Once upon a time, alcoholic spirits in Southeast Asia had a reputation for being cheap, strong, and sometimes forbidden in circles where drunkenness is not encouraged. Think of arrack from Indonesia or lambanog from the Philippines, both of which are well-known for their easy availability and high alcohol content.
In recent years, however, smaller distilleries in Southeast Asia have started developing home-brewed spirits that may redeem the region’s reputation for strong liquor. These spirits are slowly making their way into high-end bars and fine dining restaurants in their home countries.
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The 5 Southeast Asian Liquors and Spirits You Need to Try
These Southeast Asian liquors and spirits are not just produced in small batches with home-grown ingredients, but they also represent the flavors that make their local cuisine unique. They’re strong enough to drink on their own, but smooth enough to blend into cocktails.
1. Thailand: Onson Lao Khao
The term lao khao means “white spirit,” a catch-all term for all clear spirits and liquors in Thailand. But despite restrictions on alcohol production in Thailand, the craft-distilled Onson Lao Khao has become a nationwide sensation. Coconut flower sap is used in the small-batch production of Onson’s spirits, lending it an elevated floral flavor not found in commercial versions.
2. Singapore: Compendium Chendol Gin
Photo: Spill Mag
Chendol is a refreshing ice-based dessert made with fruit and syrups, so leave it to a Singapore-based distillery to create a spirit that captures the essence of the delightful treat. Compendium’s chendol gin is distilled from gula melaka (palm sugar) with pandan leaves, coconut and juniper rounding out the flavor. The result is a distinctive gin that lends itself well to sweet cocktails.
3. Indonesia: Nusantara Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
Count on one of the world’s biggest coffee producers to come up with an elite-level coffee liqueur. Bali-based distillery Nusantara uses only the best coffee beans in Indonesia to create a sustainably sourced liquor that has half the sugar and 10 times more coffee than its mass-produced counterparts. Indonesian bartenders and mixologists have taken notice ever since.
4. Philippines: Proclamation Gin
Photo: Kanto – Creative Corners
The national flower of the Philippines has made its way into a craft-distilled spirit. Sampaguita flowers, also known as jasmine sambac, are the featured ingredient in Proclamation’s fragrant gin, with the floral notes balanced out by a nutty flavor. In recent years, Proclamation Gin has become the spirit of choice for signature cocktails in some of Manila’s upscale restaurants.
5. Vietnam: Song Cai Gin
In Vietnam, the Song Cai distillery creates a clear spirit using 16 wild and hand-picked ingredients from the northern highlands of the country, with the help of farmers and foragers from indigenous communities. The resulting gin is known for having notes of frankincense, honey, and citrus, and is featured prominently in the country’s high-end bars.
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The Next Generation of Southeast Asian Spirits
Apart from the above-mentioned spirits making their way into elite bars and restaurants in their home countries, other small-batch distilleries have started to innovate their way into the market using ingredients that are readily available in the region.
The famous Magic Alambic rum from Koh Samui in Thailand, once a well-kept secret among locals, is now gaining popularity beyond the island’s unspoiled beaches. The Magic Alambic distillery now produces rums flavored with home-grown fruits, in addition to the native sugarcane used in the production of the rum base.
Wineries in Bali have started to utilize island-grown grapes to create unique spirits. SABA, the offshoot of the island’s popular Sababay Winery, produces its own grappa from the juice of Balinese grapes. The resulting spirit is smooth and floral, with undertones of vanilla.
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Elevating Southeast Asia’s Spirits to Elite Level
Photo: South China Morning Post
Compared to the region’s picturesque wineries and corporate liquor brands, the small-batch producers of Southeast Asia’s best spirits operate on a less commercially prominent scale, with a few brands readily available in the commercial market. Yet these producers have not only elevated the quality of their spirits but achieved elite status among liquor enthusiasts in their home countries.
By breaking down the stereotypes of Southeast Asian liquors with unique flavors and home-grown ingredients, these spirits have gained their place in high-end cocktail menus, and they should also gain a place in your own home bars as well. Try them on your next trip to Southeast Asia and see how these spirits are changing the game.
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Featured Image by Rieva Lesonsky via LinkedIn
