Thai rum: an overview of 4 brands
Rum is not the last present that tourists bring from Thailand. The strong cane distillate is also appreciated by the locals. And the danger of getting poisoned by low-quality alcohol is minimal if you drink rum of well-known local brands in an exotic country. We will dwell on them in more detail.
SangSom rum
Ask people familiar with Thai alcohol about the most popular brand of local rum, and 90% of them will say SangSom. The brand accounts for more than 70% of spirits sales in Thailand.
The founder of the brand is considered to be the blender Khan Chan Kanchanalak, who worked at the SangSom plant. The name of the drink can be translated as "moonlight". It was first released in the late 70s of the XX century, and it quickly became popular both at home and throughout Asia.
For the production of the drink, cane molasses is used, which after distillation is aged in oak barrels and subjected to filtration. Then a variety of herbs and spices are added to the drink (exclusively natural).
SangSom is sold in 0.7 and 0.3 liter glass bottles, as well as in souvenir boxes. You can buy it everywhere: in large supermarkets, small shops, and local bars.
Depending on the aging period, SangSom rum is:
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Three-year Gold Medallion
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5-year-old Superior
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8-year-old Similan and Premium (contains extracts of 100 medicinal plants)
Strength of all categories: 40%.
SangSom rum has a distinctive spicy aroma and mild flavor with citrus, coconut and coffee notes.
They say that there is no hangover after SangSom rum. But due to its high calorie content, it is recommended to drink the drink a little. The flagship of the Thai market is especially cool in cocktails.
Chalong Bay rum
One of the most titled local brands, produced at the distillery of the same name in the eastern region of Phuket Island. At an international competition in Hong Kong, the brand won the highest award among samples from more than 80 countries. He also has a gold medal at the World Spirits Competition.
Chalong Bay Rum is a white rum, which is obtained by distilling fresh fermented cane juice, fermenting.
The production process uses ancient Thai recipes and French distillation methods. The result is a fruity bouquet with notes of herbs and flowers, and the taste is soft and tropical.
Most of the Chalong Bay rum produced is exported, so it is not always possible to find it in Thailand. But the plant itself regularly hosts excursions with tastings.
Magic Alambic rum
Thai by nature, but with French soul and roots. The Magic Alambic Rum Distillery, where the drink of the same name is produced, was opened in 2003 in the south of the island of Koh Samui by a couple of Frenchmen.
The rum is distilled on a distillation apparatus of French origin. The spirit is made using freshly fermented sugar cane juice, which is distilled and infused in stainless steel vats. Additionally, the drink is aged in bottles (about six months).
The rum is produced in 5 variants:
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Classic (without additives)
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Citrus
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Lime flavor
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Pineapple
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Coconut
The strength is traditional: 40%.
The taste is soft, exotic, especially rich in fruit versions.
Magic Alambic rum is available in local shops and bars. There are also tastings at the factory during the tour.
Issan rum
Rum comes from the Issan region of the same name and is produced in the town of Nong Khai, located in the northeastern part of Thailand.
Producers claim a unique distillation process, but how exactly it differs from competitors remains a mystery.
It is known that rum, in addition to its classic white variation, can be flavored with mango and passion fruit.
The quality of the rum can be assessed by the awards received in 2014 (IWSC in Hong Kong) and in 2015 at Rum Fest Paris (bronze medal in its class of rum).
Tip from Zbovtay
As for the little-known local brands, the name of which only indicates the region, such as Phuket Rum or Samui Rum, it is strongly recommended not to try them. Experts say that it is a real poison.
Update: 22.12.2019
Category: Rum