Phanny Seng — Rising With Cambodia’s Cocktail Renaissance
Name: Phanny Seng
Base: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Current Role: Bartender at a top-tier hotel bar (Rosewood Phnom Penh)
Notable Achievement: First female bartender to claim first place at the recent Luxardo Cocktail Competition in Phnom Penh — a milestone that put her and Cambodia’s growing mixology scene on the map
Signature Style: Thoughtful balance, flavour exploration rooted in respect for technique, a mix of international inspiration and local sensibility — cocktails built not just to impress, but to connect with their audience
Beginnings and What Drives Her
Phanny’s journey into bartending began not with glamour but with curiosity. She remembers early nights behind the bar as moments of humble observation — watching spirits pour, listening to orders, feeling the pulse of nightlife around her.
What stood out most to her was not the alcohol itself, but how drinks could shape atmosphere: the warmth of laughter, the quiet conversations, the sense of shared experience among strangers. She learnt early that a cocktail is more than the sum of ingredients. It’s social glue, mood-shifter, moment maker.
That respect for hospitality never left her. It grounded her technique and informed her evolving style.
Rising to Recognition — The Luxardo Win That Changed Everything
In 2024, Phanny participated in the Luxardo Cocktail Competition in Phnom Penh. The challenge demanded creativity, composure, and a deep understanding of flavour balance. For her final showpiece she created a cocktail named “Morlacco Spring” — a drink inspired by delicate seasonal notes and international flavour interplay. The result won her first place.
Her win was historic. She became the first woman to win the competition — a strong statement not only about her personal skill but also about what Cambodian bartending can achieve. For many in the local bar scene, Phanny’s triumph symbolised a shift: Cambodia could produce bartenders capable of mixing at global-taste standards.
Phanny takes the win not as a peak, but as a milestone. She views it as validation — not of ego, but of what happens when passion, consistency, and respect for craft meet opportunity.
Her Philosophy Behind the Bar
Ask Phanny what guides her in a busy shift, and she gives a simple answer: connection.
To her, bartending is not about flair or speed. It is about understanding what her guest seeks — be it comfort after a long day, a new flavour adventure, or just a quiet moment in a busy city. She treats each drink as a conversation, each guest as a person worth caring for.
Her cocktails reflect that intention. She avoids unnecessary complexity when the mood calls for warmth. She experiments when the guest is curious. She respects technique, but she also values emotion. Drinks are tools to shape experience.
Above all, she believes in accessibility. A well-made cocktail should not feel intimidating. It should feel inviting.
What Her Success Represents for Cambodia’s Bar Scene
Phanny’s rise marks something bigger than personal success. It signals change in a growing but still young cocktail culture.
She challenges stereotypes — showing that women can lead behind the bar in Cambodia, and succeed in competitive mixology.
She raises the bar — literally and figuratively — for what local bartenders can aspire to. Her win demonstrates that Cambodian bartending can compete on a regional stage.
She helps shift public perception — as more talent like hers surfaces, drinking culture in Phnom Penh (and beyond) might evolve from casual night-out to craft appreciation.
Her presence in the scene offers a new narrative — one where respect, skill, warmth, and ambition coexist.
What She Hopes to Build Going Forward
Phanny doesn’t see her journey as finished. She speaks of building deeper engagement in Cambodian hospitality — teaching newcomers, experimenting with local ingredients, shaping menus that reflect both Cambodian identity and global sensibility.
She hopes that in a few years, visitors to Phnom Penh will expect world-class cocktails served with Khmer hospitality. That Cambodian bartenders will be recognised not for novelty but for craft. That more women behind the bar will be normalised rather than applauded as exceptions.
For now, each night behind the bar is part of that mission. Each pour is part of shaping a small but meaningful transformation.
