First Bartender Talent Academy 2022

Bangkok hosts Asia region’s first and awards Thailand’s top bartenders

The inaugural Bartender Talent Academy Thailand 2022 successfully concluded this week, culminating in a live display of local mixology skills and creative drinks designs, hosted at the beautiful Villa Frantzén (Restaurant & Cocktail Bar) in Chongnonsi, Bangkok.

Featuring its challenge concept, “Capture the Moment,” the contest & showcase brought together 9 of the F&B and nighttime entertainment industry’s most outstanding barkeep personalities, representing some of the country’s most awarded bars.

Making use of elegant ingredients such as Cognac Fine Champagne, local components, concoctions and garnishes, competitors presented their signature creations to the judges, with the overall winner being given a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the World Finals in Cognac, France.

Bartender Talent Academy Thailand 2022 is delighted to announce that Bartender ‘Ning’ Chunyanuch Yodsuwan, BKK Social Club, has been awarded the title of Bartender Talent Academy Thailand 2022 Winner.

Bartender Ning impressed the judges with her interpretation of the theme, Capture the Moment through the captivating storytelling of her drink, “The Taste of Terroir.” This was a beautifully-presented drink reminiscent of the French territory of Cognac, creating a great-tasting, complex and interesting cocktail.

Ning’s story was deftly told in her competition video submission, which contributed to her overall award win. Ning said, “I may only be 25 years old. I believe that everything happens for a reason and that every moment in life, good or bad, sad or happy, is all part of me; but the most important thing I never forget is the people I share the moment with, who all help me get through and grow.

My concept for my drink was to Capture it all, beautifully and uniquely, those hundreds of moments expressed in hundreds of blends, like eaux–de–vie, one unique moment at a time, and uniquely me.”

A renowned panel of Guest Jury Members included industry experts and personalities from the F&B, gastro and nightlife sector. They are: Lisa Gries – Creative Content Director of Lifestyle Asia and Prestige Magazine; Gabriel Valdés – Villa Frantzén, Bar Manager; Christopher Menning – Rémy Martin Thailand Portfolio Brand Ambassador; and Sabrina Belletti – Head of Marketing, Alchemy Thailand.

The judges were impressed by Bartender Ning’s ability to put across her story in a glass, one which best represented her spirit and journey, and a taste which proved irresistible to the judges.

Bartender Talent Academy Thailand 2022 – Final result classification

The five finalists, representing premier bars and leading nightlife venues in Bangkok, were: ‘James’ Kosil Kamja – Firefly Bar Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel; ‘Leo’ Parom Malakul – Independence Bar; Matteo Cadeddu – Opium Bar; ‘Ning’ Chunyanuch Yodsuwan – BKK Social Club; and ‘Ploy’ Siriwan Sinpan – Vesper.

First Place and overall Winner: ‘Ning’ Chunyanuch Yodsuwan – BKK Social Club

Second Place and main Runner-up: ‘Ploy’ Siriwan Sinpan – Vesper

Third Place Finalist: Matteo Cadeddu – Opium Bar

Winner – Best Creative Video: ‘Leo’ Parom Malakul – Independence Bar

Final Five Finalist: ‘James’ Kosil Kamja – Firefly Bar Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel

The Bartender Talent Academy Thailand is thrilled to have had the opportunity to enjoy the participation of these incredible leading lights of the industry, and together draw attention to the fact that Bangkok’s cocktail scene deserves a place on the map alongside famous cities like London and New York, especially when it comes to its bars and globally leading nightlife.

The next application phase will start this coming August 2023, ending with a live competition which is set to be hosted in November. It will be available to a broader bartending audience (with up to 30 bartenders competing), and those will be whittled down to a select 10 of the most outstanding talents in Bangkok. They will then compete for a spot in the Global Final which is scheduled for around May (2024) in France.

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