Malaysian Crowned Master Pourer Will Take On The World At 2014 Championship In Cannes
Malaysia’s best bartenders have gained recognition by winning the ‘Best Performing Country’ Award during the Stella Artois World Draught Master Regional Finals 2013 at Sofitel So Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
Three gentlemen, who represented the country, bested 16 other contestants from five Asian countries by successfully accumulating the most points throughout the Draught Masters competition on 22 October, giving them an excellent opportunity to snag the coveted award.
Kenneth Soh, General Manager of Luen Heng F&B Sdn. Bhd. commented upon accepting the award, “Perfected by the Belgians and rich heritage, the fine art of pouring does not only ensure that the beer tastes as it should but also adds theatre to the consumer experience. We are very honoured to have received such a notable award by Stella Artois. We believe that our Malaysian contestants clamoured through the World Draught Master relentlessly over the past month to showcase an outstanding performance of the 9-Step Pouring Ritual.”
Adding a medal to its trophy, Malaysian bartender, Leong Kar Fei emerged as the country’s number one pourer, among his team of two other participants, Tang Kum Loong and Ong Poh Wee. Leong a local tapster from Brussels Café, Malaysia has been automatically selected to battle for the eminent “World Draught Master” title at the 17th international championship in Cannes, France in May 2014, along with the other winners from the five Asian countries during the Regional Finals in Bangkok.
“It is an amazing experience to be shortlisted as Malaysia’s best bartender and I’m truly appreciative to Luen Heng F&B and Stella Artois for providing this chance of a lifetime. The training and support has not only helped my skills in pursuit of executing the Ritual flawlessly but also as a bartender: A perfectly poured Stella Artois in a Chalice is a thing of beauty. As a bartender, I want to introduce to our consumers a perfect pour Stella Artois. It will be a privilege for me to rekindle beautiful moments with this special beer experience. Meanwhile as for the final challenge, this is just a start; there are more preparation works to be done for me,” shared Leong.
The Regional Final also saw the presence of Allan Schaiko, the 16th Stella Artois World Draught Master conducting an intensive training session with the contestants. Schaiko, the Belgian lad flaunts the perfect pouring ritual, applying the finest methods to best use the Chalice’s frame, stem and signature rim, offering an exquisite Stella Artois experience. Whilst showcasing his expertise, he also shared his experiences as a beer tapping connoisseur through travelling to more than 10 countries worldwide.