Prakaan puts Thai whisky on world stage
After debuting in Asia last year, Thailand’s first single malt whisky, Prakaan, will roll out in international markets.
Bangkok-headquartered Thai Beverage (ThaiBev) launched Prakaan in Asia last year with the aim of putting Thai whisky on the global spirits map.
ThaiBev’s global arm, International Beverage, will roll out the whisky worldwide, starting with the UK, France and Germany this year. The US and other markets will follow in the future.
The whisky is made at the Prakaan Distillery in the province of Kamphaeng Phet, which is located within the Western Forest Complex, a Unesco World Heritage site in the north of Thailand.
The name ‘Prakaan’ translates to ‘wall’ or ‘fort’ in Thai, and is inspired by the wall that once surrounded Kamphaeng Phet.
Prakaan debuts with three 43% ABV expressions – Select Cask, Double Cask and Peated Malt – which are called ‘The Tribura Series’. The Tribura Series is inspired by the three layers of the wall to represent Thai history, provenance and passion.
The company said the area’s natural resources (including the region’s spring water) and hot, humid climate, along with local craftsmanship, provide the ‘perfect conditions’ for making a distinctively Thai whisky.
The liquid rests in the distillery’s two underground warehouses, which contain between 30,000 and 50,000 casks.
‘Historic day’
Veronica Amago, global sales director at International Beverage, said: “This is a historic day for our business and for Thailand as we launch the country’s first ever single malt whisky onto the world stage.
“Prakaan Distillery is the result of care, precision and skilful planning. Our whisky is defined by the skill and expertise of our formidable whisky creation team in Kamphaeng Phet. The inaugural Tribura Series is a celebration of their achievement. We are proud and honoured to be sharing it with the world today.”
Prakaan Select Oak offers an aroma of ‘soft tropical fruit and zesty citrus with lush honey sweetness, creamy vanilla, and undertones of lemon cake’. Flavours of caramelised pineapple slices and chewy toffee with freshly ground spices and hints of candied lemon peel follow on the palate.
The Double Cask whisky provides tropical fruit notes alongside melting chocolate, vanilla, raisin and candied citrus peel on the nose. The palate brings syrup-coated pineapple and ripe mango with oak vanilla and toffee.
Select Oak was aged in ex-Bourbon casks, while Double Casks uses both ex-Bourbon and Spanish ex-Sherry oak casks.
Meanwhile, Peated Malt carries hints of tropical fruit, soft wood smoke, spices and vanilla sauce upon nosing. The whisky is described as sweet on the palate with smoke, caramel, runny honey, citrus and pineapple.
Prakaan Select Cask retails for £65/US$69.99, while Double Cask costs £74/US$89.99. Meanwhile, Peated Malt can be purchased for £69/US$79.99.
ThaiBev’s portfolio includes several Thai rums (Mekhong, SangSom and Phraya), as well as locally produced beer brand Chang.
Through its International Beverage arm, the group produces single malt Scotch whiskies Old Pulteney and Balblair, blended Scotch Hankey Bannister and Scottish gin Caorunn.
In 2023, the company acquired Larsen as its first Cognac brand and purchased New Zealand-based whisky maker Cardrona Distillery.
Earlier this year, ThaiBev’s global arm took full ownership of Asiaeuro International Beverage to accelerate its growth in Asia.
International Beverage will face six days of strikes this month across its Scottish sites over a pay dispute. The industrial action kicks off today (2 June).
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