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There's no question that Thailand is a newbie when it comes to the concept of liquor (whisky excepted). Far and away the leader in the field is Scotch Whisky with Johnnie Walker and Chivas dominating the market. Beyond that liquors are known only by brands and my request for a bottle of rum is often met with a blank stare until I point out the Bacardi on the speed rail. Well you're in for a treat because I've done some research and put together a quick reference for the standard 5 that everyone should know. If you're working at a bar and this is new to you then it's time you found another job!
Rum
Oddly enough you'd expect a huge sugar cane exporter like Thailand would have discovered premium rums. Instead and for unknown reasons the two most common locally produced liquors Sangsom and Mekhong are in fact rums masquerading as whiskies. Rum is distilled from sugar cane juice or molasses and typically aged in oak barrels. The most notable rum producing region is the Caribbean and the drink was made famous as the navy's and pirate's beverage of choice even giving rise to the classic "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum". Disney might have had something to do with its fame as well.
Rum comes in several varieties including light (i.e used for cocktails), gold and dark. In addition to the standard variations spiced rum is a favorite. Struggling to stay trendy rum is now available in an even greater variety of flavors including lemon, apple, orange, coconut, pineapple, mango, etc.
Power rum brands include Captain Morgan and Bacardi but rum is also available as a premium sipping drink to be taken neat or on the rocks. The Dacari is probably the most well-known rum cocktail with the exception of the classic rum and Coke. If you've never ventured beyond a poorly made rum cocktail try a good quality dark rum straight and you'll appreciate it's sweetness.
Tequila
Clearly the Mexican's drink of choice Tequila is distilled from the Blue Agave and is named for the region in which it was originally made. Famous as an ass-kicking shot taken with salt and lemon, premium tequila is also available and meant to be sipped. Tequila comes in several varieties including:
Gin
Distilled from grain and flavored with juniper berries, gin originated in the Netherlands but was made famous in England which has given rise to power gin brands including Bombay (made by Bacardi), Tanqueray, Beefeater and Gordon's.
Gin is made to be dry compared to other liquors and comes in several varieties including standard gin, distilled gin and compound gin with the latter also considered a flavored vodka.
Gin is used in many cocktails with the most notable being the Martini and the Singapore Sling and is commonly referred to as "panty stripper" due to it's uncanny ability to go to a woman's head fast. Word to the wise...refrain from using this common name while plying a girl with gin cocktails.
Vodka
Vodka is the world's most popular distilled beverage and can be distilled from anything that can be fermented including potatoes, molasses and grains. With roots in eastern Europe vodka is known as a Russian drink and is available in almost any flavor including lemon, cranberry, orange, lime, apple, passion fruit, etc.
Typically drunk neat vodka is also used in many cocktails including the screwdriver, vodka Martini and Bloody Mary. More recently vodka bars have opened offering premium brands at sub-zero temperatures.
Power vodka brands include Smirnoff, Stolichnaya and Absolut. Vodka is the most versatile of the bunch and can be mixed with almost any fruit juice or soda. Often going undetected in a well crafted mix, vodka can be flown under the radar.
Whisky
By far the most common liquor available in Thailand, whiskey includes rye, scotch and bourbon and is distilled from fermented grain mash and stored in wooden casks. Whisky is believed to have been first distilled in the middle east but was made famous for it's origins in Europe specifically Scotland.
Varieties of whisky include Scotch Whisky, Rye Whisky, Japanese Whisky, Irish Whisky and Bourbon. Legally all Scotch Whisky must come from Scotland. Anyone telling you otherwise is a moron and should immediately have their glass of Mekhong slapped out of their hand.
Power whisky brands include Johnnie Walker, Chivas, Dewar's and The Famous Grouse. Often considered a sophisticated drink premium whisky is meant to be drunk neat however several cocktail favorites are made with speed rail whisky including the obvious whisky sour.
Oddly enough you'd expect a huge sugar cane exporter like Thailand would have discovered premium rums. Instead and for unknown reasons the two most common locally produced liquors Sangsom and Mekhong are in fact rums masquerading as whiskies. Rum is distilled from sugar cane juice or molasses and typically aged in oak barrels. The most notable rum producing region is the Caribbean and the drink was made famous as the navy's and pirate's beverage of choice even giving rise to the classic "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum". Disney might have had something to do with its fame as well.Rum comes in several varieties including light (i.e used for cocktails), gold and dark. In addition to the standard variations spiced rum is a favorite. Struggling to stay trendy rum is now available in an even greater variety of flavors including lemon, apple, orange, coconut, pineapple, mango, etc.
Power rum brands include Captain Morgan and Bacardi but rum is also available as a premium sipping drink to be taken neat or on the rocks. The Dacari is probably the most well-known rum cocktail with the exception of the classic rum and Coke. If you've never ventured beyond a poorly made rum cocktail try a good quality dark rum straight and you'll appreciate it's sweetness.
Tequila
Clearly the Mexican's drink of choice Tequila is distilled from the Blue Agave and is named for the region in which it was originally made. Famous as an ass-kicking shot taken with salt and lemon, premium tequila is also available and meant to be sipped. Tequila comes in several varieties including:- oro ("gold") – un-aged tequila
- blanco ("white") or plata ("silver") – un-aged white spirit
- reposado ("rested") – aged a minimum of two months, but less than a year in oak barrels
- añejo ("aged" or "vintage") – aged a minimum of one year, but less than 3 years in oak barrels
- maduro ("extra anejo", "extra aged" or "ultra aged") – aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels
Gin
Distilled from grain and flavored with juniper berries, gin originated in the Netherlands but was made famous in England which has given rise to power gin brands including Bombay (made by Bacardi), Tanqueray, Beefeater and Gordon's.Gin is made to be dry compared to other liquors and comes in several varieties including standard gin, distilled gin and compound gin with the latter also considered a flavored vodka.
Gin is used in many cocktails with the most notable being the Martini and the Singapore Sling and is commonly referred to as "panty stripper" due to it's uncanny ability to go to a woman's head fast. Word to the wise...refrain from using this common name while plying a girl with gin cocktails.
Vodka
Vodka is the world's most popular distilled beverage and can be distilled from anything that can be fermented including potatoes, molasses and grains. With roots in eastern Europe vodka is known as a Russian drink and is available in almost any flavor including lemon, cranberry, orange, lime, apple, passion fruit, etc.Typically drunk neat vodka is also used in many cocktails including the screwdriver, vodka Martini and Bloody Mary. More recently vodka bars have opened offering premium brands at sub-zero temperatures.
Power vodka brands include Smirnoff, Stolichnaya and Absolut. Vodka is the most versatile of the bunch and can be mixed with almost any fruit juice or soda. Often going undetected in a well crafted mix, vodka can be flown under the radar.
Whisky
By far the most common liquor available in Thailand, whiskey includes rye, scotch and bourbon and is distilled from fermented grain mash and stored in wooden casks. Whisky is believed to have been first distilled in the middle east but was made famous for it's origins in Europe specifically Scotland.Varieties of whisky include Scotch Whisky, Rye Whisky, Japanese Whisky, Irish Whisky and Bourbon. Legally all Scotch Whisky must come from Scotland. Anyone telling you otherwise is a moron and should immediately have their glass of Mekhong slapped out of their hand.
Power whisky brands include Johnnie Walker, Chivas, Dewar's and The Famous Grouse. Often considered a sophisticated drink premium whisky is meant to be drunk neat however several cocktail favorites are made with speed rail whisky including the obvious whisky sour.
While all bars and clubs in Thailand heavily promote whisky most do carry the other 4 liquors and often at more than reasonable prices. Maybe now is the time to drop the poor man's staple of Black Label and stale soda and introduce the ladies to something a bit more exciting like vodka cranberry or gin tonic.
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