Not all who drink are drunk.
When we think about alcohol, many immediately connect it to wild nights and hangovers. But the truth is, not all who drink are drunk. This powerful message is at the core of Penang Cocktail Week 2024, where the focus shifts from alcohol being just a means of release to a form of art, culture, and celebration of craft.
There’s a common misconception that cocktails are just about getting tipsy, but Penang Cocktail Week’s slogan, “Not All Who Drink Are Drunk,” seeks to redefine that narrative. It’s about enjoying the craftsmanship behind each drink, the hospitality of bartenders, and the social connections that cocktails bring to life.
Penang Cocktail Week 2024 marks the second edition of this groundbreaking event, following a successful debut in 2023. The inaugural festival was Malaysia’s first-ever cocktail week, and it quickly cemented itself as a must-attend occasion for cocktail lovers and industry professionals. This September, it returned with a bigger, bolder edition aimed at taking Malaysia’s cocktail scene to new heights, both locally and on the global stage.
Founded by Backdoor Bodega owner and bartender, Koh Yung Shen, Penang Cocktail Week started as Penang’s inaugural cocktail festival in 2023 with an aim to highlight the growing cocktail bar industry in this Malaysian island state. Despite being one of the smallest island cities in the region, Penang has a uniquely high number of owner-operated cocktail bars — with almost 90% of the city’s independent cocktail bars fully-owned by the bartenders themselves.
This results in personal bar experiences like no other, where the bartending passion of the owner-bartenders is reflected in their cocktails and hospitality. As Malaysia’s biggest cocktail and bartending festival, Penang Cocktail Week hopes to elevate the bartending quality and hospitality standards of the Penang bar industry, while pushing it into the global spotlight.
This year, Penang Cocktail Week made a triumphant return, bigger and bolder than ever. The 8-day festival hosted over 80 guest bartenders from 17 cities worldwide, with more than 60 cocktail and bartending events lighting up the bars and hotels across George Town, Penang.
Focusing on championing bar hospitality and promoting a sustainable, healthy career in bartending, this year’s edition introduced a fresh program: “Bar Banters.” This open forum seminar brought together industry leaders to share insights and experiences on a wide range of topics, including health and wellbeing in hospitality, the rise of the Southeast Asian cocktail scene, extending hospitality beyond the bar, and carving out a sustainable career in the cocktail world.
The panel featured an impressive lineup of industry heavyweights, including Simon Ford of Ford’s Gin, Jay Khan of COA, Colin Chia of Nutmeg & Clove, Guoyi Gan of Jigger & Pony, Sarah Proietti of Maybe Sammy, Niks Anuman of G.O.D, Kabir Suharan of Pantja, and many more.
Planning such a monumental event is no easy task, and the success of Penang Cocktail Week can be credited to Koh Yung Shen and his dedicated team. Koh’s deep-rooted passion for the cocktail industry is evident in every aspect of the festival, from the carefully selected roster of world-class bartenders to the meticulously planned events that cater to both seasoned professionals and casual cocktail lovers.
But Penang Cocktail Week is more than just a series of events—it’s a celebration of craftsmanship, creativity, and the spirit of community. It’s about reshaping perceptions, fostering careers, and placing Penang’s cocktail scene on the global stage, one cocktail at a time.
So the next time someone invites you for a drink, grab a seat at the bar and soak in the artistry behind every pour—it just might be one of the best experiences of your life. After all, the world is your cocktail, as they say!
Also read:
Penang’s Secret Sips: 9 Hidden Cocktail Bars to Uncover
12 Best Cocktail Bars in the Klang Valley
