Into the Blue

Over a glass of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, restaurateur Datin Jean Liew talks work-life balance and why celebrating life’s cherished moments is so important

What’s the secret ingredient to Datin Jean Liew’s success? The cofounder of celebrated Japanese restaurants Sushi Hara and Shiki Omakase and stylish mum of four flashes a knock-out smile with the knowing look of a lady who has seen her fair share of stress in life.

“From a young age, my parents taught me to work hard and not to be afraid of difficulty,” she says. “It’s a principle that rules my life and I believe it’s the most important factor for success.”

Despite the long hours involved in running two F&B businesses—with a third restaurant opening this July that will serve Thai cuisine—liew relishes being in control of how she manages her time, somehow finding the headspace in between meetings and calls to be there for her kids and her husband Dato’ Jeffrey Pang when they need her.

“Another thing I learnt from my father is that leadership is by example. We have to work hard if we want the people around us to do the same.

I’m so proud to be able to manage a dedicated team that puts great effort into making sure our restaurants deliver the best,” she adds.

Having refined her time management skill over the years, Liew’s idea of downtime today takes many forms: from joyous family gatherings and fitness activities to those rare and brief moments to herself at the end of a hectic day with a glass of Johnnie Walker Blue Label in hand.

“What I look for in a glass of whisky is a beautiful aroma and a rare blend,” says Liew. “I love how rich, smoky, and smooth Johnnie Walker Blue Label is. With each sip, there are new layers of flavours to discover and always something new.”

Striking a remarkable balance of flavour, smokiness and warmth, opening a bottle of Blue Label represents a celebration of those rare achievements in life that are worth lingering over, whether it’s the feat of maintaining two restaurants during a pandemic or the joy of seeing loved ones face-to-face after being apart for so long. Meant to be savoured and appreciated, every sip houses a rare and exceptional taste, found in one of every 10,000 casks—truly a fitting drink to fete life’s one-in-a-million moments.

“I think it’s important to celebrate our achievements in life every once in a while,” Liew says. “It reminds us of our strength when times are tough and motivates us for what lies ahead.”

There’s a saying in Hakka which translates to “Don’t be afraid of difficulties but of laziness”