Jay Khan

The agave evangelist shaping Hong Kong’s cocktail culture

Jay Khan is internationally known as the head mixologist, entrepreneur and co-founder of Coa, Hong Kong's trailblazing homage to agave that achieved the almost unheard of feat of being named The Best Bar in Asia three years in a row as part of Asia's 50 Best Bars.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Khan began bartending at the tender age of 18 at a local karaoke club, relying on knowledge gleaned from cocktail books to teach himself techniques and styles. After a year spent learning about the art of mixology in Melbourne, Khan returned to Hong Kong, dedicating the years that followed to refining his skills and travelling extensively.

It was in Mexico that he had a spirits awakening as he developed a profound respect for artisanal agave spirits and the people who grew and nourished them. This passion culminated in the launch of Coa in 2017 – named after the machete-like tool used for harvesting agave plants – followed by an outpost of the same name in Shanghai in 2022.

Khan is celebrated not only for his creative mixology, but also for his deep knowledge of agave culture, making frequent pilgrimages to a myriad distilleries to source rare spirits and foster genuine relationships with mezcaleros.

Khan's preoccupation with all things agave lead him to launch Mescal Mission with fellow Mexican spirits enthusiast Andrew Davis. A non-profit that runs educational workshops on all things tequila and mezcal, all profits go on to feed local charity partners.

Those who know Khan describe him as humble, obsessive about detail and generous with his knowledge – the kind of bartender who remembers your drink, your story and your name, no matter how busy the bar is.

In 2023, Khan co-founded The Savory Project with fellow bartender Ajit Gurung. With a menu that venerates unconventional flavours that accentuate savory, earthy and umami tastes and utilises ingredients typically found in the kitchen pantry, it exemplifies Khan's innovative approach to mixology. The bar also took home the London Essence Best New Opening Award at Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024, further cementing Khan as one of the most influential figures on the global bar scene.

Khan isn't just building drinks, he's building a drinking culture: one that's thoughtful, community-minded and rooted in passion, purpose and profound respect for the people behind the spirits. For this and much more, he is named the winner of the Roku Industry Icon Award 2025.

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