HEINEKEN Malaysia’s National Star Academy Championship Kicks Off Search for 2024 Top Bartender

Star Academy Kicks Off Search for 2024 Top Bartender 

Would you believe my last writeup on the HEINEKEN Malaysia’s National Star Academy Championship finals was back in 2020? Read about it here. Well, this year, the 2024 edition of HEINEKEN Malaysia’s National Star Academy Championship and Training is once again calling its partner bartenders to showcase their skills and earn a spot to compete on the global stage! Read on below. 

Since 2018, the Star Academy programme has kicked off its seventh edition to train and enhance the skills of local bartenders. The focus is on mastering the art of the perfect pour for beers in HEINEKEN Malaysia’s portfolio, particularly Heineken® and Guinness. 

HEINEKEN Malaysia’s National Star Academy Championship Kicks Off Search for 2024 Top Bartender 

The National Champion will get the opportunity to compete on the world stage at the Global Bartender Finals in Amsterdam! 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. 

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.

Cian Hulm, Commercial Quality Manager, presented the 7C_s Quality Guide at the Star Academy Regional Training session.

What’s New in this year’s National Star Academy Championship and Training?

The best of the best will be competing on the global stage

This year’s National Champion will have the honour of representing HEINEKEN Malaysia at the Global Bartender Finals in Amsterdam — the place where Heineken® was first brewed.

The return of former champions as Star Academy Ambassadors

Comprising former regional champions, Star Academy Ambassadors will illuminate the path for this year’s participants as well as share their expert insights, experience, and best practices. What’s more – some of them will also be part of the eight-judge lineup for the 2024 national championship.

The introduction of a mixology experience from the Alps

An exciting component 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, stay tuned as excitement builds toward the grand finale in September, where champions from different regions from this year's training sessions will showcase their skills to compete for a spot in the Global Bartender Finals.

For more information on HEINEKEN Malaysia and the company’s initiatives, please visit www.heinekenmalaysia.com.