Two Moons

A new café and whiskey culture space in front of the Portuguese Consulate in Macau called Two Moons hopes to encourage people to gain an appreciation both beverages.  The founders, Matthew Ng and Frankie Leong, both returned to Macau after living abroad with the desire to contribute to the community they are part of. They have also founded the Macau Whiskey Cultural Association and hope to spread the word and promote some of the sensory experiences of this industry which they feel is still lacking in Macau.

 

"I have been dedicated to the art of coffee making for almost 10 years, and I consider myself almost like a home barista, and that’s why I ended up leaving my job as Project Manager two years ago to focus on this Two Moons project," begins Matthew Ng, co-founder of the space that operates as a café by day and a private bar by night. "It's a harmony space that tries to bring like-minded people together to appreciate the art of coffee and whiskey.”

 

Partner in the business, Frankie Leong worked for four years in a whiskey bar in London and is of the opinion that coffee and whiskey have lots of similarities.

 

"The idea is mainly to experience different flavours, different cultures, different methods, and that was the main reason I got into this industry. Besides appreciating the flavours, I love the culture of drinks, with alcohol or without alcohol, the important thing is the art of appreciation," he explains.

 

The two entrepreneurs met just two years ago online in a Wechat group where whiskey enthusiasts share knowledge, experience and information about the industry.  

 

“We arranged to go together to Islay, Scotland, on a sort of research trip to the various distilleries to prepare ourselves for starting a project in Macau," Matthew recalls. 

 

When asked about the reason for bringing coffee and whiskey together in the same space, Frankie explains that the two products share many aspects in common in terms of the importance of the quality of the water used and the soil where the ingredients are nurtured, as well as the importance of the climate and the organoleptic profile. 

 

"I'm of the opinion that people who like coffee have a natural inclination to like whiskey," he continues, pointing out that the connection lies in the sensory depth and scope of the experience.

 

“We want to provide a more 'indie' atmosphere, like a hidden gem,” Matthew adds. “In many spaces in Macau there is a barrier between the barista and the customer, and people don't really know what they are buying, or the vendors themselves don't know what they are selling. We are concerned with providing more personal service to our clients,” he assures.

 

As for the Macau Whiskey Cultural Association, Frankie, who is the president, points out that his hope is for Two Moons to become a meeting point to host tasting events or even opening parties for new whiskey products or even distilleries. "We want to promote whiskey culture and 'lifestyle' in the territory and make it more popular," he concludes.