GEORGE TOWN, PENANG — From 1 to 7 September 2025, Penang Cocktail Week (PCW) returns for its third edition, bringing a vibrant celebration of cocktails and culture to George Town. This year’s theme, “A Cocktail of Cultures”, highlights the diverse inspirations behind Penang’s cocktail scene while fostering cross-border connections among the regional bartending community.
Founded in 2023 by Backdoor Bodega’s Koh Yung Shen, PCW was created to spotlight Penang’s unique cocktail landscape, where nearly 90% of independent bars are owned and run by bartenders themselves. In just three years, it has grown into one of the region’s most exciting cocktail festivals.
PCW 2025 will feature acclaimed bartenders from the UK, Canada, and Los Angeles alongside rising talents from India, Taiwan, Vietnam, China, and more. Highlights include cross-culture bar takeovers, the India Cocktail Week collaboration, the Taiwan Takeover, the Jack Daniel’s Bangkok Block2Block Party, the Vietnam All-Stars, and the Malaysian Invasion — this year’s Borneo Edition showcasing East Malaysia’s pioneers and new generation of bartenders.
The week concludes with the inaugural Bar Show Malaysia at Ascott Gurney Penang, a 7,000-sqft cocktail convention with brand showcases, masterclasses, and a lively poolside closing party at Glass Bar.
Full event line-up & tickets available at Penang Cocktail Week (PCW)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Opening Night
● 5–9pm | Mojo Jojo — PCW 2025 Welcome Party feat. Bar Bello (Montreal), Cry Baby Gallery
(Toronto), Laowai (Vancouver) & Thunderbolt (Los Angeles) presented by Jameson Irish Whiskey,
Chivas Regal, Martell, Bumbu, Malfy, Código 1530, The Deacon
● 8pm | Chez Chez — Islands in the Sun feat. Potato Head (Bali) presented by Planteray
● 8pm | Nomad — Islands in the Sun feat. El Lequio (Okinawa) presented by Planteray
● 9pm | Backdoor Bodega — Islands in the Sun feat. The Public House (Taipei) presented by
Planteray
● 9pm | No Bar Here — Islands in the Sun feat. The Elephant Room (Singapore) presented by
Planteray
● 11.59pm | NEP — Shake It Til You Make It Fords Gin Midnight Ramos Challenge Round One
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
Industry Events
● 11am | The Teochew Club — PCW Bartender’s Brunch presented by Martell
● 4–5pm | Chez Chez — Masterclass: The Conscious Pour by Agustin Da Sambiagio (Potato Head,
Bali)
Vietnam All-Stars:
● 7pm | Baobae — The Hudson Rooms (Hanoi) presented by Bumbu & The Deacon
● 8pm | The Suckling Pig — Gallery Bespoke (Hanoi) presented by Código 1530
● 8pm | The Nest — Hybrid (Saigon) presented by Jameson Irish Whiskey & Martell
● 9pm | No Bar Here — Workshop14 (Hanoi) presented by The Deacon & Malfy
● 10pm | Biso — The Enigma Mansion (Saigon) presented by Chivas Regal & Malfy
Other Highlights:
● 9pm | Kushikobo Asian Bistro — Bartender’s Supper Club feat. Vijay Mudaliar (SIngapore),
Morris Chang (Hong Kong), Rajib Mukherjee (Bengaluru) & Kelvin Wong (Penang) presented by
iichiko & Solisca
● 9pm | Chez Chez — Bar Takeover feat. Between the Sips (Jakarta) presented by Phraya Rum
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Regional Guest Shifts & The Annual PCW Malaysian Invasion
● 1–4pm | Penang Bowl — The Tiki Bowl feat. JungleBird (Kuala Lumpur) presented by Bumbu &
The Deacon
● 7–10pm | Nood Nood (Hin Bus Depot) — Izakaya Under the Stars feat. Dear Hearts (Petaling
Jaya) presented by Nikka Whisky
Beyond The Capital: The Roads Less Shaken:
● 8pm | The Nest — ZLB23 (Bengaluru) presented by iichiko & Solisca
● 8pm | Khaosan Tapas Bar — The Continental Bar (Chiang Mai) presented by Woodford Reserve
● 8pm | Nomad — Fibona (Da Nang) presented by Código 1530
● 8pm | No Bar Here — CMYK (Changsha) presented by Rémy Martin & Bruichladdich
Malaysian Invasion 2025 — The Best of Borneo:
● 8pm | Biso — Joshua Pang, Jason Julian & Joe Ngui with Dr Anna Sulan Masing presented by
Portobello Road Gin & The House of Angostura
● 10pm | The Cellar (Macalister Mansion) — Ash Mariano, Junior, Osmund Bernard & Amar
Pawaka presented by The House of Angostura & Portobello Road Gin
Other Highlights:
● 8pm | Baobae — Bar Takeover feat. Live Twice (Singapore) presented by Nikka Whisky
● 9pm | Backdoor Bodega — Bar Takeover Native (Singapore) presented by iichiko & Solisca
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Industry Collabs & After-Parties
● 11am | Kinta Futsal Club — PCW Chivas Futsal Cup presented by Chivas Regal
● 2–6pm | Small Places — Coffee, Cocktails, Char Koay Teow. A Tequila Thursday: Código Coffee
Sessions presented by Código 1530
● 6–10pm | Communal Table by Gēn — Herradura House Party feat. Raz Ng & DJ Rudy
● 7–11pm | Rembar — Rum & Yum feat. food by Fifty Tales (Petaling Jaya) & cocktails by Rembar
presented by Diplomático Rum
ICW in Penang! (India Cocktail Week Collabs):
● 8pm | The Nest — Spirit Forward (Bengaluru) presented by Hapusa
● 8pm | No Bar Here — Hideaway (Goa) presented by Hapusa
● 8pm | Biso — PCO (Delhi) presented by Hapusa
Other Highlights:
● 8pm | Khaosan Tapas Bar — Bar Takeover feat. Ruki Robatayaki (Wollongong) presented by
Woodford Reserve
● 8pm | Round — Shawn Chong of Bar Mizukami (Kuala Lumpur) presented by House of
Angostura
● 9pm | Backdoor Bodega — The #FindTheLockerRoom Experience feat. Colin, Nick, Ueno, Ong &
Ping (Bangkok) presented by Woodford Reserve
● 11pm | NEP — PCW Service Swap After-Party feat. Yee Ming Koh, Johnson Wong, Thanesh Joel &
Felix Schumacher presented by Martell & Chivas Regal
● 11.59pm | Biso — Shake It Til You Make It Fords Gin Midnight Ramos Challenge Round Two
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Global Icons Night
● 4pm | Lucky Hole — Masterclass: The Art of Storytelling by Mr Lyan Studio (London) presented
by Rémy Martin & Bruichladdich
● 7pm | Lucky Hole — Studio Lates by Mr Lyan Studio (London) presented by Rémy Martin &
Bruichladdich
International Guest Shifts (Bar Takeover):
● 8pm | Khaosan Tapas Bar — Ruki Robatayaki (Wollongong) presented by Woodford Reserve
● 8pm | Nomad — Nel of Kravat Bar (Phnom Penh) presented by Giffard
● 8pm | Baobae — Aki Nakata of Origin Bar (Singapore) presented by Nikka Whisky
● 8pm | The Suckling Pig — David & Vince of The Curator (Manila) presented by Giffard &
Planteray
Late Night:
● 9pm–12am | The Cellar (Macalister Mansion) — Jao Tim To Go feat. Mambo Jumbo Live (Kuala
Lumpur) presented by Jameson
● 11pm | Sora — Midnight Mayhem with Bae’s Cocktail Club (Singapore) × Up&Away (Malaysia)
presented by Jack Daniel’s
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Taiwan Takeover & Bangkok Block2Block Party
● 4–8pm | Coco Nana (Ferringhi Bay) — Sips on the Beach feat. Humboldt (KL) presented by
Chivas Regal & Malfy
● 7pm | Macalister Mansion — PCW Party Bus presented by Chivas Regal, Jameson & Martell
Taiwan Takeover:
● 7pm | Baobae — Okra Liu of Musou (Taichung) presented by Jameson, Chivas Regal & Martell
● 7pm | Round — Tang Ning of Ron Xinyi (Taipei) presented by Jameson, Chivas Regal & Martell
● 7pm | Khaosan Tapas Bar — Mountain of Voyage (Taichung) presented by Jameson, Chivas Regal
& Martell
● 8pm | Nomad — Sheldon of Chikan Pharmacy (Tainan) presented by Jameson, Chivas Regal &
Martell
● 8pm | The Nest — Roy of AO (Taichung) presented by Jameson, Chivas Regal & Martell
● 9pm | The Mandarin — Jason of Dimension (Taichung) presented by Jameson, Chivas Regal &
Martell
Bangkok Block2Block Party:
● 8pm | Good Friends Club — Palm of Dry Wave Cocktail Studio presented by Jack Daniel’s
● 8pm | The Suckling Pig — Jinnie & Bent of Tax Bar presented by Jack Daniel’s
● 8pm | Chez Chez — BKK Social Club presented by Jack Daniel’s
● 9pm | No Bar Here — Dicky of Firefly & Ryan of Aqua presented by Jack Daniel’s
● 10pm | Good Friends Club — Tom of Vesper presented by Jack Daniel’s
● 10pm | Backdoor Bodega — Boom & Un of Thaipioka presented by Jack Daniel’s
Other Highlights:
● 8pm | The Cellar (Macalister Mansion) — Bar Takeover feat. Ray of Rhu Bar (Langkawi)
presented by Chivas Regal
● 10pm | Biso — Bar Takeover feat. Ray Letoa (New Zealand) presented by House of Angostura
● 11.59pm | No Bar Here — Shake It Til You Make It Fords Gin Midnight Ramos Challenge Final
Round
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Closing Day
● 11am–6pm | Ascott Gurney Penang — Bar Show Malaysia 2025
● 6pm | Ascott Gurney Penang — Bar Show Pool Party feat. Apoorva Kohli (Bengaluru), Demitria
Paramita (Jakarta) & Ellen Xu (Hangzhou) presented by Rémy Martin & Bruichladdich
● 8pm | The Mandarin — Bar Takeover feat. Nikun & Shakira of STG (Wuhan) presented by
Metabev
● 8pm | Backdoor Bodega — Bar Takeover feat. Book Ing Bar (Taipei) & Wing Lei Bar (Macau)
presented by iichiko & Solisca
● 9pm | Biso — PCW2025 Closing Party feat. Silvio of Cosmo Pony (Jakarta) presented by
Michter’s Whiskey, Siete Misterios & Farmer’s Gin
● 11pm | Magazine 63 — PCW2025 Closing Party feat. Pankaj & Ayush of Boilermaker (Goa)
presented by Michter’s Whiskey, Siete Misterios & Farmer’s Gin
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