1. Ming River Sichuan Baijiu, China
Baijiu, literally meaning “white spirit” in Mandarin, refers to a category of Chinese liquor made with grain. This newly launched bottle from Luzhou Laojiao, one of the most highly regarded baijiu distilleries in China, has a unique character – a nose of tropical fruit and cheese opens up to peppercorns and anise on your tongue.
2. Seekers gin, Cambodia
From the country’s first craft gin distillery (established in 2018) comes a product that aims to capture the spirit of its locale, featuring spring water from the Kampot mountains and 11 native botanicals – from Khmer basil and galangal to pandan and pomelo – sourced from local producers or the Mekong river banks. The distillery’s bar is open to the public every first Friday of the month.
3. Lanna Thai rice spirit, Thailand
An homage to the rice paddies around Chiang Mai, Lanna is a blend of triple-distilled Thai jasmine rice and sticky rice. This cocktail- friendly spirit evokes kaffir limes, jasmine flowers and sweet spices, and is produced by local bartenders from noted Bangkok cocktail bars Vesper, Backstage and Rabbit Hole. You can try concoctions made with Lanna at those bars or order a bottle online.
4. Crows Craft whiskey, The Philippines
The first release of Crows Craft small-batch whiskey has already sold out, but a second batch is slated for release this May. Aged in a fresh, ex-bourbon cask, this no-age-statement whiskey is bottled straight from the barrel at a whopping 65% ABV. Heavy on flavours of bananas, caramel and oranges, this is best enjoyed with some heavy metal – founder Jose Mari Cuervo was once the vocalist of local hard rock band Razorback.
To book a flight, visit singaporeair.com
SEE ALSO: 5 distillers crafting unique spirits in unexpected places
This article was originally published in the May 2019 issue of Silkwinds magazine
