Meet The Team: Bar Trigona, The First Malaysian Bar On The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020

Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | The Worlds 50 Best Bars 2020 | Food For Thought

With the recent placing at number 44 at the World’s 50 Best Bars 2020, Bar Trigona is making strides across the globe with its trigona honey centric program, and also being crowned the winner of Asia’s Most Sustainable Bar 2020, a bar built by a team full of heart. Today we get to know the people that make the team.

Bar Trigona Team | Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2020 | Bar Trigona | Food For Thought

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020: First Malaysian Bar On The List

This year we see Bar Trigona being the first bar in Malaysia’s history of making the world’s list, which is quite a feat. The bar is only in its second year of conception but has already made strides locally and internationally, not only thanks to their conservation programme but their consistently solid menus. We simply ask the team, what does Bar Trigona mean to you, these are their replies.

Ashish Sharma | Meet The Team - Bar Trigona | Food For Thought

Ashish Sharma

Position: Head Bartender
Hometown: Himachal, India

“The unique concept of Bar Trigona which works towards helping the local society and create social impact, have helped the bar to get local and international attention. To me Bar Trigona is an institution, where we all learn together and also create awareness about Malaysia. To me, the team is the most important key factor for any successful organisation, the Bar Trigona team is people who love what they do every day at work.”

Julian Benjamin Brigett | Meet The Team - Bar Trigona

Julian Benjamin Brigget

Position: Assistant Manager
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur
Favourite Cocktail: Rum Old Fashioned

“Bar Trigona for me is a place where this team is able to push our creativity to a different level. All of us pitching ideas to create something different. What I love about this bar is that we are a small team. Close tight-knit family.”

Shawn Shanmuganathan | Meet The Team - Bar Trigona | Food For Thought

Shawn Shanmuganathan

Position: Bar Supervisor
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur
Favourite Cocktail: Negroni
Competitions: Campari Malaysia winner 2019 & Bacardi Legacy Malaysia winner 2020

“Bar Trigona is the place where I learn and able to challenge myself. Every day is a new day with new things to learn, practice, experiment, and challenge ourselves. I love it because the whole team is there to support each other. It’s like a high-school, where you do crazy things with your friends and learn at the same time.”

Marcus Kwok | Meet The Team - Bar Trigona | Food For Thought

Marcus Kwok

Position: Bartender
Hometown: Taiping, Perak
Favourite Cocktail: Junglebird

“Bar Trigona is where my journey as a bartender started. Bar Trigona has sparked my passion and interest in this field so deeply. I like to share my stories and lame jokes and I can do that confidently in Trigona, the work environment is fantastic.”

Joe Ngui | Meet The Team - Bar Trigona | Food For Thought

Joe Ngui

Position: Bartender
Hometown: Kuching, Sarawak
Favourite Cocktail: Gin & Tonic
Competitions: Bacardi Legacy Malaysia winner 2019 and Flor De Cana Malaysia winner 2020

“Bar Trigona is like a stage for me to perform my skills and I like the working environment here.”

Emirul Isaac | Meet The Team - Bar Trigona | Food For Thought

Emirul Kassim

Position: Bartender
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur
Favourite Cocktail: Diplomatico Reserve Negroni

Competitions: Clement Rum Malaysia winner 2019

“Trigona is a place where I see diversity. Different people, class, language share the same love and passion for cocktails and spirits. In bar Trigona, we can talk about it all night long.”

Vyna | Meet The Team - Bar Trigona | Food For Thought

Elvyna Danny

Position: Server
Hometown: Sabah
Favourite cocktail: Mango Overloaded from Bar Trigona

“Bar Trigona is truly a life-changing opportunity to shape my talent and career.”

Ruby | Meet The Team - Bar Trigona | Food For Thought

Robiatul Matraji

Position: Server
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur
Favourite cocktail: Dance of Calypso from Bar Trigona

“Bar Trigona is where I learn about the beauty of cocktails, story, and connection with people. I learn to enjoy cocktails with the story behind it and share it with my guests. And from there is where a connection is started and able to explore, share, and learn more at the same time. Fun, Joy, Love and Care.”

Bar Trigona Kuala Lumpuer is No. 44 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2020.
Bar Trigona Kuala Lumpur is No. 14 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2020.
For all 50 Best related content, see 50 Best.

| PHOTOGRAPHY: BAR TRIGONA | WEBSITE: BAR TRIGONA |

Nicholas Ng

Nicholas Ng is a restaurant critic and drinks writer and is the editor of independent publication Food For Thought. He has been a freelance journalist for the 15 years and has previously worked as a lawyer and in digital marketing. He currently is the Principal Consultant of A Thought Full Consultancy, a food and beverage marketing consultancy.