The Malaysian Bartenders Abroad (MBA) series by Set the Tables and Coley Cocktail Bar – one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars – features promising Malaysian bartenders, and is supported by Maker’s Mark, Auchentoshan, and The Chita Suntory Whisky.
Today, MBA celebrates women in bartending who have worked abroad extensively. As it turns out, the female bartender is a persevering breed, and her successes are prolific.
Raise a glass to these Malaysian women who are leading the bartending world, and the special-edition drinks created in their honour.
1. Amanda Wan
Amanda Wan always wanted to be an artist. Her foundation course was in Arts and Design but, before deciding on a major, she needed to sustain herself. Her first job in the hospitality industry was as a barista.
“I felt like an artist behind the counter – it was exciting for me. There were so many variations and possibilities: coffee beans sourced from different countries, and different brewing methods with different outcomes.”
In the cocktail scene, spirits and liquor come in various flavours, colour tones, notes, and textures. Wan’s arsenal of flavour profiles gradually grew. She likens it to painting, where one would start with a “12-colour box of crayons, and gradually expand to a 36-colour box”.
Wan’s bartending career has seen her work at the Hilton and Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur, as well as at the Origin Bar in Shangri-La Singapore. She is currently back in Malaysia and played an integral part in the opening of Bar Terumi in Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya.
Her advice for upcoming bartenders:
- Working in the service industry and meeting people from all walks of life will increase your exposure to risky situations. Be vigilant and stay safe.
- Always have a clear mind. Don’t drink when you are working. You need to keep yourself and your colleagues safe. If a customer offers you a drink, thank them politely and offer to drink with them when you are off-duty.
- It is all about quick hands, learning to smile with your eyes, and reading your customer’s body language in anticipation of their needs.
- Stay alert when you are at work. Fights do break out in bars. You need to multitask and take up the responsibility of looking after the people in your bar.
2. Yinying Leow
Yinying Leow started out in the industry as a junior bartender in 2012 and quickly made her way to Singapore to work with Jigger & Pony in 2017. With her quiet confidence and thoughtful approach to hospitality, she is currently the principal bartender of Live Twice in Singapore.
“I didn’t expect to become a bartender, but when I did my internship with a resort in Malaysia, I found I really enjoyed working at their bar,” she recalled. “After finishing my studies, I decided to pursue bartending wholeheartedly and really get into the industry.
“Here in Singapore, the guests are very well travelled. I always love learning about their favourite classics from all over the world.”
According to Leow, there are too few inspiring female bartenders in the industry, and she hopes the scene will draw new, passionate talents by creating a more inclusive working environment.
“That said, women should recognise that if we want to be treated as equals, we cannot expect special privileges and treatment,” she added.
Her advice to younger bartenders is to be patient. “It takes a lot to learn and grow. Only with patience can we truly see the outcome.”
3. Symphony Loo
Symphony Loo is the Campari Group’s brand ambassador for Southeast Asia. She is behind key brand activations in the region such as Negroni Week, Campari Bartender Competition Asia, Drink Italian, and Aperitivo Hour.
“I love the bitterness of Campari and how much creativity I could put into this fantastic liquid,” she said. “When I got the job offer for brand ambassador, I asked myself: ‘Can I live with Campari every day?’ My answer was: ‘Hell, yes!’
“I was already doing it anyway, and now I will keep on doing it.”
Her advice for aspiring bartenders is to never stop learning. “Every day, new cocktails are created, new skills are being developed, and unique cocktail tools are innovated. Be humble and accept feedback. We should always stay on top of what’s happening in our industry.”
4. Chang Yue Shuen
Chang Yue Shuen always wanted to be a barista, not a bartender. After studying for a diploma in hospitality and tourism, she did a six-month internship in Singapore and started working there full-time in 2017.
“I got to witness Bannie Kang, a prolific bartender of her time, behind the bar. She was so skillful at her craft and I was inspired by her passion,” Chang recalled.
“Without any knowledge of spirits and bartending, I took a leap of faith and decided to try it out. To this very day, I feel honoured to have met and worked with her as it was the start of my bartending career in Singapore.”
Chang believes it’s important to choose what you want to do and be happy with it. “Every job is hard and requires a lot of patience. It’s about showing your personality and proving your ability.
“There should be no gender difference when it comes to what you want to do,” she added, “though as a female bartender, I do wish I had more strength for lifting heavy things!”
The MBA Kit is priced at RM390 per set. To order, send a WhatsApp message to 019-2709179, or visit Coley Cocktail Bar.
Coley Cocktail Bar
6-G, Jalan Abdullah,
Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur
This article was written by Theri Burhan for Set the Tables. Set the Tables is positioned to inspire and educate those in the industry as well as the aspiring reader who dreams of a future in the food business, and maybe even the merely curious tantalised by the vast and irresistible universe of food and drink. Follow them on Instagram.