The future is yours to create: Thanesh Joel

Thanesh Joel is a bartender whose relationship with hospitality is shaped less by ambition and more by curiosity. Based in Penang and deeply rooted at Backdoor Bodega, his work reflects a mindset driven by understanding, of flavour, systems, and human behaviour. As the Campari Red Hands APAC 2025 finalist for Malaysia, he approaches competition not as spectacle, but as an extension of the same thoughtful process that has guided his career so far.

A little bit about me

I’ve never been great at talking about myself because most people only see me through my work or what I post online. At my core, I’m just someone who is very curious and a little fixated on understanding how things work. I like knowing why things are the way they are, sometimes to an obsessive degree.

I’ve also never really had a fixed life goal in the traditional sense. I don’t work towards titles or long-term destinations. Most of the time, I just have something in my head that I want to understand or achieve, and I focus on doing whatever needs to be done to get there. That way of thinking has shaped how I move through both life and work.

“I didn’t enter the industry with a romantic idea of bartending. I stayed because it kept revealing more layers.”

That mindset is what led me into hospitality and drinks. I didn’t enter the industry with a romantic idea of bartending. I stayed because it kept revealing more layers. What started with flavours and technique slowly expanded into service, psychology, culture, and the systems that exist behind the bar. The more I learned, the deeper it became, and that constant pull of curiosity is what kept me here.

Over time, even the chaos became part of the experience. My life has changed so much through this work that things like missed flights or last-minute disruptions somehow turn into highlights rather than frustrations. Outside of the job itself, what really makes me happy is having another like-minded person going through this with me, someone who carries the same fire and passion.

At the end of it all, what drives me as an individual is a mix of spite and mental clarity. That balance keeps me sharp, grounded, and moving forward.

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How I approach my work

One of the most important pieces of advice I’ve ever received came from someone I deeply respect. They told me that while many people in this industry operate purely on passion, that kind of energy rarely lasts. Passion might get you through the door, but it won’t carry you through the difficult parts. What really sustains you is perseverance.

That idea stuck with me. For me, progress isn’t about being visible or popular. It’s about being recognised for skill rather than fame or status. I want my work to speak before my name does. Growth feels real when the improvement is tangible—when technique sharpens, ideas become clearer, and execution feels more honest.

“To survive the ups and downs, passion alone isn’t enough. What really carries you through is perseverance.”

I also believe that brands can play an important role in supporting the industry. At their best, they create platforms and opportunities that help people grow through education, exposure, and collaboration. When that support is done with intention, it has a real impact on the community.

On a lighter note, motivation at work can be surprisingly simple. Laughing at my jokes helps. Getting paid enough to support my Pokémon card collection helps too. But beyond that, feeling supported, challenged, and trusted matters far more than any surface-level incentive.

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My Campari Red Hands journey

Winning the national finals was overwhelming in the best way. I remember my breathing speeding up while waiting for the announcement, and when my name was called, everything felt unreal. Beyond that moment, it meant a lot to be trusted to represent my country on a global stage. I’m genuinely thankful for the opportunity, and I see it as both an honour and a responsibility, to carry where I come from into a wider conversation.

One of the most memorable moments from the national finals had nothing to do with my own performance. Seeing Jason Yee walk in with a guitar on his back was unforgettable. He went on to prepare and perform a song as part of his presentation, and it immediately set the tone for how personal and expressive the stage could be. That moment reshaped how I viewed the competition space.

Preparation for the finals was largely mental. One of my biggest challenges was making sure my mind didn’t go blank during the presentation. Watching my peers compete before me actually helped. It gave me confidence and brought a sense of clarity that grounded me when it was my turn.

The story behind my competition cocktail came from a very practical place. Working at Backdoor Bodega, my boss trained me to truly understand a brief before presenting anything. He pushed me to make sure my ideas were grounded, genuine, and never half-baked.

I’m Malaysian, and I’ve never been to Italy, so I knew I couldn’t fabricate a story about a grandmother’s passed-down recipe. That wouldn’t be real. I needed an authentic connection. That’s when Neapolitan ice cream came to mind. Anyone who grew up in Malaysia remembers ice cream sandwiches sold by uncles on motorbikes. Neapolitan ice cream has been part of Malaysian life for as long as I can remember. That shared memory and familiar flavour became the foundation of my cocktail, a bridge between my personal experience and the brief I was given.

As I prepare for Milan, the focus remains mental. I’m bringing Malaysia to the global stage, flavours you know, twists you don’t, and a little chaos with every sip.

“Winning starts in your mind, if you don’t see it, you won’t get there.”

Looking ahead, I’m most excited to give my best at the global finals and to connect with people along the way. I can’t wait to make new friends and geek out over shared interests. What I hope the judges and audience take away is simple: that what they experienced was different, real, and unforgettable.

After the competition, I’ll be returning to my home bar to sharpen my skills even further. Malaysia has something big coming, and I want to be ready for it. Growth, for me, has always been about staying curious, staying honest, and continuing to learn, no matter how far the journey goes.