Julian Brigget

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2018
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Employment History

• Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; JW Marriott Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Education

• Advanced Diploma in Hotel Management from YTL International College of Hotel Management, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Birthplace

• Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Languages Spoken

• English, Bahasa Malaysia

Along with a deep knowledge of mixology and award-winning credentials, Julian Brigget brings an exciting energy to the beverage experience at Nautilus Bar. “We take our cocktails seriously, but not ourselves!” he says with a smile. “We love to chat with our guests, with the aim of creating moments that are authentic, memorable and, above all, fun.”

Growing up in Malaysia, Julian’s passion for hospitality took root at an early age. His mother was a hotelier and would often bring him along to luxury hotels — a world he soon fell in love with, owing to its energy and flair. By the age of five, young Julian had nearly a hundred hotel nights under his belt.

After completing an advanced diploma in hotel management, Julian began his career on the restaurant side, working as a chef with top-tier hotels in Kuala Lumpur. He soon realised, however, that his true calling was the bar — a place where he could be himself, interact with guests, and share in the enjoyment.

After cutting his teeth at a five-star hotel bar, he joined the preopening team of Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur as Assistant Bar Manager for Bar Trigona. Here, he mastered the art of developing great cocktails and innovative menus, with his exceptional performance soon earning him a promotion to Bar Manager. Together with the Head Bartender, Julian trained the young team into an award-winning unit, helping Bar Trigona win a coveted spot among Asia’s 50 Best Bars along with the title of Malaysia’s Best Bar.

Now at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta, Julian helms the voyage of liquid discovery at Nautilus Bar, along with overseeing the Hotel’s overall beverage programming. Under his adept leadership, the bar has extensively refreshed its concept and offerings, taking inspiration from the legendary Spice Trade era of 16th-century Indonesia. Celebrating the flavours of the archipelago, the menu skilfully blends sustainable ingredients with premium spirits and innovative mixology techniques.

While cocktails are key, it’s not just about the drinks for Julian. His vision extends to curating the entire guest journey: “Every element, including drinks, food, music, décor and service, must come together seamlessly to immerse guests in the story we’re trying to tell.”

Thanks to Julian’s strong standing in the regional bartending community, Nautilus Bar has also taken to hosting an impressive line-up of guest shifts, with some of Asia’s most acclaimed mixologists taking over the bar.

As a leader, there is nothing Julian finds more rewarding than supporting young aspirants as they learn, grow and flourish. He also encourages his team to maintain a healthy work-life balance by walking the talk. “My motto is to bring 110% of myself to work, free of any and all distractions. And I follow the same rule in my personal life. It’s important to immerse ourselves in things we love, so we can recharge our energy,” he shares.

In his leisure time, Julian loves to explore local bars and restaurants in Jakarta. His go-to drinks? At least three signature cocktails to understand the bar’s flavour profiles, followed by a Classic or Rum Old Fashioned.