The newly opened Ensō Izakaya & Bar at Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown is an elegant addition to the city’s nightlife, and on 4 October, head bartender Ivon Soon transformed it into a celebration of her Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC) 2025 victory.
As Malaysia’s national champion, Ivon Soon represented the region in Tokyo’s regional finals from 10 – 12 October, and her special guest shift on 4 October at Ensō Izakaya & Bar offered us a taste of her talent.
Situated on the fourth floor with a stunning garden terrace, Ensō Izakaya & Bar is a beautiful bar – its Japanese-inspired design and skyline views creating an unforgettable vibe.
Meeting Ivon was a highlight. The young bartender, who began her journey in 2019 after hospitality studies, exudes a calm confidence. As head bartender at Ensō Izakaya & Bar, Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur, she’s honed her craft amid premium sake, whisky and yakitori flames and blends tradition with innovation. Her role is about crafting experiences, and creating innovative cocktails with a Malaysian twist.
The UBC 2025, launched globally in 2015 and debuting in Malaysia last month, tested her across six grueling stages. It kicked off with a rapid-fire quiz on industry trivia. Precision pouring followed, where even a millimeter’s error could cost points, then a nosing round to identify whisky notes blindfolded. The table service challenge demanded seamless guest interaction under pressure, while the Gold Rush round required a flawless Monkey Shoulder classic-Scotch, honey, and lemon. The finale was a race to create classic cocktails like Martinis and Old Fashioneds, showcasing speed and accuracy.
Drinks by Ivon Soon
The guest shift event offered three bespoke drinks crafted by Soon herself: Wind of Ume, a bold, smoky highball with Monkey Shoulder, umeshu, demerara syrup, hinoki bitters and Orange Bitters, tailored for those seeking something robust; Monkey Collins, a refreshing tropical blend of Monkey Shoulder with tea, lime, salted strawberry, cocoa bitters, soda and calamansi; and Monkey Swing, a sweet, comforting sip of Monkey Shoulder, banana, citric acid and strawberry and lemon.
For someone who is not a lover of whisky I really enjoyed the Monkey Swing and absolutely loved Monkey Collins, whilst my husband who loves it really enjoyed the Wind of Ume.
The terrace glowed under DJ beats, and Ivon’s warm chats added a personal touch to the whole experience. As the night ended at 11pm with toasts to her future – her talent, poise and gracious smile left a lasting impression.
Ivon Soon isn’t just a champion; she’s sparking KL’s cocktail renaissance. Catch her at Ensō Izakaya & Bar – book ahead here.
We were invited by Monkey Shoulder. As always, our opinions are honest and our own.
