William Moylan
William Moylan, Jameson Irish Whiskey Brand Ambassador for Malaysia, gives us insight into the life of a brand ambassador and shares some personal pleasures.
What do you do?
I work for Jameson Irish Whiskey as the Brand Ambassador for Malaysia.
How did you get into the industry?
I was recruited in Ireland through the Jameson International Graduate Programme. This is an interesting programme because they hire recent graduates and send them all over the world to represent Jameson. In September 2018 I began my first placement in Shanghai, China where I spent one year. In late August 2019, I finished up in China and rotated to Kuala Lumpur where I’ve been working for the past year and where I will stay for another year.
Share with us an interesting story from behind the scenes.
When making our whiskey, we mature it in barrels for a number of years. While it is maturing in the barrels it loses about 2% of its volume each year to evaporation. This is known as the ‘Angel’s Share’. Although losing 2% might not sound like much it actually adds up to 33,000 bottles of Jameson a DAY! That was quite a party that those Angels had.
What’s a food/drink memory from your childhood or travels that stands out?
I LOVE Indian food. Back in January before lockdown, I went to India for a two week holiday and it was a food paradise! I just couldn’t get enough of the food there!
What’s the best/ worst part of your job?
The best part of the job is how social it is. I am out in the field meeting interesting people and making connections. Another favourite part of my job is working on St Patrick’s Day activities. I love this holiday and really enjoy bringing it to life in this part of the world. One tough part of the job is that the hours can sometimes be long.
What’s your favourite food and beverage pairing?
Jameson infused food! It goes great in sauces for burgers, wings and ribs. It also works really well in desserts like cakes, bread and pies.
A day in the life of a William Moylan is…
A morning meditation, followed by a workout at the gym, arriving at the office before 10 am (balance is key being a successful ambassador). I spend the days working on brand activities such as events, promotions and social media strategies. In the late afternoon, I usually head out to an outlet for Jameson training with staff. I finish my night by visiting some bars where I’m networking and building relationships with the bartenders and managers.
What do you do for fun?
I love going for hikes and KL has some great ones to offer. As cliché as it sounds, I also love food and travel! I’m really enjoying being in Malaysia where I can try so many delicious types of food and travel to beaches, jungles, cities and islands.
What’s something you’d like guests to know about Jameson?
Jameson is the best-selling Irish whiskey in the world, accounting for 70% of all Irish whiskey sales worldwide. Why? Taste, that’s why.
What’s something you’d like people to know about being a brand ambassador as a profession?
No two days are the same as a brand ambassador. One day you could be in the office working on brand plans, the next you could be delivering a tasting session to top bartenders and the next you could be travelling to another city for a dinner with high net-worth individuals. Every day is different!
What’s your view on the bar scene in KL?
KL has got a really amazing bar scene. The scene is relatively new compared to some other Asian cities, but some really unique cocktail bars and speakeasy bars have emerged. The industry is small and very welcoming. I’m really enjoying getting to know the bartenders, managers, owners and everyone else who makes up the vibrant KL bar scene.
What’s in store for you in the upcoming months?
Most of my focus now is on planning activities for our new product in the market, Jameson Black Barrel.
We are also organising our annual Jameson Roving event. Which will see us head to a different bar each day for an evening of food, music, games and of course Jameson!
Find more interviews similar to this one with William Moylan here. And, stay up to date with the latest food and beverage happenings in KL here.
That’s one happy looking dude. Yes, I love Indian food too!
Nor sure I have ever tried Jameson Whiskey, perhaps I should see if it on the shelves here . Cheers Diane