Spirits of the Land

Step aside, soju and sake: Asia has so much more to offer in terms of native alcoholic beverages. We explore some of the most beguiling examples and the young brands looking to remake their image for a modern breed of drinker

By Gavin Yeung

Asia is nothing if not diverse, a fact that is readily reflected in the panoply of alcoholic beverages both fermented and distilled that have arisen as a result of the variety of terrains, climates, cultures and culinary customs of its many regions. Indeed, the impact of Asia on the development of modern alcohol as we know it today can hardly be underestimated: it was in British India that the gin and tonic was invented, as both an antidote to the oppressive tropical climate as well as the constant threat of malaria (thanks to the presence of quinine in tonic water), which quickly spread to other Crown possessions across the world. Meanwhile, Batavia arrack, a distilled spirit originating from the Indonesian island of Java, is often cited as an influential forerunner to…

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Tatler Hong Kong (Digital) - 1 Issue, October 2022

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