The Chamber, Starhill Gallery, Liquor Store

The Chamber, Starhill Gallery

Words: Han Sen Hau
Photos: Rich Callahan

There isn’t much to say about The Chamber at Starhill Gallery that hasn’t already been said elsewhere, at least superficially. A luxurious 4,600 sq. ft. boutique that houses some of the world’s highly sought-after alcohol labels with a membership programme that rewards big spenders. Almost every other website that has received a press release from the team would tell you as much.

So, when we received an invitation to visit the flagship store personally, our mission was to find out what truly made The Chamber a step above its competitors, beyond the exclusive address and even more exclusive labels. 

Space Matters – The Chamber

First and foremost and most painstakingly obvious is the size of the boutique, which houses a temperature and humidity-controlled cigar room, a coffee bar operated by Eight Ounce Coffee, an impressive whisky gallery lining the walls towards the back, a fascinating mezzanine floor displaying rare collectibles, a chilly wine and champagne cellar, and the famous three, members-only, private chambers. With the amount of history swirling within the multitude of immaculately designed bottles lining the illuminated shelves of The Chamber, you’d think you’re visiting a museum or a private collector’s vault instead of a liquor boutique.

By simply increasing the amount of legroom and ensuring the space is brightly lit at all times, the entire experience of walking into a liquor store is elevated to become an educational excursion to the gift shop of 1,000 distilleries and breweries. You’ll never feel like a bull in a China shop because there’s just that much space to go around. The in-store lighting truly deserves special mention for its gentle illumination on the bottles, compelling perusers to become buyers. The ambience starkly contrasts most alcoholic purveyors around town, all of whom share a common preference for seedy and claustrophobic set-ups that scream, “make your purchase and get out!” 

At The Chamber, you’re invited to slow down and study the tiny words on the back of bottles and boxes. Their visual merchandising team should definitely be commended for their attention to detail when dressing up shelves that showcase the flavours of the season and not just the most expensive bottles. Heck, for all the glitz and glamour of the Starhill address, you would feel perfectly comfortable exiting the store with just a single can of craft beer after drooling over the classic Louis XIII decanter on the mezzanine floor. Gilded, sure, but not offensively imposing.

One of our favourite features was a whisky flavour map pasted on the side of a whisky cabinet (or pillar) that breaks down the often obfuscating world of whisky flavours, which immediately tells you that the team at The Chamber understands that alcohol can sometimes be confusing, and you’re allowed to be confused. So here, have a flavour map, then decide if you want something smoky and rich or light and delicate for those cold Friday nights.

A Spectrum of Flavours & Price Tags

From a reasonable Russell’s Reserve Kentucky straight bourbon whisky at RM339 to the exclusive Hennessy Paradis at RM5,899 (complete with personalisation options in the form of name engraving on the bottles) and jaw-droppingly expensive 48-year-old Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour capped at RM128,000, it is undeniable that The Chamber has range. The boutique seemingly stocks almost everything and anything to suit any and all occasions.

Standard bottle of merlot to go with dinner? Check.

Junmai Daiginjo to win over that Japanese portfolio? Chillers to the right.

Liqueur from the Americas for a mixer party? Also available. 

Celebratory Champagne to commemorate new beginnings? They’ve got the usual Moet et Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and even Krugs and Delamottes. Some of these are also decked out in their Yuletide best, so you know where to go for your last-minute Christmas shopping. 

The variety extends to their cigars, the most popular and scarcely available (for good reason) being Cuban, obviously. We could easily spend half an hour just in the cigar room smelling the Cohibas and Olivas. 

Friendly Knowledgeable Staff

If you’ve not had a single drop of alcohol flowing in your veins and you’re asked to explain the subtle differences between different wine varieties at gunpoint, then you’d want to have The Chamber’s sommelier’s phone number on speed dial. Anyone who could patiently and carefully explain their drinking preferences without making the listener feel like an imbecile is fantastic in our books, and we got that from the team at The Chamber.

It’s one thing to enter a store knowing what you’re going to exit with, but another when you’re eager to dip your feet into something new without feeling you’ll probably default to a familiar choice, which really defeats the purpose of seeking a recommendation on unfamiliar names. The key here is effective customer service, and this extends to cigars too. The team never just pushes the fanciest things; they only endorse the right things for you. 

Deep Dive into the Flavours

This wouldn’t be a true Yum List review if our lips didn’t absorb alcohol, so we are extremely grateful to The Chamber team for allowing us to sample 11 bottles… excuse us, we mean glasses… at one of their private chambers, the crimson Louis XIII, which was probably the closest we would ever get to the French monarchy.

We had a bold start with Polish Belvedere Vodka. Made of Dankowskie gold rye, it tantalises with a distinctively savoury note. One of the more flavourful vodkas, the Belvedere doesn’t burn the throat on its way down and is very enjoyable neat. 

Next, we had the opportunity to compare two bottles of gin: a contemporary Bulldog London Dry Gin, and the bar mainstay, The Botanist Islay Dry Gin. Since its introduction in 2007, the Bulldog has been known for its globalised approach to gin-making, with ingredients spanning from the Mediterranean to the far reaches of China. It’s a complex sip that dissipates quickly, a contrasting experience from The Botanist, which has a more focused palate. 

Following the intensely fragrant duo is a rare couple: a 1989 and a 1992 Knockando single malt scotch whisky. Both vintages have an extremely appealing and complex palate that lingers as they travel back, though the 1992 had a richer blend and spicier finish. The label is currently available for pre-orders in-store, with an estimated arrival in January 2023, just in time for all those Chinese New Year gatherings.

We dove deeper into whisky territory with the subsequent 16-year-old Mortlach, a bestseller at The Chamber at only RM549. It’s easy to understand why this was described as a favourite among “Chinese uncles” due to its balanced flavours and woody nose. “The Beast of Dufftown” certainly didn’t disappoint and should adorn any sherry cask whisky lover’s shelves.

Rounding up our whisky tour was a trio of Tomatins, aged 12, 14, and 18 years. The 12-year-old was the spiciest whisky we had that evening, having been matured in bourbon and sherry casks, while the amber-coloured 14-year-old had a lovely tawny port finish. The chocolaty 18-year-old stole the show, however, with a sustained sweet finish that’s more robust than the 14-year-old. If the alcohol strength wasn’t marked at 46%, you’d think you were sipping fortified wine.

Moving past our frisky waltz with the whiskies, we were presented with a familiar Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal Cognac, which we featured two months ago upon its recent introduction into the Malaysian market. This is one opulent bottle whose virtues need not be further extolled. An instant classic with tasting notes as rich as its history, the Cognac can easily be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or poured into an ice cream tub after a long week. 

We might have had a little too much alcohol in our bodies for that last idea to pop up. 

Fortunately, The Chamber is also the exclusive distributor for Bounceback, a supercharged antioxidant boost that is the solution to your hangovers and, dare we say, Asian flush. With just a couple of capsules before or after alcohol consumption, your liver is protected from harmful alcohol-induced free radicals, and you can continue your intoxicating sojourn worry-free. This isn’t to say you’re good for the drive home after downing two bottles of Belvedere, but at least your body’s protected against the more uncomfortable aspects of alcohol consumption.

To wrap up our time at The Chamber, we clinked our glasses filled with a seductive 2003 Jean Gautreau. The Bordeaux has a beautifully fruity entry with a tartness that gently coats the tongue before fading away to reveal a sweeter and smoother finish, like a flirty lover that teases and leaves you wanting more. The wine is bottled unfined, though that did nothing to tarnish the experience as everyone present emptied their glasses, beaming ear-to-ear.

Final Thoughts – The Chamber

True to its slogan, we had good spirits and good company throughout our time at The Chamber. Many thanks to Jordan and his team. Text and pictures can only convey so much of our cherished time at The Chamber, so if you’ve got an hour to spare the next time you’re around the area, drop by and peruse the extensive collection there. 

There’s currently an ongoing “Buy-12-Free-1” year-end sale at the store, which is great if you’re looking to stock up for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Chinese New Year. Just don’t forget to ask about their membership privileges if you’re planning to make a big purchase en masse, as you’ll be able to enjoy exclusive access to their private chambers and even be rewarded with special birthday discounts and complimentary bottles, depending on the membership tier.

Reasons to visit The Chamber Starhill: Extensive alcohol and cigar collection in the heart of retail Kuala Lumpur; enticing membership programme that rewards you the more you spend; appealing options for both private and corporate functions, such as the hire of their Mobile Chamber; dedicated and knowledgeable team to help you find the right bottle for the right occasion; food from neighbouring Tarbush and Shook! can also be enjoyed at The Chamber.

The Chamber (Liquor Store)
UG26-28 Starhill Gallery, Indulge,
181, Jln Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
+6012 400 3933
https://thechamber.my

The Chamber at Starhill Gallery Opening Hours
11:00 am – 11:00 pm

Find more on the drinks scene in Kuala Lumpur here, and stay up-to-date on the latest gourmet and travel happenings around Malaysia here and here.