‘Gin-Finity And Beyond' with The RuMa's Seven Lobby Bar

In conjunction with World Gin Day, Seven Lobby Bar @ The RuMa Hotel and Residences featured a special appearance from Taiwan’s, Nick Wu, founder of Bar Mood, Taipei (est. 2017). 

Roku Sakura Bloom Edition launches in Malaysia

The House of Suntory recently unveiled its first release of a limited edition gin in Malaysia - the Roku Sakura Bloom Edition.

 

The Roku Sakura Bloom Edition pays homage to the famous annual Hanami (flower watching) festival - where people from all over gather to witness the iconic cherry blossom season in Japan during Spring. 

While Roku gin embodies the Japanese concept of “shun” (the moment when a seasonal product is at its peak in flavour and freshness), its limited edition variant has been crafted to capture the essence of each season.

Malfy Gin launches in Malaysia

Pernod Ricard Malaysia has recently introduced a new addition to its gin portfolio, Malfy Gin. Malfy is a range of super-premium gins distilled by the Vergnano family in the Italian region of Moncalieri.

  

Monkey 47 Barrel Cut now available in Malaysia

The Monkey 47 Barrel Cut gin was recently launched in Malaysia (only 300 bottles available locally!) - it is Monkey 47's first barrel-aged gin, aged in Mulberry cask.

Welcome to Malaysia, Grazia Di Franco!

Grazia Di Franco, Maison Ferrand's new Southeast Brand Ambassador, popped by to introduce herself and the range of Maison Ferrand products available in Malaysia. 

October is gin month at Locker & Loft

Gin Month is back at The Locker & Loft, happening all of October 2023. 

 

Hendrick's Cucumber Currency Exchange is Back on 14 July

That's right - for one night only, over 60 bars in Kuala Lumpur and Penang will accept cucumbers as payment for a Hendrick’s Gin & Tonic (T&C: 1 drink per person,  40 drinks redeemable per outlet or while stocks last!).

Head over to the website for the full list of participating outlets... or here's a snapshot (click on image to enlarge!):

Ki No Bai Arrives to Malaysia

Irasshaimase Ki No Bai! That's right folks. The Kyoto Distillery has brought its first-of-its-kind plum and berry liqueur to Malaysia!

This new expression is the distillery’s interpretation of British Sloe Gin and inspired by the Japanese umeshu, featuring locally sourced ingredients, such as haskap berries from Hokkaido and ume plums from Kyoto.

World Martini Day with The House of Suntory

In conjunction with World Martini Day on 17 June 2023, The House of Suntory embarked on a month-long celebration dedicated to this legendary drink with Roku Gin and Haku Vodka. While martini is traditionally crafted with gin, using vodka is also common (for example, the James Bond "shaken not stirred" martini is famously made with vodka). 

 

14 bars throughout Klang Valley, Johor Bahru, and Penang will showcase their own interpretation of the martini featuring Roku Gin and Haku Vodka from 12 June to 28 July. Check them all out and don't say bojio:

 

Pahit
Ginger, Perfect Martini, Yuzu (RM50)

 

Location & Reservations:
3, Jalan Sin Chew Kee, Bukit Bintang, 50150 Kuala Lumpur
t: +603  2110 0776
https://www.instagram.com/barpahit/

 

Gin Jubilee Kuala Lumpur is Back!

After a 3-year hiatus (no thanks to the pandemic!), Malaysia's (arguably) biggest gin event is back and will take place from 15 to 27 May 2023.

This year’s Gin Jubilee will feature 10 gin brands and a total of 20 bars.

Marcy Sakuma at Three X CO and the KI NO BI Edition G

We had the pleasure of catching Marcy Sakuma, Manager of the House of Ki No Bi of Kyoto, who took over Three X Co to showcase the range of Ki No Bi gins in cocktails recently.

The guest shift also introduced the limited-edition Ki No Bi Edition G, the brand’s first cask-aged Kyoto dry gin, which was officially released in 2019 in selected markets. 

Celebrating Spring Harvest with Roku Gin

From 6 April to 26 May 2023, Roku Gin is collaborating with some of the trendiest cocktail bars in Klang Valley to create cocktails that celebrate the "Shun" spring harvest - the Sakura, Grapefruit, Apricot, Kumquat, Plum and Honeydew.

"Shun", (旬 , pronounced shoon) in Japanese means seasonal ingredients that are harvested at its peak - when it is at its very best, most succulent, and flavourful.

Penrose will feature grapefruit cocktails that pairs with the fruit's citrus, tart and bitter flavours.

Rising Sun, The Sakura’s Calling, Momoiro (RM 55)

For more and reservations:149, Jalan Petaling, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
M : +6016 230 0905
www.instagram.com/penrose.kl/

Four Pillars Fresh Yuzu Gin Now Available in Malaysia

I know some people would instantly grab any edible and drinkable item with the words "MADE WITH YUZU" on its label, so here's one more to add to your buy list! 

  

The Australian brand, Four Pillars, has been known to feature home-grown products in their gin, and this variant is no different.

Sui Gin Now Available in Malaysia

The House of Suntory recently introduced Sui in Malaysia. Developed to be clean and refreshing tasting, Suntory wants anyone and EVERYone to be able enjoy its new gin at any meal, anytime.

World Gin Day with Caorunn and Jay Gray

Caorunn kickstarted a 3-day celebration of this year’s World Gin Day (which falls on the second Saturday of June annually) with Jay Gray, bartender and co-founder of Sago House, Singapore.

Jay Gray at the trade masterclass

 

Four Pillars Gin Now Available Online in Malaysia

Four Pillars Gin is a craft distillery founded by three friends in 2013 based in Healesville, Melbourne’s Yarra Valley. Four Pillars took Australia and the world by storm when the first ever gin they developed - the Rare Dry Gin - won awards just one year after the distillery was founded, making the distillery a fast cult favourite and one of the most beloved gin brands in Australia.

GinRum.Me 2020

Covid-19 has been a huge downer ... BUT rain, shine or virus, we must keep our spirits (glasses) up!

GinRum.Me is back in its third year with a new format for the new normal featuring 9 weeks of spirits experiences with gins, tequila and a mezcal across 8 bars in Klang Valley and even 4 in Ipoh!

Sorgin, The Bewitching Gin

Image: Sorgin

Most gins are distilled from grains. However, Sorgin is made from fine Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Not just any grapes, but grapes from the vineyards of Francoise Lurton, the 4th generation wine producer from one of the biggest Bordeaux wine families, producing wines since 1897.

Sorgin is the first spirit created by him and his wife, Saabin, after he diversified the family's business by relaunching the distilling activity his great-grandfather, Léonce Récapet, had inherited in 1880. Sorgin was designed to be a link between his new venture into spirits and his family''s heritage in wine.

Apart from juniper berries (mandatory for gin!), it also has pink grapefruit, lemon, lime, violet, broom (cinnamon), blackcurrant buds. The finished product of 43% abv  has a fruity, tangy notes while the nose has a hint of wine (thanks to its grape base).

Sorgin means witch in Basque french, an ode to its French South West origin.

Single & Available brings it in. While it is only exclusively available at Mr Chew's for now, I am told that this will eventually be available from year-end onward.

For more: http://sorgin.fr/ or https://www.facebook.com/sorgin.fr/

- Jon

The 4th East Imperial Gin Jubilee 2019 @ Malaysia

Gird your liver. Gin Jubilee's back - bigger and better. How?

13 participating Gin brands!

1. The Botanist 
2. Caorunn
3. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin
4. Four Pillars Rare Dry
5. Gin Agricolo Blagheur
6. G’Vine Floraison
7. Hendrick’s
8. Napue by Kyro Distillery Company
9. Monkey 47
10. Rock Rose
11. Scapegrace
12. St. George Terroir
13. The West Winds Cutlass

Image: Wholly Spirits

26 participating outlets!

1. 61 Monarchy
2. Bar Shake
3. Bar Trigona
4. Beta KL
5. BotakLiquor
6. Coley
7. Elements
8. Flying Monkeys
9. HYDE at 53M
10. JungleBird
11. Knowhere
12. Mari Gin
13. Mezze
14. Mrs Jones’ Parlour
15. Pacific Standard Bar
16. Pahit
17. Pinchos Tapas Bar
18. PS150
19. Soma
20. The Locker & Loft
21. The Pawn Room
22. The Sticky Wicket
23. The Vault
24. Three x Co
25. Tickets
26. Woo Bar @ W Kuala Lumpur

Image: W KL's Wet Deck

Lots of fun between 8-12 Oct 2019!

• Kick-off party at W Hotel's Wet Deck on 8 Oct 2019
• Bar crawl through participating bars to vote for your favourite Gin & Tonic between 1-12 Oct 2019. Each post MUST include the hashtags #EastImperial, #GinJubilee2019 and also the Location of the bar.
• Catch guest shifts, masterclasses and workshops between 8-12 Oct 2019. For updates, follow https://www.facebook.com/ginjubilee
• Catch Gin Jubilee's finale party- the Gin Lane on 12 Oct at the Sentul West Depot for RM25 g&ts all night by all the participating outlets and gin brands!

For more check out https://ginjubilee.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/whollyspirits/

J

Mrs Jones' Parlour @ section 17

A little foodie enclave in Section 17 has popped up on radar. There are a few grub-worthy makan places in those tinyrows of old 2-storey shoplots with a variety of choices. Parking availability is notoriously scarce but that has not been a deterrence.

The only thing missing here, was a drinking joint.

Enter Mrs Jones’ Parlour. Opened this October and is at this time, the only cocktail bar in the area. There are no clear signboards to this bar, so look out for Tujoh cafe.

The second you step into the parlour, deja vu. It brings us back to the late 70’s with its furnishing and deco. Ah FA said that it reminded her of her late granddad's home. Very nostalgic and cosy.

This is related to the speakeasy bar in TTDI, the Pawn Room and sister wine bar, The Private Room.

With gins from Australia, the UK,  Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands. Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand and USA, you'll be quite spoilt with choices.

Mrs Jones’ parlour meanwhile, is a gin bar with a small selection of wine. There's also a selection of gin-based cocktails and homemade infused gins too.

4 types of gin infusions.

Drinks and bottles are generally well-priced. Their happy hours are from 5-8pm where you get 2 glasses of gin (and tonics) for RM40 nett.

All the happy hour gin choices you can choose from - not bad.

Schweppes is used for happy hour but there are 2 premium tonic brands you can choose from with various flavours. 

G&T FTW.

There are bites to go with the drinks as well by Tujoh cafe downstairs.

Food is available until Tujoh closes. Creamy (tom yum? spicy?) soft shell crab was DA BOMB. 

I can see people just coming out here to chill with friends, while waiting for queues for the eateries downstairs to clear.

Amoi Melon (RM 35) - Tanqueray, Midori, lemon, agave, watermelon juice, beaten egg white.
There are 4 cocktails to choose from now - easy-drinking sweet gin-based concoctions from RM35-RM45.

As for me, I plan to catch their happy hour G&Ts as frequently as possible.

- Jon