Draught Anywhere with the New 325ml Carlsberg Smooth Draught

The first thing that will come to mind when you hear "Carlsberg Smooth Draught" is probably, "Oh, it’s Carlsberg Draught, like from a tap".

A post shared by Fireangel (@fireangel80) on Oct 3, 2017 at 5:08am PDT

Well, not quite, but you won't be too far off from the truth.

Carlsberg Malaysia introduced Carlsberg Smooth Draught last year with the intention of replicating the "smooth feel" of a draught beer in a can/bottle via a different brewing technique (and based on my personal observation, I think the slightly lesser ABV also contributes to the smoothness).

Carlsberg Malaysia’s Managing Director Lars Lehman wants you to enjoy (what is) Probably the Smoothest Beer In The World anytime, anywhere - be it in a plane, out in the desert or probably at the peak of a mountain.

Unveiling the smaller 325ml sized bottle was great excuse (hurrah!)  to throw a party earlier this month at the Eight Gourmets Gala (EGG), Pinnacle Sunway.

The introduction of the 325ml bottle completes the brew’s existing portfolios of the 580ml bottle, 320ml can and 500ml can, to make it even more accessible to outlets that prefer to offer the small-sized bottles in their outlets (like nieghbourhood bars, modern F&B outlets, golf clubs.... ).

In conjunction with this launch, if you purchase 1 bucket of Carlsberg Smooth Draught in 325ml bottles, you'll get a free retractable USB cable all October. In November, if you purchase 4 big bottles of 580ml or 2 buckets of Carlsberg Smooth Draught in 325ml pint bottles, you get a free multipurpose lighter.

In addition to that, golfers can get a sleeve of TaylorMade golf balls with the purchase of 2 buckets of Carlsberg Smooth Draught in 325ml pint bottles across all participating golf clubs.

For more - check out www.facebook.com/CarlsbergMY or www.probablythebest.com.my.

Meanwhile, I came across this funny little video by MGag about how times have changed, complete with a feature of Carlsberg Smooth Draught, of course.

Thanks for the fun party, Carlsberg. Until next time!

- Jon

#ProbablyTheBest
#DraughtAnywhere

Funky Fireball Friday @ Souled Out

If you're an American, this drink of the devil needs no introduction. If you're not,  a quick read about Fireball whisky on its website describes itself like this:

“...just imagine what it feels like to stand face-to-face with a fire-breathing dragon who just ate a whisky barrel full of spicy cinnamon. Live it, love it, shoot it – what happens next is up to you”

“Taste like heaven, burns like hell…”

Yup, it's pretty much a party drink.

Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is a mixture of whisky, cinnamon flavoring and sweeteners.. The product originates from the cold depths of Canada in the mid-1980s, and for a long time was little known outside of Canada until recently. It is bottled at 33% abv and so sweet that American college frat boys chug this straight from the bottle. And now, it is available in this part of the world.


If you're wondering how to get yourself a taste of this, wonder no more as Souled Out Desa Hartamas recently launched its Funky Fireball Friday. What this means is that every Fridays, there will be Fireball whisky cocktails.  Of course, what's a Funky Fireball Friday without Fireball bottle and shots promotions? Go get it.

Get your happy on with the Fireball Mojito, Fireball Citrus and Fireball Espressotini.

The Funky Fireball Friday at Souled Out will run until 10th Nov 2017. So, the next time you have a party where shots and 5 second pours are in your agenda, try it with the Fireball. It's easy to chug because it's sweet and would probably hurt you less than tequila, gin or regular whisky. Win!

- Jon

#funkyfireballfriday

Babilicious Naughty Nuri’s (Malaysia)

You can't miss it. Babi is everywhere in Bali and so is bebek.. I really don’t know what our non porcine eating brethren eat in Bali because these are the must-do things to accomplish in this delectable tiny Island in the sun. .... Ah.. they probably eat a lot of ulam which makes sense as this fast growing touristic destination seem to be very big with vegan yogis.

On a trip to Bali some months ago we had to make Naughty Nuri’s Ubud a must do stop. Lo and behold that we were somewhat surprised that it was a warong situated smack in parts unknown off Ubud central.

Naughty Nuri’s opened its first outlet in Malaysia a few years ago and now has sprung to a 6-outlet strong crowd favorite go to place for pork ribs.

A post shared by Fireangel (@fireangel80) on Jul 31, 2017 at 7:44am PDT

The signature rack ribs in Ubud did not disappoint and went superbly well with a bottle of cold beer.

So forward a few months later and we had an opportunity to check out the outlet in Lifecentre, KL. You’d like to know that the menu in Malaysia is more extensive and varied than in Bali. For one, we have here the balinese style bebek and a more extensive drinks menu to boot.

Here is what we had to sample at the Lifecentre:

Signature BBQ spare ribs (RM49) - on the sweeter side. You can see that the glaze from the Malaysian version is thicker than the Ubud version, which is drier.
BBQ Pork chop (RM25) - also on the sweet side. We were told that the sweetness is a Balinese thing.
Signature pork salad (RM28) - the opposite of healthy with a generous rack of siew yoke which is a good full meal for 2.
BBQ satay lilit (RM26) - grilled pork paste and herbs on a lemongrass stick.
Balinese Ayam Bertutu (RM35) - think chicken rice, but sweeter meat.
Indonesian style mee goreng (RM25) - This came with siew yoke toppings... and one can never go wrong with siew yoke toppings.

Pork was obviously the order of the day. Yum.

Of course, since they have an array of drinks on menu and this is a drink blog, we had to have drinks.

Asam Boi Mojito (RM29), Kiss My Bud (RM45), Nuri's Punch (a RM28.80 mocktail to share with 6), Lychee Martini (RM29)

Just 2 things to note if you do order any of its signature drinks.

1) Do specify if you prefer your beverages kurang manis (they are on the sweeter side).
2) If you do order a martini, the Naughty Nuri staff will shake (shaken, not stirred) it in front of you with a big song and dance. It is quite a sight and entertaining.

They do have a selection of beers and spirits too if cocktails aren't your thing. You really can't have your babi without and ice cold something something.

If you are up for an alternative buffet experience do give Naughty Nuris Sunday Snout to Tail buffet a try. It’s priced at 49.90++ and served between 11am-3pm and features most of the items mentioned and more. This deal is a steal.

Look at this FA stuffing her face.

Don’t say I bojio ah!

- Jon

The Whisky Society 2017 (Win Tickets!)

Back for its 3rd year, The Whisky Society event is an intimate tasting session for anyone remotely interested in whiskies.

It first started off in 2015 as a private whisky tasting session for 150 people, serving just 10 scotch labels. In 2016, over 400 guests sampled more than 30 types of whiskies from all over. This year will feature not only whiskies, but also other spirits like rum, gin and sake.

The Whisky Society 2017 will be held on 28 October 2017 (Saturday) from 2-10pm at the SOCIALMEX Hall (13A, Jalan Pelukis u1/46B, Temasya 18, Glenmarie).

Price stated below includes a complimentary tasting glass:
Standard ticket (whisky only) : RM129
Premium ticket (whisky +  other spirits) : RM159
Buy 3 premium tickets free 1 : RM450
*Selected premium drams also available at the individual booths for an additional fee.
Purchase your tickets here.
Promo code: TWSANGELTINI for rm30 off the standard or premium tickets. 

For more:
About Whisky Society: https://www.facebook.com/whiskysocietyMY 
About the 2017 event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1905453843039978/

Drink responsibly and stay safe okay! See you then!

WIN TICKETS TO THE WHISKY SOCIETY 2017!

Contest time! Win a PAIR of the premium tickets for you and your friend. Simply follow these steps for a chance to win:

On Facebook:
1. Like my Facebook page (if you haven’t already!)
2. Tag a friend on my page and comment why you'd like to go.

Contest ends at the end of the week - 22 October 2017  and other T&Cs apply (ie: I say so!). Winners will be PM-ed for personal details – so make sure your Facebook page is accessible for me to PM you!

The Singleton of Glen Ord - Forgotten Drop Series

The happy Singleton family (Image: MHDM)

A group of us were whisked off to Genting's exclusive Ltitude to check out the launch of The Singleton's Forgotten Drop Series which is an annual release drawn from the brand’s rarest whiskies.

Before the main event, we were plied with the loads of 12 year old (the legal sort, of course) straight or via the bar's own Glen Sour (Singleton 12, lemon juice, maraschino cherry, gula melaka, dark walnut bitters, orange peel oils and egg white) which was like having dessert before the mains (so naughty!). The 15 and 18 from the core range was also served.

Thanks for feeding us and making sure that we drink responsibly (Image: MHDM)

Of course, we can't drink on an empty stomach. We were fed with a full 4 course meal, curated by Steven Chou Yu Liang, the Chef De Cuisine at The Olive to pair with the whiskies.

The supporting star of the night was the 18 Year Old Cask Strength, which is also newly launched in Malaysia to celebrate the distillery’s 180th anniversary. Bottled at 58.4% ABV it is only made available selectively with the starting price of RM 624.00.

On the nose, I get coffee, some creme brulee, dark fruits, a hint of sulphur. With some water, the vanilla opens up. On the mouth, viscous, oily... It feels like it's evaporating from the moment it touches my tongue.

With our stomach lined, and appetite whetted, the star of the show was finally presented - The Singleton of Glen Ord 41 Year Old. It's limited to 600 bottles worldwide and only 24 bottles in Malaysia. Bottled at 49.9% ABV, it retails at RM 15,193.00 per bottle.

Matured in a refilled American oak (which is quite unusual for the Singleton), I get nangka fumes on the nose... some marzipan... fruit cake, perhaps?

What a treat!

Rajesh Joshi (MD of MHDM),  Ervin Trykowski, (The Singleton Global Scotch Whisky Ambassador) and
Chou Yu Liang, (Chef De Cuisine at The Olive) joined the party too.  (Image: MHDM)

Contact diageoinfo@mhdm.com.my if you're interested in getting any one of these babies and if you get it, as usual, don't forget to jio!

Thanks for the lovely time, guys! Slainte!


For more: https://www.malts.com/en-gb/our-whisky-collection/the-singleton-of-glen-ord/

#TheSingletonMY 
#TheSingleton

Malaysia Wine Fiesta 2017 (Win Tickets!)

So, by now, you would’ve heard that the Better Beer Fest 2017 is now canned (sorry, too soon?). Apparently the fate of the Klang Valley Octoberfest celebrations are also uncertain now.

But, let's not get this put a damper our spirits (...sorry). There is still a Wine Fiesta 2017!!

The banner pretty much says it all - Malaysia's largest annual wine festival is back and features 70 wines from 29 wineries across 8 countries (from France, Italy, Portugal, England, USA, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa) for 3 days.

Details:

Malaysia Wine Fiesta (30th October)
Try, taste and buy all the wines from 3pm to 10pm
Roof Garden, Damansara City (DC) Mall
RM98 nett for early birds until 30th September, RM108 nett and RM130 nett for walk-ins.
Click here to purchase tickets.

Winemakers’ Dinner (31st October)
Enjoy a specially curated food menu by Chef James, pair it with all the wines and chat with the winemakers.
Mr.Chew’s Chino Latino Bar, Bukit Bintang
Only 80 seats available at RM320++/seat
RSVP to +6016 228 2084

Samadhi Carnival (1st November)
A collaboration with the Samadhi Group in conjunction with their 18th anniversary,  it promises to fill you up with food, wine, music and a good time at Tamarind Springs. Plus stand a chance to win prizes when you hashtag #SamadhiCarnival2017 and #LSAxSamadhi in your event day photos.
RM123 nett (till 30 September), RM153.75 nett
For more and to buy tickets: Click here

More info about the organiser and event: https://www.facebook.com/straitswinecompanymalaysia/

#WineFiestaMY
#MyStraitsWines

WIN TICKETS TO WINE FIESTA 2017!

Thanks to the folks at Straits Wines, win a PAIR of tickets & try ALL the wine you want for FREE! Simply follow these steps for a chance to win:

On Instagram:
1. Like my Instagram page (if you haven’t already!)
2.  Share the event poster on your instagram page (make sure it is open to public) 
3. Tag a friend on my page and comment why you think you should win.

On Facebook:
1. Like my Facebook page (if you haven’t already!)
2. Share my FB Wine Fiesta post on your Facebook timeline (make sure your settings is set to public) 
3. Tag a friend on my page and  comment why you think you should win.

Contest ends at the end of the week - 16 October 2017  and other T&C apply (I'll make it as I go). Winners will be PM-ed for personal details – so make sure your Instagram/Facebook pages are accessible for me to PM you!

I’ll see you there. Don’t say I #bojio!

-Jon

John Walker & Son’s XR 21 Mastery

Johnnie Walker is arguably one of the most popular blended whisky brand in the world. Any whisky drinker worth his/her salt has probably drank a Johnnie Walker product if not started with one.

Many exceptional blends have been produced by Johnnie Walker & Sons and the XR 21, produced as part of their premium Prestige line of products is one excellent product.

The XR 21 is a product inspired by Alexander Walker II to honour the commemoration of his knighthood he received in 1920. Alexander Walker II was a master blender like his father and his grandfather before him, who devoted his life to making exceptional whiskies. Inspired by Sir Alexander’s own hand-written notes, it is blended from the exclusive Johnnie Walker reserve of rare whiskies, all of which have been matured for a full 21 years.

I was lucky enough to enjoy an a gastronomical experience with XR 21 recently.

We were transported to the elegant Khoo Kongsi in Penang, one of the prestigious UNESCO heritage clan houses in Malaysia owned by the Khoo (surnamed) clan. Against the backdrop of lighting, the Khoo Kongsi was transformed into a courtyard of entertainment, where we dined from the stage of the opera house overlooking the temple.

The 4 course delectable menu meal served was selected with the highlight of local (Penang) ingredients and tastes made Chef Spider Kong, chef owner of private dining restaurant, Soul Food in Penang, and Chef Jeffrey, the Head Pastry Chef at Metisser Dessert Parlour in Penang.

Balanced and elegant, the XR 21 has intriguing layers. Sweet honey, fruits and spices with smoke coming through. At 40%ABV, with a splash of water, the fruitiness is even more pronounced.

At the later part of the night, another surprise was revealed to us. A special tasting was arranged for another exceptional whisky; the Mortlach 21 - which is one of the whiskies blended into the XR 21, lending it its honey sweetness.

The XR 21 Mastery is a platform created exclusively for Malaysia, featuring local hidden gems and culinary experts to pair with the XR 21. For more information on the XR 21 Mastery, contact diageoinfo@mhdm.com.my

What a great mini holiday this was. Slàinte mhath Diageo!

- Jon

East Imperial's 5th Annual Gin Jubilee 2017 has arrived in KL

Celebrating everything G&T, participated by over 100 bars across Singapore, Hong Kong, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Shanghai and Auckland, the Gin Jubilee will be in KL starting tomorrow.

A post shared by Fireangel (@fireangel80) on Nov 26, 2016 at 9:54am PST

So what’s in store for you, dearest KL-based imbiber?

1. 21 variations of the gin and tonic... from 21 participating bars in KL from 13- 16 September 2017:

Using Kyrö Napue:
Insan Nurull from Pahit
Mattman Joseph from Skullduggery

Using St. George:
Golam Kibria from Jack Rose
Alvin Au Yong from Birch

Using Fords Gin:
Ali Aye from PS150
Desmond Yatigammana from JungleBird

Using Gin Mare:
Alvin George (Loco) from Coley
Kelvin Lee from Bonfire Restaurant & Bar
Erik Fiza from Suzie Wong

Using Bombay Sapphire:
Kay (Khir Johari) from Virgin & Throne
Jovilane Maghanoy from Opium KL

Using Hendrick's:
Roymark Arusab from The Pawn Room
Jiffy Madredijo from Ril's Bangsar

Using Death's Door:
John Buxton from Encore by The Vault
Ebony Hogg from Sticky Wicket

Using West Winds:
Nik Syafiz from Locker & Loft
Anand Pirinyuang from Shelley Yu's

Using Citadelle:
Osmund Bernard from IKKI
Kazi Tanbir from Hyde at 53M

Using Botanist:
Joe Ngui from Omakase + Appreciate
Mitchell Raymond from 61 Monarchy

Say hello to your 21 friendly participating KL bartenders!

2. Win an all-expense paid 3-day trip to Singapore:

To vote for your favourite g&t and stand a chance to win a free holiday :
1. You'll first need a public Instagram account.
2.  Follow @eastimperial on Instagram
3. Post a picture of your favourite bar’s Gin & Tonic
4.Tag @eastimperial.
5. Post up the bar’s name, and use the official hashtag: #GinJubilee2017.
6. Accompany it with a clever caption
7. Make sure you post between 13th to 16th September.

Your vote counts because KL's favourite G&T from the winning bar/bartender will then go on to compete with winners from the other 6 countries for the ultimate title of “Asia’s Best Gin & Tonic” at the jubilee grand finale in Singapore this December.

3. Attend guest shifts and masterclasses by brand representatives from various gin distilleries and international bartenders.

Check out the jam-packed schedule of activities here:  http://ginjubilee.com/calendar

DRINK ALL THE G&T

4. A Big Gin Lane Finale Party with RM25 G&Ts all night!

Date: Saturday, 16 September
Time: 6pm – 12.00am
Venue: Plaza Batai, Damansara Heights

Don’t say I Bojio!

For more: http://ginjubilee.com/

The Heineken Star Serve National Finals 2017

Heineken Bhd travelled across Malaysia and selected 8 of the best beer pullers to tap the perfect pint of Heineken draught beer in the Heineken Star Serve (which used to be called the GAB Professional Solutions Academy before the brewery re-branded) National Finals that ran last August.

What makes a perfect pint Heineken pull? It involves its signature "5 part ritual": the rinse, the pour, the skim, the check and the serve. And for the finalists, this ritual is to be completed in 4 minutes.

Now in its 4th year, the Heineken Star Serve is a global programme that educates bartenders so they know how to serve the perfect pour of a draught Heineken.

Unlike in the previous years, Heineken International announced that there will be no Global Bartender Finals for 2017. However this international event will be back next year. Last year, Malaysia was put on the map when our local boy bagged 1st place at the Global Bartender Finals in Amsterdam.

This year’s Star Serve National Finals was clinched by Daimler Kenn Cagas of The Beer Factory, Kota Kinabalu and he won himself an all-expenses-paid trip to Amsterdam to explore the Heineken Experience.

Syabas to Daimler!

- Jon

A Most Unusual Wedding Dinner

This is a long procrastinated official thank you post.

2nd Aug 2017 was officially our 2nd wedding anniversary and not coincidentally also my FA's birthday. How time flies when you are having a great time (no, she didn't put me up to say this, really).

Diageo Classic Malts Tasting Session

Diageo recently held a tasting session featuring some of its Classic Malts collection which include Clynelish 14 Year Old, Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old, Oban 14 Year Old.

The highlight of the evening was the Benrinnes 21 Year Old from Diageo’s Casks of Distinction.

What is “Diageo’s Casks of Distinction”? It is a limited program where customers can purchase the entire casks from selected distilleries, and then choose to either bottle it or continue ageing it for bottling at a later date.

Know about your wine before you drink it - Vivino

Note: This is not paid nor sponsored post, but we really wished it was. :)

Source: Sotheby's

Wine has always been my Achilles heel. Not because I don’t like it, but it is so vast in variety and so subjective. What I can tell is if a wine is bad (which really just means, I don't like it) or no good. And then there are wines which are just absolutely divine in the mouth. Both I'll only know once I have the wine with me, and it's opened, and the liquid's in the mouth.

What I really can't gauge is wine prices or possibly what we should be expecting from it just based on the bottle itself. So this is where this little app on my phone is very helpful - Vivino.

Angeltini reviews… Caught on Video

So we're gonna be trying to do some casual vblogs.

The stuff reviewed will be random and unadulterated and possibly (no, will be!) NSFW from a verbal point of view.

The products featured will be random items we either have in hand or recently bought to try.

It's an honest review from FA, unscripted, one take and full of imperfections.

This one's on 2 types of Guinness 0% ABV which was purchased from a nearby Hero supermarket at the soft drinks section, priced at RM3.50 each. One looks like an "original" version and the other is called a 'Ginseng zesty lime".

Enjoy!



- Jon

Locker & Loft's Shake and Take

At one point of his life, Deepak of The Thirsty Blogger told himself, “I’ve had enough of this nonsense” - alcohol prices were going off the charts in prices (no thanks to imposed taxes) which led to too many unscrupulous players in the industry, "cheating" customers.

Then Deepak said FTS and went on to open a bar with his business partner - giving birth to Locker and Loft.

The man himself, Deepak.

About Jon," The Bodyguard".

So Fireangel/FA/Ah Fa has been inundated with her offline obligations and I've decided (on her behalf) that it's time to dust off the cobwebs on this blog and bring it to life again.

Allow me to introduce myself.

I started off being known just as… "The Bodyguard", which was before I became "the boyfriend" to which then blossomed into "the Fiance".

Today, I go by different monikers namely "the ex boyfriend" or her "ol man", and "grumpy ol man" (depending on my mood).

My past resume reads like this: 1. Accompany FA to events and prevent her from getting herself drunk.

Yup, actually just ONE job, really.

Apparently I have done a decent enough job and now she trusts me enough with her blog to provide research and creative content for Angeltini.com.

So for any posts with my input, I'll be signing it off with "Jon'".

Or you could also call me “O ghost who writes"

Cheers!

- Jon

P/S:  FA is still very active (perhaps too active1) on  www.instagram.com/fireangel80. Boozy updates (#angeltini) will be interspersed with her daily shenanigans too. If you'd like to take a peak into her life, go ahead and follow her now!

K1664's “Pause for Le Moment!”

When in France drink as the french do, which we’d probably think; wine right? But the French also have their own beer too - the Kronenbourg 1664 - which you'll also see Parisians enjoying in their little cafes in the heart of a city on a hot summer's day.

K1664 showing you how to chill correctly.

Win: Probably the Best Brewery Tour by Carlsberg

DRINK ALL THE BEER!

FA used to live just a mere 3km from a beer brewery and now after moving in (to, what seems like, another "continent") with me, we live 7km away from another. I’ve been to both countless of times but never have had the participate on a brewery tour... until recently.

Botak Liquor @ Petaling Street Kuala Lumpur

Smack right in the urban jungle of Chinatown Kuala Lumpur is this super instagram-friendly bar with its mismatched quirky furniture in its rustic pre-war shoplot charm (it used to be an actual brothel!) surrounded by foliage from floor to ceiling.

The concept of this bar is farm-to-glass. Raw ingredients will be sourced from the founder's own farm in Cheras as much as possible. They are proud of their homemade syrups (no pre-made ones in the bar, they say) and infusions. Fresh ingredients (herbs, vegetables, fruits) are the star of their drinks.



Its back bar features predominantly white spirits like mezcal, tequila, grappa, neutral makes and even moonshine which they plan to expand in time to come. They even have selected cocktails on tap!

If you need a break from the concrete jungle that's KL - I would highly recommend that you check this place out. Don't say we #bojio

Find them here: https://www.facebook.com/BOTAKLiquor/

A post shared by Fireangel (@fireangel80) on Dec 1, 2017 at 3:22am PST

Event: Malaysia Wine Fiesta 2016

WOOT! 5 pairs of entry tickets up for grabs! Read till the end of the post for more.

What is it:
A wine fair that lets you taste, learn about (from 15 visiting winemakers) & buy (at a promo rate) over 60 types of wines from France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, USA and even China. Ideal for wine noobs to connoisseurs of all (legal drinking) ages!

As a prelude to the main event, there’s also a Wine Makers’ Night - a private dinner with the winemakers featuring a 10-course meal paired with 12 wines!

Event: The Whisky Society 2016 - Win Tickets!

TLDR: 2 pairs of The Whisky Society event tickets worth RM229 each up for grabs. Find out how to win them at the end of this post.

What is this?
Back for its second year, The Whisky Society is a mini Malaysian whisky tasting festival which is especially ideal for people who want try a whole bunch of whiskies but don't really want to  commit to full bottles of too many different expressions.

Event: Toast the Macallan

What is it?
Finally coming to our shores after dropping by Singapore, Taiwan & Thailand, Toast the Macallan is a pop-up experiential event by The Macallan to showcase their range of whiskies & history through an exhibition & tasting session; hosted by The Macallan Brand Trainer, Keith Nair and Brand Advocate, Randall Tan.

The Macallan will also be unveiling its newest series, the Trilogy, which consists of:

What You Should Know About Absinthe

New age brains don't read articles unless they are in some form of a list, right?

Well then, since I'm at your brain's mercy - here is a listicle on 5 things about Absinthe you might not already know:

1. Drinking absinthe can make you go crazy or kill you.

Image:Faded Industry

No entirely true. Absinthe once upon a time gained a bad rep when it was banned internationally (from misinformation and mass hysteria) after a man allegedly killed his entire family from drinking absinthe. But people always leave out the part about 1) him being an alcoholic 2) how much alcohol he was actually drinking (it was evidently, ALL DAY for a FEW DAYS in a row).

5 Reasons Why You Should Kanpai with Sake Masters at Kampachi Plaza33

It's back! OMG it's back!!! For its 3rd consecutive year - Kampachi's annual KANPAI! with Sake Masters from Japan is BACK!!!

Kanpai promotional poster lifted off from Kampachi.com.my

It's one of the most awesome sake & buffet dinner session you'll ever get to experience in Malaysia, IMHO. I had the utmost pleasure of attending last year's session and loved every second of it - you bet your liver I won't miss this year's for the world.

If you are still in two minds about going, well, here are 5 reasons why you should NOT miss it (largely based on my previous experience, which should be similar to the upcoming one):

Diageo World Class South East Asia Finals 2016: Meet our Malaysian Representatives!

The Diageo World Class Malaysia 2016 took place recently (2-3 May, to be exact) at the KL Journal.

After 2 days & 4 grueling challenges later, 4 local bartenders were chosen to represent Malaysia in the Southeast Asian World Class Finals 2016 - happening right now in Bali.

Meet the 4 Malaysian representatives for the Diageo World Class South East Asia Finals 2016: (L tp R:) Joel John Timmis, Osmund Bernard, Jeffri Sulaiman & Boy Labib

I've googled and googled but couldn't find much info about our heroes. Which is why I've decided to put on my spy glasses, hunt them down, pose them a few questions, then get their background out here so that they have some form of a digital footprint on the interweb.

The Macallan: Edition No.1 Sample & Rare Cask Malaysia Launch

Macallan has been actively moving away from age-statements and are now putting all their focus on wood.

So expect to see new NAS bottlings and even more geekery about their casks.

I'll be featuring 2 of them in this post, as they were all shared with me during my hiatus back in January - but better late than never eh?

Launch: Carlsberg Smooth Draught Beer in Malaysia - first in the world!

That's right! We're the first in 140 Carlsberg markets in the world to have this!

Officially launched end of April, the intention of this new version is to provide the "freshly tapped beer" experience at outlets that typically have no access to draught beer. We're looking at coffee shops, food courts, hawker centres, chinese restaurants & some supermarkets (ie, your home).

(Re)Launch: Johnnie Walker Green Label Datang Lagi!

Johnnie Walker Green Label is back!

Heart were broken, (manly) tears were shed, shelves were emptied and basements were filled up with green boxes (YOU BLOODY HOARDERS) when Diageo decided to discontinue selling the Green Label back in 2012 (except in Taiwan, because you know, where, instead of oxygen, they inhale single malt whiskies) to introduce the Gold Label and Platinum Label.

Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège Collection 6 Launch

Hennessy VSOP has some dazzling new clothes made by Peter Saville, an English graphic designer, and some of us were invited to check it out.

Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège Collection 6 by Peter Saville (Image: MHDM)

Jacob's Creek Heritage Wine Collection Dinner @ Saujana Resort

Jacob's Creek Reeves Point Chardonnay + chilling at Saujana Resort = Bliss.

There's a trend that's taking over wine makers by storm - going rogue and breaking all the rules with new grape varieties, wacky names, edgy copy-writing and eye-catching label designs.

Sweet bitch. Fat Bastard. Bulls Blood. Gnarly Head. Fish Eye. Hocus Pocus. Bitch. Frog's Piss. Elephant on a Tightrope. No, I'm not making up rude words - these are ACTUAL wine brand names.

News Flash: Malaysian Wins Heineken Global Bartender 2016 Championship

(29.4.16- edited to include more details + image)

Eddy Jay Jaimin of The Beer Factory Express is very happy. (Image: Heineken)

Eddy Jay Jaimin from The Beer Factory, Setiawalk (Puchong) put Malaysia on the map yesterday by being crowned the Heineken's Global Bartender 2016 Championship winner!

AIX Rosé Wine Media Tasting @ SkyBar, Traders Hotel KL

All the AIX Rosé you can drink.

Provence, France is the birthplace of rosé wines - just like the AIX Rosé, which was officially launched last month.

It's produced by Maison Saint AIX winery that only produces 1 wine - the AIX.

AIX is made from a blend of Grenache (60%), Syrah (20%) and Cinsault (20%) grapes.

Insta Weekly: Whiskies, Spirits & Bars

Hi readers!

Updates will be sporadic for the next 2 months until April. Not only will I be too caught up with my offline commitments, but I will also have to majorly cut down on leisurely drinking (TEMPORARILY ONLY, DON'T PANIC).... unless it's in an event, which I won't say not to, hehe. Meanwhile, feel free to get quite frequent updates from my Instagram (lots of of silly daily shenanigans) and Facebook page. Happy chinese new year, happy chah goh mei and happy valentines in advance!

Old Parr is all the rage.
Evidently an underground popular whisky, my uncle introduced it to me 2 years ago... and then I hear it get mentioned more and more. It's a legit scotch, no doubt - 1 of Diageo's many, many brands. If you can get your hands on it for a good price, it's a very decent house pour.

This Old Parr seems to be the in thing among local businessmen lately. The label is over 100 years old but this expression is just over 25 years old, which is now only gaining popularity in Malaysia. I wonder why so low key. It's an easy-to-drink everyday scotch. I suppose it's perfect for business entertainment and doesn't quite hurt the bank account. What do you make of it? Edit: evidently always been quietly popular. I just didn't know about it #drink #booze #alcohol #whisky #blendedwhisky #scotch #whiskey #oldparr #angeltini

A photo posted by Fireangel (@fireangel80) on Jan 11, 2016 at 6:38pm PST

Insta Weekly: Cocktails drank, Places Visited & Chinese New Year is coming!

Spirit of choice + limes + sugar + ice = easy homemade cocktail
Caipirinha is just the above with cachaca. You can also try it with any other white spirit.

An ice cold Caipirinha for your hot evening, perhaps? Easy to make. Cachaca + 1 lime cut into wedges + sugar + ice. Can use vodka, sake or even Campari in place of cachaca. #drink #booze #alcohol #cocktail #caipirinha #cachaca #homemade #angeltini

A photo posted by Fireangel (@fireangel80) on Jan 5, 2016 at 11:15pm PST

Launch: Tiger White Ale Wheat Beer

Tiger launched this new beer just last November 2015 at Black Box, Publika - 2 years after the launch of Tiger Radler (a shandy variant).

Insta Weekly: Stuff to Try & Places to Check Out.

Give the Hoegaarden ice-cream @ Rekindle ss2 Cafe a go
Sounds a strange but not a bad experience at all.

Hoegaarden ice cream. The moment I saw this I knew I had to have it. It tastes like hoegaarden (wasn't sure what to expect) ! But a creamier, milkier, yeastier, coconutish hoegaardenish ice cream. Not unpleasant, just... odd. Goes so very well with their long back (we tried) though. Maybe can make into affogato of sorts? RM10 (ouch). Here's an idea : why not try making ice cream stout next time! Or kahlua! Or bailey's! Coffee here is excellent and there's a huge variety of cakes. 100% will return to try. #angeltini #fanomz #coffee #cafe #cafehopmy #klcoffeespots #pjcafe #pjcoffeespots #cakes #dessert #pastries #ss2 #petalingjaya #selangor #Malaysia #klcafe #malaysiancafes #icecream #beer #hoegaarden #rekindless2

A photo posted by Fireangel (@fireangel80) on Dec 29, 2015 at 7:41am PST