The judging panel shortlisted 40 winners, following which a tasting session was conducted at the Maison Hennessy in Cognac, France, by a panel of judges. Of the Global Top 5, another Malaysian also made the list – Rolend Ten of Backdoor Bodega in Penang, with his digestif “The Hennessy Co(r)nnection”.

Tan’s creation, “Loco Coco”, celebrates cacao from her hometown of Pahang. Served in a cacao husk, the zero-waste cocktail incorporates all parts of the fruit, and tastes of delicious smoky melting chocolate with notes of honey and a hint of citrus to complement the smooth flavours of Hennessy XO.

Set The Tables sat down for a chit-chat with Tan to congratulate her on her accomplishment, and to get her insights on all things cocktail.

How did you end up doing what you do?

I’ve always loved good cocktails, and my close friends and I would always end our hangout dates with drinks at a nice bar. To me, a cocktail session means making memories.

I eventually began making them at home as a hobby. After some time, I decided to learn to do it professionally. This led to my foray into bartending when I joined Cabinet 8 as part of their team.

How do you feel about your win? Tell us about your craft.

It still feels very surreal, but I’m happy about what I’ve achieved. My passion has transitioned from making cocktails for my friends and myself, to having the strong desire to introduce cocktail culture to more people.

I definitely enjoyed [my experience] and I thank my colleagues for their constructive feedback when I was developing the concept of Loco Coco. This award is something I wish to share with my fellow Cabinet 8 bartenders.

Tell us a bit more about Cabinet 8 by JWC.

For first-timers, a visit to Cabinet 8 by JWC will be one to remember – from the minute you enter our establishment and navigate your way around, to the way we take your orders, the flavour of our cocktails, and the atmosphere.

For our regulars, Cabinet 8 by JWC is a place for memorable cocktails. You can always expect new flavours from our lab. We do not confine our customers to a cocktail menu, which is why you would find this conspicuously missing when you step into our bar.

Instead, we tailor each cocktail to what our customers desire at that moment, which may be based on their taste preference or mood and our bartender’s creativity.

Fill us in on the story of Loco Coco.

Loco Coco is based on the delicious notes of dark chocolate and toffee from Hennessy XO, and also my desire to promote cacao from my hometown. It embodies love from my heart, the Cabinet 8 team, and also our dear friend, Ning from Chocolate Concierge, who is an expert in Malaysia on single-origin chocolate.

The research and development process was fun, especially the making of the kombucha foam, which gives the cocktail that refreshing hint. I stayed in our own little R&D lab for a few days to create all the different elements for Loco Coco.

Is zero-waste and sustainability a big part of what you do? Is it a trend the bartending scene is moving towards?

Sustainability is definitely a big part of what we do at Cabinet 8. In fact, we have been gunning for zero waste and sustainability since 2018.

It is really exciting to see the bartending scene moving in this direction. I think the pandemic has reminded us about the importance of preserving nature together.

What are your thoughts on women in the industry?

We often hear stereotyping phrases directed at young females in our industry, or a sudden lack of enthusiasm or even disappointment when certain customers realise it’s a lady behind the bar. Snarky remarks like “oh, you’re a young girl”, or “you must have received these opportunities because of your gender”.

I’ve learnt that, once you show people your dedication and positive and professional attitude, they’ll come around and even be your advocate. Eventually you’ll be recognised and taken seriously.

This win is proof that lady bartenders can be just as good as the men, and that we can be just as good as any other bartender outside of Malaysia.

Set The Tables and Cabinet 8 by JWC are offering a special Loco Coco giveaway for one lucky winner and a plus-one! To participate, follow @cabinet8_jwc and @setthetables on Instagram. Like, comment, and tag a friend you would like to bring to experience Loco Coco.

Each comment will be counted as one entry. The winner will be selected by 6pm on Friday, Oct 7.

Terms and conditions:

• The winner will be notified via DM by Oct 10.
• Your Instagram account has to be public. Name, email, contact and IC number will need to be provided to Cabinet 8 by JWC for verification.
• This giveaway is not applicable with any running promotions at Cabinet 8 by JWC.
• Redemption is valid until Dec 31 and has to be redeemed at Cabinet 8 by JWC in Johor for an unforgettable in-person experience.

Cabinet 8 by JWC
102, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3,
Taman Sutera Utama,
81300 Skudai, Johor

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.