Heineken Malaysia Berhad has crowned Jason Dennis Dcruz from Te Amo, representing the KL/Selangor region, as the Star Academy National Champion 2024 at the finals held at Chateau DC Sky Forest, 1 Powerhouse in Petaling Jaya on Sept 13, 2024.
Jason has secured the top spot to represent Malaysia at the Global Bartender Finals in the Home of Heineken – Amsterdam, where he will compete for the ultimate title: Heineken’s World’s Best Bartender.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity Heineken Malaysia’s Star Academy 2024 has given me. A big thank you to everyone who supported me along the way.
“I can’t wait to compete in Amsterdam and represent the spirit of our region on the global stage,” he said.
Lim Tee Hong from La Primuer, Johor region emerged as first runner-up, while Wendy Hamsy Anak Jack Suji from Culture City, Sarawak region took the second runner-up spot.
This year marks the seventh edition of the Star Academy programme which is committed to raising the bar in the services sector nationwide by training and enhancing the skills of local bartenders.
Martijn van Keulen, managing director of Heineken Malaysia said Star Academy has trained over 10,000 bartenders since its inception.
“Through these efforts, we’re not only helping local talents shine but also elevating our food and beverage sector, boosting tourism and supporting local businesses. This is how we raise the bar for the industry and build a culture of excellence among our local bars and bartenders,” he said in his speech at the 2024 Star Academy national finals.
Heineken Malaysia sales director Jimmy Ding said this year was a record-breaking year for participation with over 1,300 talented bartenders from across the country stepping up and showing off their skills and passion for the craft.
“At Heineken Malaysia, we believe that serving the best beers to our customers goes beyond the brewery, and that starts with us working hand-in-hand with our trade partners and bartenders,” he said.
The 2024 Star Academy National Finals brought together fierce competition, with finalists hailing from Sabah, Sarawak, Penang, Kuala Lumpur/Selangor, Perak, and Johor.
The panel of judges included Cian Hulm, commercial quality manager, and Wayne Wong, commercial quality lead of Heineken Malaysia, and two guest judges – Gerard Anselm, Star Academy trainer from Heineken Malaysia and Joyce Lim, marketing manager of Heineken brand in Malaysia.
Heineken Malaysia’s beers, stout, cider and all related promotions and activities are strictly for non-Muslims aged 21 and above only.
