Lao Khao: Thai Rice Liquor at 110 Baht a Bottle — How We Drink It in Chiang Mai
Alcohol is not cheap in Thailand
Thailand is a Buddhist country, and when it comes to alcohol it is honestly not cheap.
My everyday drink is Lao Khao (เหล้าขาว), a Thai rice liquor.
Tastes just like Okinawan awamori
It is distilled from Thai rice, so the taste is very close to Okinawan awamori.
It has almost no harshness and is easy to drink. It comes in 30, 35 and 40 percent, and even the strongest 40% costs 110 baht for a 720ml bottle — very economical.
I buy mine at GO WHOLE SALE, a mall near HATAGO: three bottles for 270 baht.
The standard: passion fruit and soda
Here is how we drink it:
- Plenty of ice
- Passion fruit
- Lao Khao
- Topped with soda
A new discovery: longan
Recently I worked out a version mixed with longan (lamyai).
Gently sweet, and genuinely good. During harvest season longan is piled high at every market, so give it a try.
When you come to Chiang Mai
It is easy to find in supermarkets and malls, so it makes a nice addition to an evening in Chiang Mai.
HATAGO has a small izakaya space for guests only, called Nezaketei. Ending the day with a drink and a conversation like this is not a bad way to travel.