Seoul’s Dohyung ‘Demie’ Kim, co-founder of Zest (No.5 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 and No.18 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023), has been named the winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2024. At the forefront of Seoul’s bartending scene, sustainability champion Kim is being recognized by his peers for his significant contribution to Asia’s bar landscape. The Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award is the only peer-judged award in Asia’s 50 Best Bars program, collectively voted for by the bartenders of those establishments that have placed on the 2024 list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars.
This is the second of two special awards to be announced ahead of the awards ceremony at Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024, sponsored by Perrier, which will take place in Hong Kong on 16 July 2024 in collaboration with
destination partner Hong Kong Tourism Board. This marks the second consecutive year the awards and its surrounding event program will be held in the city.
Born and raised in Busan before moving to Seoul, Kim began his career mixing drinks at Woo Bar in the W Hotel before becoming Head Bartender at the speakeasy-esque Alice (ranked No.28 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023) in Seoul’s buzzy Cheongdam neighborhood. During the pandemic, Kim and his veteran bartender partners launched the minimalist watering hole Zest and despite pandemic-related shutdowns and challenges, the bar emerged as a pioneering space offering a sustainable ‘fine drinking’ experience.
At Zest, the team promotes a drinking culture that is deeply rooted in Korean heritage, emphasizing sustainability where the environment and community coexist. The laboratory-like cocktail bar is steadfast in supporting local producers and sources its herbs and vegetables directly from farms across South Korea, eliminating the need for packaging. In addition, the team upcycles any leftovers into new components for its drinks, such as the house-made soda, tonic, and colas. These practices have made Zest now proudly circular and free of plastic and aluminum waste. They also reinvest a share of profits into local ecological projects, positioning themselves at the forefront of the modern sustainable bar movement.
Since their debut, Zest has experienced a meteoric rise in global recognition, including the Nikka Highest Climber Award as part of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 and Disaronno Highest New Entry Award at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2023. Kim’s tireless enthusiasm has been instrumental to this success, as he proudly flies the flag for Korea’s rich drinks heritage on the world stage and continues to inspire many in the region and beyond.
Emma Sleight, Head of Content for Asia’s 50 Best Bars, says: “Demie is a formidable force in Seoul’s bar scene, relentlessly championing Korean ingredients and cocktail culture to create a distinctive bar experience while keeping sustainability at the forefront of every endeavor. His pioneering efforts towards low-waste drinking and circular cocktail craft are not only an inspiration to his peers but also a guiding light for the future of bars in Seoul and beyond. In recognition of his creativity and generosity within the industry, it is wonderful to see his peers have awarded him the well-deserved Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award.”
On winning the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award, Kim says: “I’ve been working as a bartender for over 10 years, and this honor exceeds my expectations. I will take this award as the beginning of a new journey, strive to remain humble, and aim to convey this energy and positivity to those around me. This achievement couldn’t have been accomplished alone. I would like to attribute it to my teammates, family, and everyone who supports what we are doing at Zest. Thank you so much.”
Carlos Andrés Ramirez, Global Advocacy & PR Manager of Altos Tequila, said: “For the Altos Tequila and Altos Tahona Society family, it has been a priority to support bartenders in scaling up their careers. We want to congratulate our friend Demie Kim from Zest on winning the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award as part of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024. We are so happy to see this recognition go to the leader of a sustainability-forward bar, which is one of the best in Korea.”
50 Best works with professional services consultancy Deloitte as its official independent adjudication partner to help protect the integrity and authenticity of the voting process and the resulting list of Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024.
Chef Syamsul Rizal">
