Penang Cocktail Week 2023: The Complete Event List

The bar scene in Malaysia is one of the quickest growing in Asia, with Penang Cocktail Week set to debut on the 20^th October running until the 29^th October for 10 days with a lineup of international guest shifts, masterclasses and competitions and parties, hosted by 10 bars across Georgetown. Here’s the complete lineup and what you need to know.

The Full Lineup: Penang Cocktail Week

The cocktail week which was founded by Koh Yung Shen of Backdoor Bodega seeks to catch the wave of interest in Penang since the gaze of Asia looked towards Georgetown when Backdoor Bodega came in 97 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2022. The hosting bars in Penang will be Backdoor Bodega, Chez Chez, No Bar Here, The Nest, Foxhole 24, Baobae,  Nomad Penang, Cocktails & Shots, The Mandarin Bar, Biso, Bottega Penang and Hin Bus Depot. The lineup will feature global names through guest shifts, masterclasses, takeovers, bartending showdown, a bus barhop tour and a bar crawl.

20^TH OCTOBER 2023

From Lab To Glass: The Art of Crafting Cocktails (By RSVP Only)
Masterclass by Thanos Prunarus (Athens)
Time: 4.00 pm
Venue: Chez Chez

PCW 2023 Opening Party With Baba Au Rum
Guest Shift by Thanos Prunarus & Niki of Baba Au Rum (Athens)
Time: 7.00 pm
Venue: Chez Chez

The Opening After-Party
Guest Shift by Din Hassan of Black Tears (Singapore)
Time: 9.00 pm
Venue: No Bar Here

21^ST OCTOBER 2023

Elevate Your Craft: Mastering The Art Of Cocktail Photography (By RSVP Only)
Masterclass by Sip Sensei (Jakarta)
Time: 3.00 pm
Venue: Foxhole 24

From Bar To Brand: Life As A Bartender Turned Ambassador (By RSVP Only)
Masterclass by Din Hassan of Black Tears (Singapore)
Time: 5.00 pm
Venue: Cocktails & Shots

Sip Sensei Guest Shift
Guest Shift by Sip Sensei (Jakarta)
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: Backdoor Bodega

Alquímico Bar Takeover
Guest Shift by Jean Trinh, Danitza & Miguel (Cartagena)
Time: 9.00 pm
Venue: No Bar Here

22^ND OCTOBER 2023

PCW 2023 Cocktail Garden
In collaboration with Hin Market
Time: 11.00 am to 5.00 pm
Venue: Hin Market

Bar Mizukami Takeover (By RSVP Only)
Guest Shift by Shawn Chong of Bar Mizukami (Kuala Lumpur)
Time: 6.00 pm & 9.00 pm
Venue: BaoBae

Karl Too Guest Shift
Guest Shift by Karl Too (Kuala Lumpur)
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: Foxhole 24

23^RD OCTOBER 2023

Ice Carving & Highballs: How Ice Affects Cocktails (By RSVP Only)
Masterclass with Shawn Chong of Bar Mizukami (Kuala Lumpur)
Time: 4.00 pm
Venue: Baobae

Origin Bar Takeover
Guest Shift by Adam Bursik & Cherry Lee (Singapore)
Time: 4.00 pm
Venue: The Nest

Jameson Black Barrel Showdown
Guest Shift by Ronny Holicka of The Cocktail Club (Jakarta) and Thanesh Kumar of Backdoor Bodega (Penang)
Time: 9.00 pm
Venue: Cocktails & Shots

24^TH OCTOBER 2023

PCW Battle of the Bars
Community Bartending Showdown
Time: 11.00 am to 3.00 pm
Venue: The Nest

Low-ABV Cocktail Masterclass (By RSVP Only)
Masterclass by Penicillin (Hong Kong) & TJ Anthony (Giffard)
Time: 4.00 pm
Venue: Nomad

Jungle Ballroom Guest Shift
Guest Shift by Adrian Besa (Singapore)
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: Nomad

Penicillin Bar Takeover
Guest Shift by Anjal Rai (Hong Kong)
Time: 9.00 pm
Venue: No Bar Here

25^TH OCTOBER 2023

Islay Whisky Masterclass (By RSVP Only)
Masterclass by Abi Clephane of Bruichladdich (Islay)
Time: 2.00 pm
Venue: No Bar Here 

Introduction to Moutai (By RSVP Only)
Masterclass by Shirmy Chan of Bar Terumi (Kuala Lumpur)
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: Baobae 

Bruichladdich Guest Shift
Guest Shift by Abi Clephane, Global Brand Ambassador of Bruichladdich (Islay)
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: The Mandarin

Lockdown Bar Guest Shift
Guest Shift by Saan Dhakal (Hong Kong)
Time: 9.00 pm
Venue: No Bar Here

 The After After Hour Apertivo Party
Guest Shift by Giovanni Magliaro (Kuala Lumpur)
Time: 11.00 pm
Venue: Biso

26^TH OCTOBER 2023

Italian Aperitif Masterclass (By RSVP Only)
Masterclass by Roberto Bava, CEO of Cocchi (Asti)
Time: 3.00 pm
Venue: Bottega Penang

PCW 2023 Apertivo Party
Guest Shift by Giovanni Magliaro (Kuala Lumpur)
Time: 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Venue: Bottega Penang

The Malaysian Invasion
Rakh (KL) at Biso
Skullduggery (KL) at Mandarin
Cabinet 8 (JB) at Foxhole 24
Pahit (KL) at Backdoor Bodega
Tiga Bar (Ipoh) at The Nest
Frank’s (KL) at BaoBae
Budi (Melaka) at Chez Chez
Bar Terumi (KL) at Nomad
Reka (KL) at No Bar Here
Botalkiquor (KL) at Cocktails & Shots
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: George Town Bar Crawl

27^TH OCTOBER 2023

Feni: An Indian Heritage Spirit (By RSVP Only)
Masterclass by Deepak Soni (Bangkok)
Time: 3.00 pm
Venue: Biso

Deepak Soni Guest Shift
Guest Shift by Deepak Soni (Bangkok)
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: Nomad

Toma Guest Shift
Guest Shift by Bayu Adithia (Jakarta)
Time: 9.00 pm
Venue: Cocktails & Shots

28^TH OCTOBER 2023

Classic Cocktail Workshop
Masterclass by Jordan Lim (Kuala Lumpur)
Time: 4.00 pm
Venue: Chez Chez 

PCW Jameson & Chivas Party Bus (By Tickets Only)
Barhop Tour visiting No Bar Here, Baobae, The Mandarin, Nomad and Backdoor Bodega
Time: 7.00 pm
Venue: No Bar Here

Three X Co Bar Takeover
Guest shift by David Hans & Igene Loh (Kuala Lumpur)
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: Foxhole 24

Kafe Utu Takeover
Guest shift by Zachary Ibrahim (Singapore)
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: Cocktails & Shots

29^TH OCTOBER 2023

PCW Halloween Cocktail Garden
In collaboration with Hin Market
Time: 11.00 am to 5 pm
Venue: Hin Bus Depot

The Art Of Flair Workshop
Masterclass by David Hans of Three X Co. (Kuala Lumpur)
Time: 3.00 pm
Venue: Hin Bus Depot

Sip Sip Sunday With Coley
Guest shift by CK Kho, Shuen & Joel (Kuala Lumpur)
Time: 12.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Venue: How Shy @ Hin Bus Depot

PCW Industry Nightcap (By Invite Only)
Time: 9.00 pm
Venue: No Bar Here

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