Chalong Bay Distillery The Spirit Of Phuket Thai Sweet Basil 2018

Chalong Bay distills cane juice rum on Phuket, and this Thai Sweet Basil release infuses fresh basil during distillation by vapour, column-distilled and bottled at 40%. Though the base spirit is unsweetened agricole-style rum, the herbal infusion gives it a singular, garden-fresh character all its own.

The nose is sugarcane, herbal and fresh with basil front and centre, the palate carries sugarcane, basil and herbs, and the finish brings basil, a vegetal edge, pepper and fruit. Anise and licorice run alongside the herbs, drawing comparisons to pastis. The cane juice base keeps it grassy and fresh underneath the botanicals. This is a niche but genuinely fun bottle, very specific in its herbal, aniseed-leaning taste, and at its best in cocktails where the basil and freshness can shine, ideal for drinkers who enjoy agricole-style spirits and herbal flavours.