The Penang Cocktail Week 2023 is the cocktail festival held in Penang, running from the 20th to the 29th of October.
The festival aims to highlight and celebrate the Penang cocktail scene, with ten bars hosting guest shifts, masterclasses, competitions and parties in the Malaysian state.
The initiative was started by owner of Backdoor Bodega Koh Yung Shen, when Penang was launched into the spotlight with Backdoor Bodega ranking #97 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars list for the in 2022. Yung Shen hopes the event will provide the local bar community with exposure, experience and networking opportunities to elevate Penang further on the cocktail stage.
Source: Penang Cocktail Week
Here’s the ten bars that will be hosting masterclasses and events in Penang Cocktail Week 2023:
| Backdoor Bodega | 37, Jalan Gurdwara, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia |
| Baobae | 202D, 1, Jalan Burma, George Town, 10250 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia |
| Biso | 63a, Jalan Magazine, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia |
| Chez Chez | 41, Love Ln, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia |
| Cocktails & Shots | 11, Lorong Cheapside, George Town, 10200 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia |
| Foxhole 24 | 24, Muntri St, Georgetown, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia |
| No Bar Here | 25, Jalan Gurdwara, George Town, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia |
| Nomad | 243, Lebuh Kimberley, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia |
| The Mandarin | 3B, Jalan Irving, 10450 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia |
| The Nest | 82, Lebuh Melayu, George Town, 10100 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia |
You may access our PCW 2023 map here.
For what’s up on each day in this 10 day fiesta:
20th (Fri):
| 4pm at Chez Chez | “From Lab to Glass: The Art of Crafting Cocktails” Masterclass by Thanos Prunarus from Baba Au Rum (Athens) (RSVP Only) |
| 7pm at Chez Chez | Opening Party with Baba Au Rum ft. Thanos and Niki (Athens) |
| 9pm at No Bar Here | Opening After-Party ft. Din Hassan, Black Tears (Singapore) |
21st (Sat):
| 3pm at Foxhole 24 |
“Elevate Your Craft: Mastering The Art of Cocktail Photography” Masterclass by Sip Sensei (Jakarta) (RSVP Only) |
| 5pm at Cocktails & Shots | “From Bar to Brand: Life as a Bartender-Turned-Ambassador” with Din Hassan, Black Tears (Singapore) (RSVP Only) |
| 8pm at Backdoor Bodega | Sip Sensei Guest Shift ft. Tariq Widarso (Jakarta) |
| 9pm at No Bar Here | Alquímico Bar Takeover ft. Jean Trinh, Danitza & Miguel (Cartagena) |
22nd (Sun):
| 11am at Hin Bus Depot | PCW 2023 Cocktail Garden in collaboration with Hin Market |
| 6pm & 9pm at Baobae | Bar Mizukami Takeover ft. Shawn Chong (Kuala Lumpur) (RSVP Only) |
| 8pm at Foxhole 24: | Karl Too Guest Shift (Kuala Lumpur) |
23rd (Mon):
| 4pm at Baobae | “Ice Carving & Highballs: How Ice Affects Cocktails” by Shawn Chong, Bar Mizukami (Kuala Lumpur) (RSVP Only) |
| 8pm at The Nest | Origin Bar Takeover ft. Adam Busik and Cherry Lee (Singapore) |
| 9pm at Cocktails & Shots: | Jameson Black Barrel Showdown ft. Ronny Holicka from The Cocktail Club (Jakarta) and Tanesh Kumar from Backdoor Bodega (Penang) |
24th (Tue):
| 11am at The Nest | PCW Battle of the Bars |
| 4pm at Nomad | Low-ABV Cocktail Masterclass ft. Penicillin (Hong Kong) and TJ Anthony (Giffard) |
| 8pm at Nomad | Jungle Ballroom Guest Shift ft. Adrian Besa (Singapore) |
| 9pm at No Bar Here | Penicillin Bar Takeover ft. Anjal Rai (Hong Kong) |
25th (Wed):
| 2pm at No Bar Here | Islay Whisky Masterclass with Abi Clephane from Bruichladdich (Islay) (RSVP Only) |
| 8pm at Baobae | Introduction to Moutai Masterclass by Shirmy Chan from Bar Terumi (Kuala Lumpur) (RSVP Only) |
| 8pm at The Mandarin | Bruichladdich Guest Shift ft. Abi Clephane from Bruichladdich (Islay) |
| 9pm at No Bar Here | Lockdown Bar Guest Shift ft. Saan Dhakal (Hong Kong) |
| 11pm at Biso | The After-Hour Aperitivo Party ft. Giovanni Magliaro (Kuala Lumpur) |
26th (Thu):
| 3pm at Backdoor Bottega | Italian Aperitif Masterclass with Roberto Bava, CEO of Cocchi (Asti) (RSVP Only) |
| 6pm at Backdoor Bottega | PCW 2023 Aperitivo Party ft. Giovanni Magliaro (Kuala Lumpur) |
| 8pm at George Town | The Malaysian Invasion bar Crawl: Rakh @ Biso, Skullduggery @ The Mandarin, Cabinet 8 @ Foxhole 24, Pahit @ Backdoor Bodega, Tiga Bar @ The Nest, Frank’s Bar @ Baobae, Budi @ Chez Chez, Bar Terumi @ Nomad, Reka-Bar @ No Bar Here, Botakliqour @ Cocktails & Shots |
27th (Fri):
| 3pm at Biso | “Feni: An Indian Heritage Spirit” Masterclass by Deepak Soni (Bangkok) (RSVP only) |
| 8pm at Nomad | Deepak Soni Guest Shift (Bangkok) |
| 9pm at Cocktails & Shots | Toma Guest Shift ft. Bayu Adithia (Jakarta) |
28th (Sat):
| 4pm at Chez Chez | Classic Cocktails Workshop with Jordan Lim from Beam Suntory (Kuala Lumpur) |
| 7pm at No Bar Here | PCW Jameson & Chivas Party Bus Bar Hop Tour ft. No Bar Here, Baobae, The Mandarin, Nomad, Backdoor Bodega (Tickets Only) |
| 8pm at Foxhole 24 | Three x Co Bar Takeover ft. David Hands & Igene (Kuala Lumpur) |
| 8pm at Cocktails & Shots | Kafe Utu Takeover ft. Zachary Ibrahim (Singapore) |
29th (Sun):
| 11am at Hin Bus Depot | PCW Halloween Cocktail Garden in collaboration with Hin Market |
| 3pm at Hin Bus Depot | The Art of Flair Workshop with David Hans from Three X Co (Kuala Lumpur) |
| 12pm at How Shy @ Hin Bus Depot | Sip Sip Sunday with Coley ft. CK Kho, Shuel & Joel |
| 9pm at No Bar Here | PCW Industry Nightcap (Invite Only) |
Follow @penangcocktailweek on Instagram for the full details!
Kanpai!
88 Bamboo Editorial Team
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