Chua showing off his skills on his way to victory.
The 2023 Star Academy National Finals saw J’Shua Chua from JJ Wine and Tapas in Johor emerge as champion, walking away with an all expenses paid trip to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Heineken Malaysia sales director Jimmy Ding said, “For bar-goers to be able to enjoy their favourite beers, we know that our commitment to serving our customers the best beers goes beyond the brewery.
“We truly value our partner bartenders and believe it is crucial to educate and equip them with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to serve top-quality beers.
“We were immensely proud to have over 1,250 participants join this year’s National Star Academy Championship and Training, working hand-in-hand with us to raise the bar together!”
The National Star Academy Championship and Training provided bartenders from Kuala Lumpur/Selangor, Johor, Penang, Perak, Sabah and Sarawak with an immersive experience as they engaged their senses in mastering beer taste profiling, as well as perfected the Heineken star quality serve and Guinness perfect pour.
The finals saw Heineken Malaysia commercial quality manager Cian Hulm and commercial quality lead Wayne Wong as key judges as well as two special guest judges – Star Academy trainer Gerard Anselm and Heineken Company star quality manager Thomas van Boheemen from Amsterdam.
The bartenders’ presentation skills and engagement with the audience were also put to the test during the competition.
Yeoh Seng Yao from Maze Eatery and Bar in Perak was the runner-up and James Aloysius Mojitu from Stylo Marriott Sabah came in third.
Chua said, “The competition was tough and I’ve been able to challenge myself alongside my fellow bartenders across Malaysia.
“Thank you, Heineken Malaysia and cheers, to the perfect glass of beer!”
For more details, visit https://star-academy.heinekenmalaysia.com/
