Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur)
David Hans (Three x Co)
Jason Julian (Soma)
Joshua Ivanovic (JungleBird)
Karl Too (Omakase + Appreciate)
Kho Chee Kheong (Coley, Pahit)
Shawn Chong (Omakase + Appreciate)
Bar of the Year – Kuala Lumpur, presented by Mekhong, the Spirit of Thailand
61 Monarchy
Bar Trigona (Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur)
Coley Cocktail Bar
Hyde
Joloko
JungleBird
Pacific Standard Bar (Alila Bangsar)
PS150
Taps Beer Bar
The Vault
To learn more about The Bar Awards, see our hub page here, or their Facebook page here.
DRiNK Magazine is the official publication partner for The Bar Awards 2018.
