Lightning In A Bottle

On the occasion of Monkey Shoulder's 20th anniversary, Regional Brand Ambassador for Southeast Asia Brendon Khoo reflects on its cheeky, progressive strides.

- INDRAN PARAMASIVAM

The gleam in his eye and the sincerity in his smile as Brendon Khoo utters those words to me are palpable. I believe him.

Twenty years ago, long before 'disruption' became an overused buzzword, Monkey Shoulder superhero-landed on the scene of cocktail culture with a fresh approach to the appreciation of upper-echelon whisky. The premium blended malt Scotch whisky brand jettisoned the cigars-and-stiff-leather-couches age-old association with whisky, preferring instead to communicate the virtues of its liquid through irreverence, with its tongue embedded firmly in its cheek.

Here, Brendon Khoo, a member of the regional tapestry of spirits, as hilarious as he is esteemed, delves deeper into its legacy.

You've had a decorated career in the world of spirits and alcohol. What do the intertwined worlds of drinks and nightlife mean to you at this point of your life?

To put things into perspective, I moved to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur about 11 years ago and I've had the privilege of working in a wide variety of F&B venues such as hotel bars, clubs, craft cocktail bars, and high-volume bars. One thing that I've noticed throughout is that people are looking for the best offers, the best drinks, and the best overall experience. Everyone remembers how that experience made them feel. Over and above that, I would say that drinks are a huge part of that experience.