Lao Khow Thai Whiskey
Even if you are not a fan of Whiskey but like a stiff drink, Lao Khow Thai Whiskey is well worth a try, all be it just to experience it and how strong it is. This Whiskey, perhaps not surprisingly is made from that humble grain that is readily available in Thailand - Rice!
It is not too dissimilar to the moonshine that was often made in Ireland, in that it is 100% proof, clear and practically odourless, but kicks like a mule. It is probably fair to say that many Thai farmers probably make their own Lao Khow on the side, to save a bit of money, although a bottle only costs about 50 baht.
Should you see a vey drunk Thai man staggering along the pavement, wobbling all over the road on his motorbike, or singing and shouting his head off at no-one in particular, there is a reasonable chance that he is high as a kite on Lao Khow Whiskey.
Having seen these bottles in many shops in Udon Thani, I was curious as to what it was when one of the family members brought a load of them to a party one afternoon. The first sip I took tasted disgusting (I never did like Whiskey much), and the next three or four sips were not much better. I was ready to give it back to my brother-in-law but he said I should keep trying, so like a fool I did. I then quickly started to develop a taste for it, the more you drink - the better it tastes. I will guess it has just destroyed the taste buds or neutralised the brain in rapid time. I went on to sink three of these bottles and began to feel very uneasy, even sitting down! Another bottle and I was ready to take up the ancient Thai tradition of falling asleep, on the spot, in the middle of the day! I managed to stay awake but it is fair to say that I was incredibly merry for the rest of the day until the effects began to wear off some hours later, and helped by diluting the Lao Khow with some Leo beers.
Two bottles of Lao Khow will normally be enough to see off a fairly lightweight drinker, with a third one really starting to kick in for most others. It can certainly make for a cheap way of getting hammered, if that is what you want to do.
I have never repeated the 'binge' drinking of Lao Khow since but I dare say I will when the time is right, and at least I will know what to expect the next time.
It is not too dissimilar to the moonshine that was often made in Ireland, in that it is 100% proof, clear and practically odourless, but kicks like a mule. It is probably fair to say that many Thai farmers probably make their own Lao Khow on the side, to save a bit of money, although a bottle only costs about 50 baht.
Should you see a vey drunk Thai man staggering along the pavement, wobbling all over the road on his motorbike, or singing and shouting his head off at no-one in particular, there is a reasonable chance that he is high as a kite on Lao Khow Whiskey.
Having seen these bottles in many shops in Udon Thani, I was curious as to what it was when one of the family members brought a load of them to a party one afternoon. The first sip I took tasted disgusting (I never did like Whiskey much), and the next three or four sips were not much better. I was ready to give it back to my brother-in-law but he said I should keep trying, so like a fool I did. I then quickly started to develop a taste for it, the more you drink - the better it tastes. I will guess it has just destroyed the taste buds or neutralised the brain in rapid time. I went on to sink three of these bottles and began to feel very uneasy, even sitting down! Another bottle and I was ready to take up the ancient Thai tradition of falling asleep, on the spot, in the middle of the day! I managed to stay awake but it is fair to say that I was incredibly merry for the rest of the day until the effects began to wear off some hours later, and helped by diluting the Lao Khow with some Leo beers.
Two bottles of Lao Khow will normally be enough to see off a fairly lightweight drinker, with a third one really starting to kick in for most others. It can certainly make for a cheap way of getting hammered, if that is what you want to do.
I have never repeated the 'binge' drinking of Lao Khow since but I dare say I will when the time is right, and at least I will know what to expect the next time.