June 4th, 2025: Thailand's first single malt whisky and other news
International Beverage launched first Thai single malt whisky, RNDC will close its shops in California, Japanese gin sales growth and more...
News from the East:
The first Thai whisky is now on the market
It is produced by International Beverage (owned by ThaiBev). We have already had the occasion to talk about them, as it owns five Scottish distilleries (Balblair, Old Pulteney, Balmenach, Knockdu and Speyburn) and it just completed a new warehouse in Scotland (previous press review here).
Eleanor Yates reports about the first Thai single malt whisky on Drinks International:
International Beverage launches Thailand's first single malt whisky
Remember we were talking about Brown-Forman’s new distribution strategy two days ago? Here are some consequences.
The Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) will close its operations in California
The company will close shop out west after losing major producers Tito’s and Brown-Forman in the area. The Spirits Business is reporting the news in an article by Ted Simmons:
Jobs at risk as RNDC exits California
Let's go back to Asia and reach Japan, where national gin seems to gain momentum.
Japanese gin sales grew from 1.2 million litres to 5.5 million litres in the last 5 years
According to the Japan Spirits and Liqueurs Makers Association, small and medium-sized Japanese whisky producers are switching their allegiance to gin.
In her article on The Drinks Business, Sarah Neish is exploring the reasons for this boom:
Rocketing domestic sales cause Japanese gin boom
Soft power has always payed back pretty well in my opinion. Has any of you noticed all the Japanese style cocktails and drinks lists popping up in bars in every city? That is not necessarily connected to drinks preferences, it also comes through culture.
Talking about Japan, here is an interesting interview to the American-born shochu expert Christopher Pellegrini, by Nicola Carruthers on The Spirits Business:
Shochu can have its ‘mezcal moment’
What do you think about this spirit? Let me know and feel free to use the new chat! I just opened it up:
That’s all for today, but there will be more news coming on Friday. See you soon!