Discover what Malaysian mixology has to offer from the 24th to the 30th of April. By Shu Mi.
Big news from KL: the first Kuala Lumpur Cocktail Week (KLCW) will take place from the 24th to the 30th of April.
In this week-long celebration of all things cocktail, Kuala Lumpur will welcome some of the biggest names in Asia’s bar industry, including Alice Cheongdam (Seoul), Atlas (Singapore), Bar Leone (Hong Kong), Nutmeg & Clove (Singapore), Room By Le Kief (Taipei), Teens of Thailand (Bangkok), The Cocktail Club (Jakarta) and more, as well as impressive up-and-comers such as Long Fong (Beijing) and Tokyo Confidential (Tokyo). They will take over a number of well-known establishments across the city, including Bar Trigona, Concubine, Jann, JungleBird, Penrose, Three X Co and many more.
There will also be seminars, masterclasses and cocktail pairing dinners for enthusiasts to fully appreciate the craft of mixology. For the full schedule of guest shifts and other events, check out https://klcw.my/activities/.
Another highlight is the KLCW Festival Village at APW Bangsar on April 27. From 3pm to 11pm, guests can try a wide array of cocktails crafted by bartenders from KL’s finest bars at very affordable prices (RM35-55). To book an entry ticket (including two drinks), click https://www.myfunnow.com/en/products/3624379041087. The final of KLCW Open Cocktail Competition will also be held at the Festival Village. Open to all bartenders across the nation and with a total of RM6,000 to win, the competition is an opportunity for them to showcase their expertise and gain recognition.
KLCW aims to promote the city’s burgeoning cocktail culture, offering a platform for local and international bartenders to showcase their skills and for enthusiasts to explore the art of cocktail making.
“While our neighbours have successfully launched their own cocktail festivals, it is high time that Kuala Lumpur has its own. As a country with a developing cocktail scene, it’s beautiful to watch an industry that has continuously found ways to support each other, ” says Nicholas Ng, co-founder of KLCW and founder of Food For Thought and Tipple.my.
Angeline Tan, co-owner of Three x Co. and another co-founder of KLCW, adds: “The idea of KLCW started with the need to celebrate the bar community and to showcase this community to a much wider audience. As we embark on this quest, we are very grateful to meet many good people along the way that shares our vision and help us with their time and creativity. The inaugural KLCW is a true community effort and we applaud all of you.”
