Heineken Malaysia’s National Star Academy Championship and Training is searching for the top Heineken Star Quality bartender to represent Malaysia at the Global Bartender Finals in Amsterdam.
The Star Academy programme has kicked off its seventh edition to train and enhance the skills of local bartenders, focussing on mastering the art of the perfect pour for beers in Heineken Malaysia’s portfolio, particularly Heineken and Guinness.
Similar to previous years, this year’s training sessions are held in major cities across Malaysia, including Selangor, Johor, Perak, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak, engaging more than 1,300 bartenders.
Upon completion of trainings, participants will compete in the regional level competitions, with winners moving on to the national championship in September.
The national champion will then represent Malaysia at the Heineken Global Bartender Final in Amsterdam – the place where Heineken was first brewed.
This year’s training sessions also introduced a more dynamic and interactive experience with expert-led workshops. These sessions enable bartenders to familiarise themselves with Heineken Malaysia’s diverse portfolio as well as the 7C’s Quality Guide – a comprehensive guide on ensuring the perfect glass of beer from the optimal temperature to glass cleanliness and to master the perfect pour.
Heineken Malaysia managing director Martijn van Keulen said, “Our Star Academy programme goes beyond a training platform; it’s an empowering journey for our partners and bartenders. By enriching their knowledge and refining their skills, we ensure they deliver the perfect pour, every time, enhancing the experience for our consumers.
“We are thrilled to see how these talented individuals will innovate and uphold the heritage and quality that defines our beloved brands.”
Martijn said the company has played a vital role in driving the nation’s economic and social growth.
“With programmes like Star Academy that has trained more than 10,000 bartenders since its inception, we are creating jobs in the food and beverages sector while contributing to tourism, besides empowering local businesses and enhancing local talent,” he said.
“By refining bartending skills, we help our partners to deliver a superior experience to serve our consumers better. This is how we elevate industry standards and foster a culture of excellence among our local bars and bartenders,” he added.
Star Academy Ambassadors who are former regional champions willshare insights, experience and best practices, illuminating the path for this year’s participants.
Some of them will also be part of the eight-judge lineup for the 2024 national championship.
An exciting component of the competition focused on creative cocktail crafting using Edelweiss, where participants are encouraged to explore new flavour combinations and presentation techniques.
This dual focus ensures that they not only master the technical skills needed for perfect pours, but also unleash their creativity by blending tradition with contemporary flair.
As the Star Academy 2024 journey progresses to the grand final in September, champions from different regions from this year’s training sessions will showcase their skills to compete for a spot in the Heineken Global Bartender Finals.
