The Rebel Penguin of Whimzy Town – Taman Paramount
Words: Nichole Ong
Photos: Matt Wehner
After two years in Funky Town, The Rebel Penguin has set his sights on a new location – Whimzy Town, better known as Taman Paramount, Petaling Jaya. Through a mysterious orange door and up a flight of stairs, Whimzy Town is a cosy, retro space decorated with elements from the 80s and 90s. There is an arcade machine in the corner and classic games like Cards Against Humanity and their whimsical counterparts. Who’s up for a round of Asians Against Sobriety?
We meet the The Rebel Penguin himself, who rebels against the trends and carves out a space for himself and guests by creating pop-culture-inspired ‘maximalist’ cocktails. The Rebel Penguin currently offers twenty drinks on the menu, with plans to increase this to thirty. There are also more than 100 ingredients currently on the menu, with the future addition of 50 more, meaning that there’s always something new to try in Whimzy Town.
Cocktail Menu & Prices
From the Fizzy Category, our first cocktail, Space Walker (RM 42), featured a lone astronaut perched on top of his passionfruit planet. This drink is a twist on a Gin and Tonic made with rosehip gin and prickly pear tonic. The Rebel Penguin also takes pride in incorporating a local twist with the addition of asam boi tuak (salted dried plum infused rice wine) and moringa plant. The passionfruit added a tinge of tartness to the drink, bringing a fresh and interesting take to a much-loved classic.
Our next drink, Feel the Force (RM 42), was served in the most adorable baby Yoda mug. It’s a take on a whiskey sour with clarified coconut milk—inspired by both Yoda’s favourite stew and Malaysian favourite beef rendang. This drink was rich yet well balanced, with cucumber sorbet and curry leaf for aroma.
From the tropical section on the menu, Pacman vs. Zombies (RM 42) brought the arcade to the bar and was served in a retro-style arcade-shaped mug. The sarsaparilla rum blend gave it a tinge of liquorice flavouring, and the cherry brandy and absinthe mixed to create a fruity yet deep flavour profile.
We took a brief break to stop for dessert – in the form of a doughnut-shaped cocktail. Nutty Minded (RM 42) is The Rebel Penguin’s version of an Irish coffee cocktail. This incorporates cascara tea, made from the dried skin of coffee cherries, which adds fruitiness to the drink. This dessert cocktail is the perfect amount of creamy and sweet, with pistachio butter-washed whiskey and peated whisky alongside locally beloved gula Melaka (palm sugar). The yuzu espuma gives a touch of tang, balancing out the heavier flavours.
Moving on to the Power Category, the Mighty Duck (RM 42) sees duck fat-washed gin, umeshu (plum liqueur), génépi (French herbal liqueur), Champagne vinegar, and rhubarb bitters in The Rebel Penguin’s recipe for a white Negroni. Keeping with the local theme, inspiration is drawn from the classic French duck à l’orange, pairing duck fat with the fruity umeshu. The Champagne vinegar is also welcome, adding a touch of tartness to ease the transition into the bitterness of the Negroni. This is the most intricate drink so far, constantly evolving so all the flavours are balanced.
In case we weren’t enjoying ourselves enough, the Par-Tea Starter (RM 80), designed to be shared among two people, brought the punch bowl to new heights. It is served in a Mrs Potts teapot straight out of Beauty and the Beast (she’d probably appreciate a good cocktail) and matching Chip cups. The gin, apricot brandy, and absinthe paired well with the longan blossom honey, lemon juice bergamot and rose tea. The result was a beautifully citrusy aromatic drink that could definitely get any party started.
To finish off, the Grand Theft Nachos (RM 21) proved to be the best tequila shot I’ve ever tasted. This is inspired by the funny faces people make after taking straight tequila shots to create something that won’t make them wince. In this concoction, he combines nacho-cheese-washed tequila with gentian liqueur, basil and lemon to replace the grimace-inducing shot with a balanced umami and citrusy mouthful.
The Rebel Penguin of Whimzy Town Review
Each cocktail on the menu was as unique as the bar’s location and concept, making for a fun and highly enjoyable experience. Whimzy Town is the perfect getaway from the real world—a place to unwind, socialise, and explore new things. The Rebel Penguin’s broad and innovative menu invites us to keep coming back for more, whether it is for a regular favourite or something we’ve never tasted before.
Reasons to visit The Rebel Penguin of Whimzy Town: unique cocktails, cosy location, wide selection of drinks, intimate and personalised bar experience, fun, fun, fun!
The Rebel Penguin of Whimzy Town
37A (First Floor), Jalan 20/16,
Paramount Garden, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Link to The Rebel Penguin of Whimzy Town on Google Maps
@therebelpenguin
+601125063313
The Rebel Penguin of Whimzy Town Opening Hours
Wednesday to Saturday: 6 pm – 12 am *Reservations encouraged
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