Kota Kinabalu, 21 August 2026 — Gin Malaya, Malaysia’s first award-winning craft gin, made its first presentation in East Malaysia with an exclusive masterclass at the Rooftop Bar, Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu. The intimate evening brought together cocktails, conversation and discovery, introducing guests to the story and flavours behind the brand as Gin Malaya continues to build its presence across Malaysia.
Hosted by co-founder Eu Jin Foong, the evening explored the story behind Gin Malaya’s creation, from its use of Malaysian botanicals to the time-honoured distilling craft behind the spirit. “Gin has traditionally been viewed through a very Western lens, so we started asking ourselves: what would a gin inspired by Malaysia taste like? We looked to the ingredients we grew up with and began exploring how we could translate them into a gin. Kota Kinabalu is an exciting next step for us as we continue building Gin Malaya across the country, and we’re looking forward to having more people in Sabah discover what we’ve created,” Eu Jin shared. Through a guided tasting, guests experienced the distinctive character and craftsmanship behind the brand’s award-winning expression.
For Eu Jin, the idea itself was born out of food. “Gin Malaya is always inspired by food. If you travel around Malaysia, there are so many different cooking styles and inspirations, traditional, modern, everything in between. I always felt that Malaysian food is the best in the world, and that we deserve more recognition than we’re already getting. Once it was inspired by food, we decided the most convenient way to bring it around the world and share it with people was to put it into a spirit. That’s how Gin Malaya was created,” he explained. The decision to build a distinctly Malaysian identity was also shaped by what he observed across the region: “The gin scene has been growing for a few years now. Our neighbours, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, already have their own gin brands. We felt Malaysia deserved something that could share our unique botanicals with the world. So we went to Scotland and created something very Malaysian, something we could tell the world truly represents us.”
Guided by the philosophy of “Two Worlds. One Spirit.”, the session explored how time-honoured gin making traditions find harmony with flavours that pay homage to Malaysia’s rich culinary landscape. Gin Malaya Original brings together hand-foraged Highland juniper with lemongrass, pandan and Bentong ginger, creating a distinctly Malaysian expression while retaining the clarity and depth of a classic gin.
Eu Jin shared what made each botanical earn its place in the bottle: “It’s not just one ingredient, it’s three, and that’s why they’re in Gin Malaya Original. Pandan goes into most of our cooking, Chinese or local, and lemongrass too, we use it for almost everything. Ginger is something most of our food is eaten with, but we specifically chose Bentong ginger for its very unique, fragrant taste. It’s not like young ginger, and it’s a bit more expensive, but we wanted to extract that flavour and put it into the spirit.” The Kantan expression, he added, began as a side experiment: “Kantan was more of a fun project, we tried it out not knowing whether it would work, and thankfully it did. It’s become a crowd favourite too. There are two camps now: some prefer the Original, and I’d say the Kantan drinkers are more the serious ones.”
Discover more about Gin Malaya and its distinctive botanical profile.
The evening continued with a curated selection of signature Gin Malaya cocktails, including the clean and refreshing Malaya Rock, a long, easy opener of pandan and coconut water built over ice; The Torch, where muddled bunga kantan meets Campari and lemon in a silky, bittersweet sour; the Cocotams, a creamy blend of kaya and coconut made for holiday moods; the Pandan Malaya, shaken with pandan and smoked ginger and tinted violet with butterfly pea; and the Kantan Fizz, a crisp, no-fuss build of Gin Malaya Kantan, lemon and soda. Together, the cocktails highlighted the versatility of Gin Malaya through a contemporary take on familiar Malaysian flavours.
“At Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu, we take pride in curating experiences that inspire curiosity and a sense of discovery. This collaboration with Gin Malaya unites craftsmanship, creativity, and a contemporary perspective, offering our guests a distinctive way to enjoy an evening at Rooftop Bar. We are particularly honoured to be the first hotel in Sabah, and across Borneo, to feature Gin Malaya. Beyond the masterclass, we look forward to introducing a series of exclusive offerings centred around the brand, allowing guests the flexibility to experience Gin Malaya by the glass, through thoughtfully crafted cocktails, or via curated bottle selections,” shared Suresh Ramasamy, General Manager of Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu.
Gin Malaya’s signature cocktail collection will be available at the Rooftop Bar, Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu, where guests are invited to experience the collection through a curated cocktail menu that
showcases Gin Malaya’s distinctive botanical character in every serve.
Venue: Rooftop Bar, Level 14, Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu
Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens, Sinsuran, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Price: All cocktails are priced at RM 46.00 nett
About Gin Malaya
Gin Malaya is Malaysia’s first award-winning craft gin, founded on the belief that extraordinary spirits are born from the meeting of different worlds. Bringing together the heritage of Scottish distilling with the richness of Malaysian culture, the brand offers a distinctly Malaysian perspective on one of the world’s most celebrated spirits.
Developed over two years and launched in Malaysia in 2024, Gin Malaya was created to challenge the conventional perception of gin through flavours inspired by Malaysia’s rich culinary landscape.
Today, the brand is available in both Malaysia and the United Kingdom, earning international recognition in 2025 with a one-star Great Taste Award, judged solely on taste through a blind-tasting process, and a Bronze Medal at the London Spirits Competition, which evaluates spirits across quality, value and packaging.
Beyond the spirit itself, Gin Malaya is guided by a commitment to ethical sourcing, ingredient traceability and authentic craftsmanship. Its distinctive bottle design draws inspiration from Malaysia’s flora, fauna and artistic heritage, celebrating the country’s vibrant identity through every detail.
Gin Malaya is founded on a simple belief: “Two Worlds. One Spirit.” It brings together different traditions, flavours and influences to create a gin that is distinctly its own.
Strictly for non-Muslims aged 21 and above only. Please drink responsibly.
Instagram: @gin_malaya
Website: https://ginmalaya.co.uk/
