[ruby_title]Kazi Tanbir, HYDE[/ruby_title]

Winner of the Best Gin & Tonic in Kuala Lumpur
Kazi began his career in bartending at the Lust Club and Bar in 2011, as a captain. He’d hang around the bar after his shifts to watch the bartenders stirring and shaking, and that got him interested in the life of drink-making. Three years later, he landed his dream job at the multi-concept Nagabar, working hard to master the classics. “It was not a smooth ride for me, but now, three years later, I’m able to craft my own cocktails, signature drinks and even make drinks to suit my customers tastes and mood at Hyde at 53M!”

Cocktail
Jardin Epice (click here for the recipe)

“When I was little, I bit on a piece of star anise and it literally tore me apart – it was horrible. My entire meal was over. But later, I began to love to work with different herbs and spices and incorporating them into my drinks. You won’t find them in a typically refreshing drink, but it definitely gives a G&T like mine character.”

Why he won
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d win a cocktail competition, especially one like the Gin Jubilee! There is no secret – it might have been the piece of dark chocolate I had a few hours before Gin Lane. Maybe it helped me stay focused. I just knew to try my best as I was up against some of the best bartenders in KL – my friends! But I sold 800 cups of G&Ts in three hours, and the best part of it all was everyone talking about the Jardin Epice the day after. It made me very happy to see all the Instagram posts and feedback on the cocktail on social media the day after.”