Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal #TEAMUPFOREXCELLENCE Malaysia 2022

Rémy Martin recently announced its collaboration with seven talented Malaysians, five renowned cocktail bars, and two culinary partners to celebrate the launch of Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal.

These seven talents came together in a film that highlights unforgettable moments as they pursued a collective story of success, capturing the ambition of a new generation pushing boundaries in the theme of “#TEAMUPFOREXCELLENCE.” They are known for their craft as well as a combination of passion, authenticity, and ambition – qualities shared with Rémy Martin.

In addition, Rémy Martin collaborated with five bartenders from Malaysia’s top bars, as recognised by Asia’s Best Bars 2022, to create their own cocktails with Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal. Two culinary partners are also part of this campaign and will be creating culinary treats that will be featured on their respective menus.

For almost three hundred years, the house of Rémy Martin has pursued one ambition: To reveal the best of nature, the talent of craftsmen, and its Cognac heritage. The result is Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, a cognac named after the royal approval granted to Rémy Martin by the King Louis XV of France in 1738.

Composed of eaux-de-vie sourced exclusively from the vineyards of Cognac, Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, the Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal carries a distinctive oaky flavour due to the long, soft barrel toasting that teases out subtle notes of vanilla and brioche. This uniquely woody profile is elevated using casks made from oak found in the forests of Limousin, with wide grains that allow more exchanges between the wood and the eaux-de-vie, creating a broader and richer aromatic development.

The rich and robust Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal is suitable for the Sidecar cocktail, a classic and timeless tipple that can be made with 30ml Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, 20ml Cointreau and 10ml lemon juice poured into a shaker filled with ice. Strain and pour into a coupette glass garnished with an orange peel for the classic feel. The result should be flavour is complex yet extremely well-balanced that is fruity and spicy, rich, and tart at the same time.

Cocktail enthusiasts can also create their own interpretation of another classic cognac cocktail, Royal Tom Collins, a light and refreshing highball which combines 45ml Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, 20ml lemon juice and 20ml simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain over ice into a highball glass and top with club soda. Garnish with a lemon wheel and brandied cherry.

#TEAMUPFOREXCELLENCE TALENT PROFILES

TNTCO

Founded in 2013 as an outlet of creativity, TNTCO is a story of how passion leads to excellence. The streetwear label fuses simplicity with an eye for detailing, mostly inspired by daily life or a commentary about wider society. Each piece is a message, put out in the form of wearables from graphic tees to contemporary accessories.

With 15 retail spots nationwide and an official online store (tntco.co), TNTCO is a wavemaker in the Malaysian fashion scene, while also spreading its wings internationally. The brand stays ahead of the game by experimenting with new printing methods, new fabrics and other elements, constantly pushing the boundaries of doing things differently.

THREEE PRODUCTION (3P)

Three friends who came together for their love of music and dance – Danny Lee, Caven Tang, and Kevin Ong – forming excellence as Threee Production (3P). The group rose to success with their impressive dance moves and catchy tunes. Their content on social media is highly popular, with exceptional moments that truly break the norm.

3P’s latest music video Pa Sang Anthem is a showcase of their unique display of creativity. Written by Caven and choreographed by Danny with Kevin tying it all together, Pa Sang Anthem was the No. 1 trending video on YouTube within days of its release, with more than a million views in just 10 days (and counting!), and countless of fan videos recreating the dance scenes.

DATO’ MAW

Driven by ambition, rapper Dato’ Maw is using the power of rap to share his message of strength, courage and tenacity in his brand of hip-hop known as Cina Music which he describes is all about Chinese identity and culture, and gratitude towards the nation. The winner of Rap of China – South East Asia Champion, he has three EPS to his name each one speaking of his own personal experiences and challenges.

Maw is also a master linguist, singing in Cantonese, Hokkien, Mandarin, Malay and English. Intent to push the scene, Maw runs his own independent music label to inspire and mentor other singers like him to give a voice to Malaysian Chinese hip-hop.

CLAUDIA TAN

Sarawakian-born singer, songwriter, and author Claudia Tan is best known for her 2020 release 70s-inspired bop Bodies, which went viral racking up plays from the radio and on social media. This is followed by other singles, the latest one released in April 2022 called Cellphone.

When she’s not busy singing and writing music, Claudia is writing her way into Hollywood! She first wrote for the global reading and writing community Wattpad. Not sure if anyone would even read her books, Claudia persevered with her craft. Her determination resulted in two novels, Perfect Illusion and Perfect Addiction, with over 81 million reads on Wattpad, while Perfect Addiction is set to become a Hollywood film by Constantin Films and Wattpad Studios.

LEGOSAM

From the very first time watching break dancers on TV, Legosam – who was 13 then – decided that he too would venture into the exciting art of b-boying. His moniker is unique – he took on the name because of his interest in Lego blocks, which today he credits as teaching him how to apply the same creativity to his breaking and creation of new moves. Now Legosam travels the world to compete and also judge competitions.

His proudest moment came in 2019 when he took the gold medal at the SEA Games, the first time breaking was included. Always on the beat, Legosam now has his eyes set on gold too for Paris Olympics 2024 where breakdance will make its debut.

WILSON NG

Wilson Ng’s murals transform walls into meaningful art pieces that go beyond just colours and patterns to represent nostalgia, history, humour and hope. The former typographer Borneo-born artist specialises in typographic and surrealism artworks, making his stamp in the art world that captures his exciting imagination in vibrant hues.

Wilson’s talent extends beyond murals as he also does sculptures that are equally as imaginative. Through his craft, Wilson hopes to channel positivity and the relevance of art in our lives, paving a way for future aspiring creatives.

TAN WING JET

Tan Wing Jet made a spectacular record-breaking dunk that went over a 6ft 10in spectator at the 2019 Agong Cup Dunk Contest! The former national basketball player has represented the country in many international tournaments, like the 2014 FIBA Asia U18 Championship (Top 8 in Asia) and the 2014 SEABA U18 (1st runner-up). In the local scene, he’s picked up several tournament cups together with his team like the 2015 Seri Mutiara Cup and the 2016 Malaysia Agong Cup.

Individually, Wing Jet has set his sights on crafting his legacy. He’s been named Slam Dunk Champion and Most Valued Player many times, the most impressive being the World Slam Dunk Champion for the 2017 3X3 FISU World UNI. Also a content creator, Wing Jet continues to wow his followers with his infectious personality, with several acting and talent accomplishments under his name.

BARTENDERS

DAVID HANS, HEAD BARTENDER & CO-FOUNDER OF THREE X CO

David Hans has more than 10 years of experience in the industry and countless awards through the years, including being Asia’s first world champion of the prestigious Giffard West Cup 2017 in France. He started bartending in hotels, which helped hone his foundation in classic cocktails.

His passion for mixology and the desire to push himself to learn more about its intricacies have inspired him to dabble with new ingredients and unique pairings for flavours that are completely unexpected. As the co-founder and head bartender of the award-winning Three X Co (ranked 70 in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022) that he established in December 2017, Hans pushes the limits with original cocktail creations that are visions of excellence, true to Three X Co’s concept of blending local oriental cultures into speakeasy bars.

His Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal cocktail, Le Royal Whisper, is a combination of the cognac, Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum, glutinous rice tea, mango, passionfruit and honey. At first sip, the natural fruity vanilla sweetness of the Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal leaves a lingering smoothness followed by a black tea after-taste from the glutinous rice. The cocktail is a perfect balance of tropical and fruity flavours that is a modern interpretation of Asian ingredients complementing the Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal’s flavour profile.

CK KHO, HEAD BARTENDER & FOUNDER OF COLEY COCKTAIL BAR

Mention Kuala Lumpur’s prominent bartenders and CK Kho will be on the lips. Awarded The Bar Awards 2017 Bartender of the Year, CK has contributed immensely to the rising bar scene in Kuala Lumpur, sharing his excellence in unique cocktail creations that are both unassuming yet astounding.

Kho spent two decades working his way up as a bartender before venturing out on his own in 2016 first with pop-ups and then Coley Cocktail Bar in April of the same year. Under CK, the bar quickly became a popular favourite, earning the awards Best Hospitality Team and Best Cocktail Bar in just a year after being launched and No. 100 for Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022.

Kho’s creation, Delima, is an interesting concoction of Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal, pomegranate shrub, creole bitters and eucalyptus extract, giving the cocktail a fruity and aromatic flavour profile. The fruitiness of Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal is the foundation of this cocktail, supporting all the other elements for a well-balanced flavour that starts off slightly acidic from the pomegranate shrub before finishing off with the cooling floral note of the eucalyptus.

KOH YUNG SHEN, HEAD BARTENDER & FOUNDER OF BACKDOOR BODEGA

Former copywriter and clothing brand owner. Now, proud founder of Penang’s most talked-about speakeasy bar, Backdoor Bodega. It goes without saying that Koh Yung Shen has had an illustrious journey to become one of the most inventive bartenders in the scene, admitting that he only started to take his craft seriously after strangers started to visit his little bar behind his retail store that was originally where Shen would mix drinks for himself and friends.

The speakeasy bar was born in 2016, and today, it is one of the buzziest venues loved for its interesting choices of cocktails. Its 97th spot on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022 list is well deserved, the first Penang bar to be featured on the list. The bar has also won other awards like Champion for the Giffard West Cup 2022 Asia and for Shen himself, Bartender of the Year (Penang) 2019 for The Bar Awards.

With hip-hop and street culture as his reference, many of Shen’s cocktail creations reflect the vibe and creativity. His Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal Biggie Smalls cocktail is a fine example of this: Fusing the cognac with French vermouth, Italian cherry, orange herbal amer and carciofo amaro, Shen created a complex and fruity cocktail with a sweet start and a dry finish with hints of orange and botanical notes. A classic Brooklyn cocktail, it is a showcase of the beautiful and delicious complexity of the Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal that will give you a better appreciation of cognac cocktails.

JULIAN BENJAMIN BRIGGET, ASSISTANT BAR MANAGER OF BAR TRIGONA

Having started his career in the bar industry eight years ago, Julian Benjamin Brigget is well on his path to hone his skills and craft his artistry. The result is the masterfully crafted cocktails you can enjoy at Bar Trigona at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur where Brigget is the assistant bar manager.

What further inspires Brigget for even more excellence are the opportunities he’s had in the award-winning cocktail bar, most recently named the Best International Hotel Bar in Asia by Tales of the Cocktail Foundation 2022, where he can explore local and sustainable ingredients that showcase the diversity of Malaysia. Adding to that is the joy he gets when he meets and serves customers from all over the world, being able to recommend to them a cocktail they will enjoy.

Brigget’s Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal cocktail, Grapa da vine, is representative of his inventiveness. It is a combination of Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal sous vide pineapple, grappa, bitters and trigona honey, giving it a light bitterness, sourness and acidity with a hint of sweetness. With Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal’s good balance of fruit, the honey and bitters are perfectly complemented in this spirit-forward cocktail with a smooth finish.

ANAND PIRINYUANG, GENERAL MANAGER OF JUNGLEBIRD

What started out as a stint to help a family friend at a bar became Anand Pirinyuang’s calling. Knowing that he would never be happy working 9 to 5, Pirinyuang made the move to expand his knowledge and experience as a full-time bartender, working at several popular Klang Valley bars before ending up as the General Manager in Junglebird, an Asia’s 50 Best Bars entry for five consecutive years from 2018 to 2022 and most recently, a Top 10 Honouree in the Best International Cocktail Bar (Asia Pacific) category for Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards 2022.

Pirinyuang’s approach is all about balance. There’s no wrong or right but what separates something competent from something good in Pirinyuang’s opinion is finding that right hint in flavours and putting them all together, crafting a story with every sip.

His Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal cocktail creation Punching An Accord showcases his craft for perfecting balance in flavours. Pirinyuang paired the smooth cognac with housemade orange and lemon sherbet, Pedro Ximenez sherry and red wine reduction to create a boozier, spirit-forward take on an old-school cognac punch. At first sip, the cocktail’s full-bodied strength takes you on a unique flavour discovery before rounding into a sweet lemony-orange note followed by a nostalgic lingering of fruitcake and hints of chocolate – all representative of the Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal character.

XIAO-LY KOH, PASTRY CHEF AND FOUNDER OF XIAO BY CRUSTZ

Xiao By Crustz was established in 2016 by pastry chef Xiao-ly Koh, the patisserie specialises in petit gateau and other modern French pastries featuring familiar flavours and some with a local Asian twist, playing with interesting textures and beautiful Instagrammable presentation.

The 2017 champion for a high tea competition held in Shanghai, China, continuously introduces new desserts and trends to offer dessert lovers something exciting to always look forward to. Its Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal dessert creation is a showcase of this inventiveness and creativity: The Rémy Mont Blanc features a chocolate orange cognac and chestnut vanilla cognac in a balance of flavour and texture with a unique smoothness and quality that will leave a mark on your taste buds. The inspiration is to fuse traditional French desserts with a modern outlook and presentation. Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal in this dessert enhances the overall flavour, ending with a fragrant finish that is reminiscent of the spirit.

CHEF RAYMOND THAM, CO-OWNER AND HEAD CHEF OF BETA KL

Beta KL offers an exciting and unique Malaysian culinary experience using local ingredients. Helmed by Chef Raymond Tham, the restaurant has made its mark in Malaysia’s culinary scene since opening in 2018.

Chef Tham cooks with love and passion, always pushing boundaries to explore and discover new things. His Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal creation showcases this talent: He uses the spirit to add depth to his Smoked Tongkol Fish Rillette elevating the creaminess of the mascarpone used with the round oakiness of the cognac. The locally sourced fish is used to make the stock as well while the spirit is used to make the jelly that goes with the dish, which is then served with French butter croissant.

Photo credits: Rémy Martin Malaysia

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