High above the Phnom Penh skyline, where Sora’s cocktail program has quietly become one of the city’s most compelling destinations, a new chapter is unfolding for Cambodian mixology. Phirun Lek, lead bartender at Sora, Rosewood Phnom Penh, has been named Cambodia’s Number One Campari Ambassador, earning his place on the international stage in Milan, Italy, this January 21–22, 2026.
More than a personal victory, Phirun’s win places both Sora and Cambodia firmly on the global bartending map—proof that talent rooted in local stories can resonate far beyond home.
Phirun’s path to the spotlight is anything but conventional. He began his hospitality career as a waiter in Siem Reap, where curiosity led him behind the bar. What started as assistance quickly evolved into a calling. Within just three months at Sora, his commitment and creativity propelled him from bar back to bartender, earning attention for cocktails that balance technical precision with storytelling.
Those stories are deeply personal. Some draw from everyday passions—like football—while others celebrate Cambodia’s agricultural heritage, weaving familiar flavors into unexpected forms. His winning cocktail, inspired by Num Ansom, a traditional Khmer cake with roots tracing back to the Khmer Empire, became a liquid expression of culture and identity. Traditionally associated with Hindu and Buddhist rituals and enjoyed during Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben, Num Ansom provided both symbolism and structure for the drink.
Built on a classic Negroni framework, the cocktail bridges tradition and modernity: coconut fat-washed gin delivers a soft, creamy texture; sweet jackfruit vermouth adds warmth and depth; and Campari’s signature bitterness ties everything together with balance and elegance. It’s a drink designed not only to impress, but to tell a story—one that travels.
The Campari Ambassador competition is among the most respected platforms in global mixology, celebrating creativity, technique, and the ability to craft meaningful experiences. Phirun’s recognition signals a growing confidence in Cambodian bartending—and its place in the international conversation.
Following the Milan finals, Phirun continues his journey with a guest bartender appearance at Rosewood Munich on January 24–25, 2026, offering European audiences a taste of Sora’s distinct perspective and Phnom Penh’s rising creative energy.
“Phirun’s achievement reflects not only his talent, but the spirit of innovation and warmth that define Sora,” shared Daniel Simon, Managing Director of Rosewood Phnom Penh. “Through his work, the world gets a glimpse of Cambodian heritage expressed through a modern lens.”
For Phirun, the journey is as much about representation as recognition. “Cocktails allow me to tell stories beyond the glass,” he says. “This creation is my way of sharing Cambodian culture with the world—honoring tradition while embracing what’s possible today.”
As his story unfolds on the global stage, it’s clear that this moment belongs not only to one bartender, but to a new generation of Cambodian talent ready to be seen, tasted, and celebrated.
