Here are some of the latest news and new releases from the beverage and bartending world, from the return of a prestigious bartending competition, to the final release (in Malaysia) of the Diageo Special Releases Scotch whisky collection.
The Diageo World Class bartender competition is back in Malaysia after nine years, and the 15 finalists were announced recently at an event at Blue @ EQ.
World Class is one of the best known bartending platforms in the world, spanning more than 55 countries, and helping bartenders develop their craft. Previous Malaysian winners include industry stalwarts such as Shawn Chong of Bar Mizukami, and Amanda Wan of Three X Co.
This year, Malaysia’s final 15 includes bartenders from some of the best-known bars in KL and Penang, who will be competing for a place in the Global Finals this September.
The finalists are:
- Affie Adut (B.E.D)
- Anna Koh (Reka:Bar)
- Caden Chua (Coley)
- Chew Qing Ting (Steep Social)
- Ivon Soon (Enso)
- Justin Ing (Good Friends Club)
- Justin Tay (Cabinet 8)
- Lee Wei Lung (Cacao Mixology)
- Marcus Kwok (Cabinet 8)
- Maria Escoba (Penrose)
- Melvin Lim (Bar Trigona)
- Oh Chong Hau (The Nest).
- Rachel Hor (Grand Hyatt KL)
- Thanesh Joel (Backdoor Bodega)
- Yuen Shuenn (Coley)
Diageo recently launched the 2025 edition of its Special Releases Scotch Whisky collection in Malaysia at a media event at Tangram, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
Named 'Horizons Unbound' the range features eight whiskies, seven single malts and one single grain, each reimagined through unique cask finishes and flavour explorations
The standout for me, personally, is the Teaninich 8 Year Old ‘Daring Rye’, a single grain whisky that made with a combination of rye and malted barley, and aged in ex-bourbon casks. It's as close to a rye whisky as a Scotch can get so far – the nose and palate has that signature rye spiced notes, but it retains the grassiness and fruitiness of a Scotch malt whisky at the same time.
The oldest expression in this range is the Dailuaine 21 Year Old ‘Marbled Treasures’. Matured in Spanish ex-sherry casks (both Oloros and Pedro Ximenez), this is a real sherry bomb of a single malt, full of the dried fruit, baked apple and fragrant spice on both the nose and the palate.
The other expressions in the range are:
- The Singleton of Glen Ord 17YO ‘Into the Blue’ (Finished in ex-mezcal and second-fill ex-sherry casks)
- Talisker 14YO ‘Molten Seas’ (Matured in volcanic rock-toasted American oak casks)
- Lagavulin 12YO ‘Grain & Embers’ (Finished in Pedro Ximénez/Oloroso casks)
- Oban 12YO ‘Heart of the Harbour’ (Matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks)
- Roseisle 14YO ‘Harmonic Grace’ (aged in refill and rejuvenated casks)
- Clynelish 18YO ‘Waxen Sun’ (uses an early distillation ‘Pineapple Cut’ for a tropical waxy character)
According to Madhan Ramasubramanian, Marketing Director of Diageo Malaysia and Singapore, the 2025 edition will be the final year that Diageo Special Releases will be available in Malaysia.
Only 200 complete sets of the Horizons Unbound collection will be released locally, and are available at premium retailer, Cellar Eighteen.
Single & Available has collaborated with with Grand Imperial Group on a new retail-within-restaurant concept, beginning with Grand Imperial Bangsar Shopping Centre.
The partnership introduces a dedicated S&A retail kiosk within Grand Imperial Restaurant in Bangsar, allowing diners to purchase a curated selection of whiskies, gins, and baijius directly while dining at the restaurant.
The latest limited edition items and arrivals are also available in the kiosk, including the just-landed limited edition, Arran 10 Year Old Local Barley.
