(From left) van Keulen, Ding, D’cruz, Hulm and Wong at the prize-giving ceremony.
At the 2024 Star Academy National Finals, Heineken Malaysia Bhd crowned Jason Dennis D’cruz from Te Amo cocktail bar as this year’s National Champion.
The victory secured the KL/Selangor region contestant top spot to represent Malaysia at the Global Bartender Finals in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
There, he will compete for the ultimate title of Heineken’s World’s Best Bartender.
This year’s Malaysian-level competition which was held in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, marked its seventh edition.
The Star Academy programme aims to raise the bar in the services sector nationwide by training local bartenders or enhancing their skills.
Heineken Malaysia managing director Martijn van Keulen announced that Star Academy has trained over 10,000 bartenders since its inception.
“Through these efforts, we’re not only helping local talents shine but we’re 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.”
D’cruz on his way to the top spot.
Heineken Malaysia sales director Jimmy Ding said 2024 saw a record-breaking number of participants.
“We saw over 1,300 talented bartenders from across the nation showing off their incredible 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.”
The 2024 Star Academy National Finals saw fierce competition with finalists hailing from Sabah, Sarawak, Penang, Perak, Johor and Kuala Lumpur.
Distinguished judges included those from Heineken Malaysia’s top ranks; commercial quality manager Cian Hulm, commercial quality lead Wayne Wong, marketing manager Joyce Lim and special guest judge plus Star Academy trainer Gerard Anselm.
As the new national champ, D’cruz expressed his thanks: “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.
For more information about the programme, visit https://star-academy.heinekenmalaysia.com/
Heineken Malaysia’s beers, stout, cider and all related promotions and activities are strictly for non-Muslims aged 21 and above.
