Penang is gearing up for its first ever Cocktail Week, and here’s a look at the 10 bars that will be taking part. — Photos: MICHAEL CHEANG/The Star
It’s been great to see the Penang cocktail scene growing so much of late, with more specialist cocktail bars there now, enough in fact to make up a proper Penang Cocktail Week, which will be happening on October 20 to 29.
The idea for Penang Cocktail Week (PCW) came about when Backdoor Bodega founder and head bartender Koh Yung Shen was trying to arrange a guest shift with a renowned international bar, and realised that another bar, Chez Chez, was trying to do the same with a different international bar. One thing lead to another, and he decided to band together a few other bars to create the Penang Cocktail Week.
“The Penang cocktail scene has always been unique because almost 80% of the cocktail bars are owner-operated, and therefore very driven by passion and craft,” Shen says.
“The pandemic forced some of the bars to close or relocate, however the Penang bar industry surprisingly bounced back much stronger post-pandemic and went on to be cast in the global spotlight through appearances on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars list and global cocktail and bartending competitions such as Hennessy My Way, Giffard West Cup, Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series, and the 50 Best Scholarship.”
According to him, the idea of the Penang Cocktail Week was to ride on the momentum that the Penang cocktail scene is enjoying to give further exposure to the small but thriving industry.
Ten bars have confirmed their participation in the PCW, with each bar hosting selected guests shifts by international and Malaysian bartenders, and also a number of masterclasses, workshops and tastings throughout the event. Each bar will also have drinks that were created especially for the Penang Cocktail Week.
Besides the 10 bars, there will also be events held at several other venues including Hin Bus Depot and Bottega Penang.
For more information about the events, follow Penang Cocktail Week's Instagram (@PenangCocktailWeek). Here is the list of the 10 bars that will be taking part in PCW, and the events that are scheduled to be held on their premises.
The Kelapa Hotak is one of Backdoor Bodega signature drinks.
Arguably the best-known bar on the list, Backdoor Bodega has the distinction of being the first and so far only Penang bar to make it on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 51-100 list, coming in at #97 last year.
Located at Hin Bus Depot in the heart of George Town, Backdoor Bodega started out as “just a hobby” for founder and head bartender Shen. Soon, the place garnered a reputation for serving excellent drinks and its unique “buy a pin and get a free drink” concept.
Come here for its original and most popular drink, Kelapa Hotak, and stay for the chill out, fun vibe. And don’t forget to collect your pins!
PCW events at Backdoor Bodega:
- Oct 21 (9pm onwards): Guest shift by Tariq Widarso a.k.a Sip Sensei (Jakarta)
- Oct 26 (8pm onwards): The Malaysian Invasion bar takeover by Pahit (KL)
Baobae is a bar that is locaed jsut outside Georgetown, around the Pulau Tikus area.
The only PCW bar not located in central Georgetown but in Pulau Tikus (but still pretty accessible), Baobae was founded by entrepreneur Lim Tett Hin, who initially wanted a physical space for his bao and food business that he’d built during the pandemic.
However, somehow Baobae turned into a cocktail bar along the way, and he realised that he enjoyed being behind the bar more than in the kitchen (don’t worry, Baobae still serves a decent menu of Vietnamese dishes to go with the drinks).
Among the must-try drinks is the Pineapple Garibaldi made with cempedak-infused Campari, and fluffy pineapple; and the spirit-forward Aston Martin (rye whiskey, sesame-infused rum, cacao & vanilla liqueur, PX sherry).
PCW events at BaoBae
- Oct 22 (6pm & 9pm, RSVP only): Bar takeover by Shawn Chong of Bar Mizukami (KL)
- Oct 23: (4pm, RSVP only): "Ice Carving & Highballs: how Ice Affects Cocktails" masterclass by Shawn Chong of Bar Mizukami (KL)
- Oct 25 (8pm, RSVP only): "Introduction to Moutai" masterclass by Shirmy Chan of Bar Terumi (Petaling Jaya)
- Oct 26 (8pm onwards): The Malaysian Invasion bar takeover by Frank's Bar (KL)
Biso is scheduled to open just in time for Penang Cocktail Week.
Scheduled to open just in time for PCW, Biso is a specialist modern cocktail bar by the folks behind the hugely popular Magazine 63 bar (and is located just next door!).
I caught a glimpse behind the door during my visit, and it is shaping up to be a highly sophisticated modern cocktail bar that will be using all the most sophisticated and latest equipment to make their cocktails. This will definitely be one bar to look out for once it opens.
PCW events at Biso:
- Oct 25 (11pm till late): PCW After-Hours Aperitivo Party, featuring Giovanni Magliaro (KL)
- Oct 26 (8pm onwards): The Malaysian Invasion bar takeover by Rakh (KL)
- Oct 27 (3pm, RSVP only): "Feni: An Indian Heritage Spirit" masterclass by Deepak Soni
Chez Chez will be hosting the PCW opening party on Oct 20.
A “modern contemporary bar and restaurant” located on the tourist-friendly Love Lane, Chez Chez has been making waves in the local cocktail scene with a variety of major international and local guest shifts lately.
Its bartender, Janice Lok, was recently listed in the World’s 50 Best Bars The Blend Scholarship top 25, and her drinks at Chez Chez are certainly worth a try.
The Dirrrty uses gin, dry vermouth, red miso and basil with a black garlic oil garnish for a savoury take on the dirty martini, while the Y, Why? Is a refreshingly fruity yet dry highball drink that uses vodka, fino sherry, white truffle, yellow pear, banana , mango and sour.
Events at Chez Chez:
- Oct 20 (4pm, RSVP only): "From Lab To Glass: The Art Of Crafting Cocktails" masterclass by Thanos Prunarus of Baba Au Rum (Athens)
- Oct 20 (7pm onwards): PCW opening party, guest shift by Athens bar Baba Au Rum.
- Oct 26 (8pm onwards): The Malaysian Invasion bar takeover by Budi (Melaka)
- Oct 28 (4pm): Classic Cocktail Workshop by Beam Suntory brand ambassador Jordan Lim
The only 'menu' at Cocktails & Shots is a wall with the naems of all the cocktail shots you can order there.
Cocktails And Shots is a bar located in a small back alley called Lorong Cheapside, and it has no menu – guests order based on their preferences of base spirit, flavour, and your own mood.
The only semblance of a ‘menu’ is an entire wall full of the names of classic cocktail shots, from the B52 to the Slippery Nipple, among some other more, er, unprintable names.
PCW events at Cocktails And Shots:
- Oct 21 (3pm, RSVP only): "From Bar To Brand: Life As A Bartender-turned-Ambassador" masterclass, by Din Hassan, brand ambassador of Black Tears Rum
- Oct 23 (9pm onwards): Jameson Black Barrel Showdown, featuring Ronny Holicka (The Cocktail Club, Jakarta), and Thanesh Kumar (Backdoor Bodega)
- Oct 27 (9pm onwards): Guest shift by Bayu Adithia of Toma (Jakarta)
- Oct 28 (9pm onwards): Bar takeover, featuring Zachary Ibrahim of Kafe Utu (Singapore)
Foxhole 24 is a revamp of the iconic Mish-Mash bar.
Never heard of Foxhole 24? Well you may know it by its previous incarnation instead: Mish Mash, which was one of the first modern cocktail bars in Penang when it opened six years ago on Lebuh Muntri.
Foxhole 24 is a cool reinvention into a more modern, sleeker bar with a menu that uses a flavour code to define the drinks rather than normal cocktail names.
For instance, W.01.138. “W” means it is a whisky-based drink: “01” means this is from first cycle menu; and “138” means its flavour profile is sweet (1), bitter (3) and dry (8). The actual drink is made with sweet corn-infused Irish whiskey, Glenglassaugh Torfa whisky) white aperitif, and dry vermouth.
PCW events at Foxhole 24:
- Oct 21 (3pm, RSVP only): "Elevate Your Craft: Mastering The Art Of Cocktail Photography" masterclass by Tariq Widarso a.k.a Sip Sensei (Jakarta)
- Oct 22 (8pm onwards): Guest shift by Karl Too (KL)
- Oct 26 (8pm onwards): The Malaysian Invasion bar takeover by Cabinet 8 (Johor Baru)
- Oct 28 (8pm onwards): Bar takeover by David Hans and Igene of Three X Co (KL)
The drinks at The Mandarin are made based on what guests feels like drinking.
Another cocktail bar that operates on a “no menu” concept, The Mandarin is housed in a nondescript old shophouse with no sign. The interior is relatively simple: though the backbar actually looks pretty cool.
Founded by self-taught mixologist Lim Yin Wei, the drinks are made based on what guests feels like drinking. For instance, on one of my visits, I asked for something that was spirit forward with no syrup, and got a drink that was based on two rums and had raspberry as a sweetener (in place of syrups). A decent place to check out if you want to have drinks that are tailored to your own preference rather than a fixed menu.
PCW events at The Mandarin:
- Oct 25 (8pm onwards): Bruichladdich guest shift by Abi Clephane, global brand ambasaddor
- Oct 26 (8pm onwards): The Malaysian Invasion bar takeover by Skullduggery (KL)
The Nest is located in a beautiful heritage building in the centre of Georgetown.
Located in a beautiful heritage building, The Nest focuses on cocktails made with natural and homemade ingredients, with no synthetic flavouring or syrups on their shelves.
The highlight here is its seasonal Premium Cocktails, which come with an exclusive food pairing that really enhances the drink itself. The one I tried on my visit was an osmanthus oolong highball paired with the most delicious Japanese custard mochi dessert I have ever had, which The Nest sources from a Japanese omakase restaurant called Hatsu.
Definitely worth a visit if you love fresh, natural flavours in your drinks, and food pairings.
PCW events at The Nest:
- Oct 23 (8pm onwards): Origin Bar takeover, featuring Adam Bursik and Cherry Lee of Origin, Singapore.
- Oct 24 (11am-3pm): PCW Battle of the Bars, a community bartending showdown
- Oct 26 (8pm onwards): The Malaysian Invasion bar takeover by Tiga Bar (Ipoh)
No Bar Here is a tribute to the 80s and Disco-era drinks.
A relatively new bar by the same guys behind Backdoor Bodega, and located just a few doors away from its sister bar.
No Bar Here’s concept takes inspiration from the 1980s, with vintage 80s posters adorning the walls, classic 80s hits in the playlist, and also some delicious twists on classic Disco era drinks on the menu.
My favourite was the Steakhouse Shenanigans, which its menu says is “the only one not inspired by an 80’s classic cocktail”, but rather, a clarified whiskey-based Bloody Mary that is influenced by the classic 80s American steakhouse instead.
PCW events at No Bar Here:
- Oct 20 (9pm onwards): The Opening After-party, featuring Din Hassan (Black Tears)
- Oct 21 (8pm onwards): Bar takeover by Jean Trinh, Danitza, & Miguel of Alquímico (Cartagena)
- Oct 24 (8pm onwards): Bar Takeover by Anjal Rai of Peniccilin (Hong Kong)
- Oct 25 (2pm, RSVP only): Islay Whisky Masterclass by Abi Clephane, Bruichladdich global brand ambasaddor
- Oct 25 (9pm onwards): Guest Shift by Saan Dhakal of Lockdown Bar (Hong Kong)
- Oct 26 (8pm onwards): The Malaysian Invasion bar takeover by Reka Bar (KL)
- Oct 28 (7pm, ticket holders only): PCW Jameson & Chivas Barty Bus
The Taman Rasa cocktail is one of the must trys in Nomad.
Nomad is a small bar on Lebuh Kimberley that is currently run by a husband and wife team. Its menu takes inspiration from the travels they have been on, hence the name “Nomad”.
It’s a nice cozy space with ample seating, and some really tasty and complex drinks using ingredients in a way that is quite unlike many other bars.
For instance, the Taman Rasa is a twist on the classic Penicillin that substituted ginger syrup for one that uses bunga kantan instead, making for a drink that will have very familiar local notes but also be uniquely complex at the same time. If you like coffee drinks, do check out the Islay Latte too, which is a twist on the Irish coffee but uses not just Irish whiskey, but smoky Islay Scotch as well.
PCW events at Nomad:
- Oct 24 (4pm, RSVP only): Low ABV cocktail masterclass by Penicillin (Hong Kong) and TJ Anthony (Giffard)
- Oct 24 (8pm onwards): Guest shift by Jungle Ballroom (Singapore)
- Oct 26 (8pm onwards): The Malaysian Invasion bar takeover by Bar Terumi (Petaling Jaya)
- Oct 27 (8pm onwards): Guest Shift by Deepak Soni (Bangkok)
Michael Cheang is definitely looking forward to Penang Cocktail Week. Follow him on Facebook (fb.com/mytipsyturvy) and Instagram (@mytipsyturvy).
Penang Cocktail Week bars
Backdoor Bodega
Baobae
Biso
Chez Chez
Cocktails & Shots
Foxhole 24
The Mandarin
The Nest
No Bar Here
Nomad
