Page 8 - Thirst Magazine Issue No. 3 Coffee & Tea

EDITOR’S NOTE

ISSUE 03 CREDITS

SEPTEMBER 2017 KIM CHOONG
Founder/Editor
MENG-CHAO
Sub-Editor
KOK HIN
Designer
2011, Ben Ng and his Fluid Alchemy team MEI LING
brought the very first KL Cocktail Week Web Programmer
to the city, in fact, the first in Asia. A KIM CHOONG
week of outlet promotions, trade panel Photographer
discussions, bartenders exchange programs,
masterclasses, cocktail and food pairings, it FLAVIA GALEOTTI
really seemed that the cocktail scene in KL Senior Writer
was thriving. ANTH HARTLEY
Writer
The lack of talk about drinks and the underappreciation of Contributors
bartending as a profession was the reason Thirst was founded 9 ADAM WESTBROOK, BERNARD LIEW, JASON LOO,
months later, as a platform to build awareness and to connect the JAY GRAY, JEFFRI S, SK LENG
trade with consumers.

Today, 6 years on, bartending is a serious profession with cocktail Printers
bars popping up everywhere in the city. But where do we stand THUMBPRINTS UTD SDN BHD
amongst our neighbours? A recent visit to neighbouring cities Lot 24 Jalan RP3,
Rawang Perdana Industrial Estate,
sees more if not equal amount of growth in the drinks industry. 48000 Rawang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo are the fastest growing with Phone: +603 6092 9809
www.thumbprints.com.my
most recognition; Bangkok and Taipei are picking up… suddenly
KL seems to be lagging. Publisher
THIRST MEDIA PLT
11-3-6 Menara Antara, Bukit Ceylon, 50200
Even so, brands are constantly bringing cocktail competitions Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
to KL and our bartenders are shining. With David Hans crowned Phone: +603 2785 0713
the World Champion in the Giffard West Cup, Giri Pancha www.thirstmag.com
winning the SEA Ophir Competition, Angostura Global Cocktail Subscription & Retail enquiries
Challenge returning after 5 years… and The Bar Awards coming Visit thirstmag.com
to KL as well. e-mail subscription@thirstmag.com
or call +603 2785 0713
I have mixed feelings for outstanding Malaysians overseas. Advertising enquiries
On one hand, I feel that we are losing talent; on the other hand, advertising@thirstmag.com
I can understand that the money and recognition is better where Editorial enquiries
they are. Just as I feel that Malaysia is losing its grip, people like editor@thirstmag.com
Jason Liew who started My Liberica Farm (p. 49) shows me that
I can’t lose optimism because this young farmer has returned SOCIAL MEDIA
from his agriculture studies to grow coffee beans which everyone facebook.com/thirstmag
thinks is the craziest thing to do. We also met with café owners twitter.com/thirstmag
in Johor Bahru (p. 54) who are all in their early 30s. Then there Instagram.com/thirstmag
is Zenxin Organic Farm (p. 56), where the majority of their pinterest.com/thirstmag
employees are young people returning to work close to home.
There is still hope.

Thirst Magazine is published quarterly by Thirst
Media PLT (002076129-V) with permit number
KDN PP19146/02/2017 (034680). While every
Cheers! care has been taken to ensure the accuracy
KIM CHOONG of the contents, the Publisher shall not be
Editor-in-chief held responsible for any and all omissions,
inaccuracies, errors, losses, claims, damages
and compulsion for better drinks arising therefrom.
No part of this magazine can be reproduced
without prior written consent from the Publisher.

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EDITORS Note.indd 8 20/9/2017 9:57:25 PM