This month our bar team is focused on the Monin Cup, and Wild Turkey Behind the Barrel. What’s at stake? International flights and the chance to represent Myanmar in a global cocktail tournament.
We turned up en masse this week at the Penthouse to watch Nay Htet Linn and Kaung Zaw Han present as Monin Cup top 20 finalists. Both made us proud with outstanding submissions, articulate presentations, and tasty cocktails. Kaung Zaw Han of team Gekko made the top five in round two, finishing as the first runner up. Respect to all those who participated, and congratulations to our friends Yi Ji Kim, second runner up, and to the champion Mr. Mg Nyan Min who will go on to Malaysia to compete in the regional finals. It was a fantastic day, and I was so impressed with the level of skill and professionalism of our growing community.
We are excited to see more events, seminars, and tournaments becoming available to bartenders in Yangon who are keen to learn and develop their careers (awesome for the drinking crowd as well: not only are bartenders and cocktails getting better, but we have fun events popping up in the city). It’s fantastic to see a number of spirit brands recognizing the talent here, supporting them with training, educational materials, and sponsored events aimed at introducing their products, to those of us who drink them, via the hands of our local bar keeps. Attendance was great and we appreciate the support of the Yangon Drinkers.
For the rest of the month we will cheer on Khaing Htun of Union and Puia of Gekko as they battle for a chance to win a trip to the USA to visit the Wild Turkey Bourbon Distillery in Kentucky. There are some great submissions all over the city, so drink Wild Turkey this month and help your favorite bartender win!
MYANMORE Awards Winner and Spirits Ambassador of the Year 2018 Jen Queen is the bar manager for restaurant and bar group 57-BELOW, and mixes the cocktails at Union Bar and Grill. She is an expert in her field and the only Master Mescalier in Yangon and quite possibly the only one in Southeast Asia.
