The Dram Attic

Hong Kong’s Tastings Group has announced the appointment of Amanda Wan as Beverage Director, marking a significant moment for one of the city’s most influential hospitality collectives. Effective May 11, Wan returns to the group after seven years with a wealth of international experience and a deep rooted understanding of its ethos, stepping into a role that will see her shape beverage direction, mentor teams, and elevate guest experiences across its portfolio.

A homegrown name in Hong Kong’s dining and bar landscape, Tastings Group has built a reputation for pushing boundaries across concepts that range from the multi sensory cocktail experience of Quinary to the precision-driven operations of Draft Land HK. Wan’s appointment heralds a renewed focus on strengthening these identities while ensuring coherence across the group’s diverse offerings.

For Wan, this move represents both a professional milestone and a personal return. Her journey with Tastings Group began over a decade ago, during a formative period in her career. Between 2014 and 2019, she served as Bar Manager and later Beverage Development Manager, contributing to the evolution of beverage programmes that would go on to gain international recognition. It was within this environment that she first firmed her resolve to balancing creativity with operational discipline—an approach that continues to define her work today.

Born in Malaysia, Wan’s path into the industry began modestly as a barista, during which she developed a meticulous attention to detail and an early appreciation for the choreography of service, a foundation that became the springboard for her transition into bartending, where she quickly distinguished herself through both technical skill and a thoughtful, guest-first perspective. In 2010, she broke new ground as the first female bartender from Malaysia to win and represent her country at the DIAGEO World Class Global Finals in Athens, setting the tone for a career and paving the way for more women in Asia to pursue bartending as a career. 

Over the years, Wan has built a reputation as a leader capable of shaping not just drinks, but entire bar identities and culture. Her career has taken her across key cities including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Hong Kong, where she has led teams, developed award-winning menus, and contributed to the global recognition of the venues she has been part of. Most recently, as Head Bartender at Three X Co in Kuala Lumpur, she played a pivotal role in the bar’s rise to #15 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025, further cementing her standing within the regional industry.

In her new role as Beverage Director, Wan’s focus extends beyond the creation of cocktails. She will oversee beverage strategy across Tastings Group’s venues, guiding everything from concept development and branding to team training and guest engagement. Central to her mandate is mentorship—cultivating the next generation of talent within the group while fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement—something that she has proven complete mastery over. 

What Wan brings to the table is a rare combination of creative instinct and operational clarity. Her experience across different markets has given her a nuanced understanding of how to adapt concepts without losing their core identity, while her time within Tastings Group ensures she is uniquely positioned to build on its existing strengths. This dual perspective allows her to bridge the gap between vision and execution, ensuring that innovation is both meaningful and sustainable.

At the heart of her philosophy is the belief that hospitality is built on human connection. For Wan, great bars are not defined solely by their menus, but by the people who bring them to life and the experiences they create for guests. It is this perspective that underpins her leadership style—one that prioritises respect, teamwork, and a shared commitment to excellence.

Wan’s return comes at a time when the industry continues to evolve, with increasing emphasis on storytelling, sustainability, and experiential dining. Her appointment reflects Tastings Group’s intent to remain at the forefront of these shifts, leveraging her expertise to refine its offerings while staying true to its core values. “Returning to Tastings Group is a homecoming to where I first learnt how great bars are built, not just on recipes, but on people, respect, and shared moments,” said Amanda Wan. “I look forward to working alongside Charlene, Antonio, and the entire team to craft beverage experiences that surprise, comfort, and connect.”

With a strong academic background in hospitality and fluency across multiple languages, Wan embodies a modern approach to leadership. As she steps into this new chapter, her focus remains clear: to build on the foundations she helped lay, to support the people around her, and to create beverage experiences that resonate on both a technical and emotional level.

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