Penang Cocktail Week (PCW) is back this month, running from Sept 15 to 20, and this time around, the organisers are doing things a little differently.
Oh, there will still be plenty of cocktails, guest shifts, and parties, but unlike last year, which had a number of big international bars participating, this year’s event feels more ... grounded and “Penang-like” than ever.
Even the theme itself, “Welcome Home”, feels like a hark back to the original objective of PCW – to introduce the world to Penang’s cocktail scene and the hospitality of the island in general.
This year, besides the expected guest shifts and parties, there will also be other non-bar related events, such as wellness-inspired sessions, culinary events and even a meaningful tribute to an influential Malaysian bartending icon.
The week’s experiences are curated across five distinct festival pillars: Kaki Lang, Makan Angin, Jiak, Kongsi, and Lau Juak. Here is a rundown of what to expect.
This segment of the festival celebrates the Penang bar industry’s people and community.
It is heartening to see that four years on, PCW is going back to its initial objective of celebrating the community here by not only highlighting local talents, but also bringing in international bartenders for guest shifts.
It kicks off with the Welcome Home opening party (Sept 15) at Lucky Hole, featuring a bar takeover by Singapore-based Penang natives Andrew Yap, and Rishi Randhawa of Origin Bar.
The PCW Malaysian Invasion IV (Sept 16) will spotlight some of the newer bars in the Malaysian bar scene, including Petaling Jaya’s Remedy Cocktail Bar and Barley & Rye, and Kuala Lumpur’s The Riff District, Poo Loong & Co, and Neo Bar.
Other events to look forward to are the Montréal Cocktail Festival X PCW (Sept 17), featuring some of Canada’s finest bartenders , and Across The S.E.A. Takeover (Sept 18), involving bars from Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia.
Sept 19 will be an all-Oriental affair, with the PCW Taiwan Takeover showcasing some of Taiwan’s top rising bars; and Shanghai Knights, starring some of the Chinese city’s most iconic bars.
One particularly meaningful event is called Karl Too’s Persau – Once & Only (Sept 17), which is a special tribute to Malaysian cocktail pioneer Karl Too, who passed away in 2024.
“Persau” was the final bar project he was working on before he passed, and the PCW event is a one-night-only guest shift at Steep Social, featuring three cocktail recipes which he created for Persau, but were left unfinished ... until now.
Too’s Omakase + Appreciate partner Shawn Chong (now of Bar Mizukami), who has recreated those cocktails, will be serving them during the shift.
Adding poignancy to the event, Chong will be joined by Too’s close friends and former colleagues, including former O+A bartenders Shirmy Chan (Bar Terumi) and Joe Ngui (who now owns Steep Social), and industry stalwart TJ Antony.
It wouldn’t be a Penang event without something related to food, and the Jiak theme brings you unique culinary experiences, the PCW way.
One major highlight of the week is The Tasting Table happening at Restaurant Au Jardin, which will see Chef Thav of Bangkok’s 80/20 take over the Michelin-starred restaurant for a one-night-only tasting menu, paired with Glenlivet-based cocktails by Adrian Foo of Nomu Co.
A MasterChef Showdown on Sept 18 is another one to look out for. Here, MasterChef alumni, Therese Lum of Sydney, Australia and KL’s Marcus Low join forces to serve a five-course pairing menu inspired by their Teochew and Hokkien roots.
Plates & Pours on Sept 17 will prove that great bars aren’t built on drinks alone, as Honky Tonks Tavern (Hong Kong) and Stay Gold Flamingo (Singapore) take over the bars and kitchen at No Bar Here and Rembar.
Two other food-related events are happening on Sept 16 – the Martell Drink Sum Party at Club Undrgrnd; and the PCW Supper Club, where Melaka’s Bulldog will be serving late-night Peranakan comfort food to close the Malaysia Day celebrations.
After three years, the question was how PCW was going to evolve, and the other three themes are the answer to that.
Kongsi (To Share), focuses on connections & conversations within the bar industry, with the Kongsi Sessions on Sept 17 featuring seminars, talks, and workshops by leading industry veterans.
Makan Angin (To Explore) takes you beyond bars to experience more of what Penang has to offer, by soaking up some island fun and sun.
Highlights include the PCW Sun Fun Run on the morning of Sept 16, followed by the PCW x Sun Fun Fest: Sweat + Sip, a collaboration with Penang’s first ever fitness festival – Sun Fun Fest – for a morning of sweaty workout sessions curated by Penang-based fitness and dance studios.
Other Makan Angin events include the Electrified Mansion Sundown by BYD Mansion Macalister, Beyond Auto (Sept 17); and Sips On The Beach (Sept 19) at Batu Ferringhi with cocktails by nomadic cocktail bar, Bar Find (Kolkata).
Last but not least, Lau Juak (To Celebrate) amps up the fun times, with several after parties, and also the return of PCW Cocktail Garden to the Hin Bus Depot on Sept 20, featuring pop-up cocktail bars, food and fashion vendors, as well as live music.
The full schedule and ticketing details for selected events is now available on www.penangcocktailweek.com.
Michael Cheang is gutted he won’t be able to make it to PCW this year. Follow him on Instagram (@mytipsyturvy) and Facebook (fb.com/mytipsyturvy).
