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Mint
5 days ago
- Mint
Spirits to Bring Home: What Indian tourists should buy in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam & beyond
Spirits to Bring Home: What Indian tourists should buy in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam & beyond 6 Photos . Updated: 18 Jul 2025, 06:22 AM IST Share Via From tropical sugarcane rums to Himalayan single malts, South and Southeast Asia are crafting spirits worth checking in your luggage. 1/6Thailand: Chalong Bay RumThailand's craft liquor scene has several delights, and Chalong Bay Rum is one of its brightest stars. Distilled in Phuket by a couple from France, this agricole-style rum is made from Thai sugarcane juice and distilled in a copper still imported from France's Armagnac region. Chalong Bay offersseveral variants, including a classic white rum, spiced rum infused with Thai herbs like lemongrass and kaffir lime, and seasonal flavours such as Thai sweet basil and cinnamon. Chalong Bay's rums are priced between THB 800 to THB 1200 (about ₹ 2,000 to ₹ 3,000), and it is available atretailers across the country. 2/6Sri Lanka: Ceylon ArrackArrack, one of the world's oldest distilled spirits, has been made and enjoyed in South Asia, including southern India, for well over 1000 years. While arrack is banned in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, the Sri Lankans, who still have copious amounts of it, have taken it to another level. Made by fermenting sap from the coconut palm, the liquid is thendouble-distilled and often aged in native halmilla wood casks. The result is a smooth libation with a subtly floral, pleasantly complex taste profile. Modern labels like Ceylon Arrack from Rockland Distilleries have given this traditional drink a contemporary edge. From the same company, youmight also come across Colombo No. 7 Gin, a crisp, cohesive spirit that uses botanicals like curry leaves, cinnamon, and ginger alongside classic juniper. Ceylon Arrack costs about LKR 25,000 ( ₹ 7,000) at local stores, while the gin, which makes infrequent appearances at Colombo duty-free, retails for about LKR 17,000 ( ₹ 4,800). 3/6Bhutan: K5 Himalayan WhiskyBhutan imports a lot of spirits from India, as well as from other countries, but they also make some interesting stuff of their own. Red Panda, a weiss beer, is one of them, and so is K5, which claims to be the first whisky blended and bottled in the country. Created to commemorate Bhutan's fifth – and current – king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the whisky is a blend of Scottish malt, Bhutanese grain spirits, and Himalayan spring water that is aged in ex-bourbon and Sherry casks. K5 retails for about BTN 800–1,200 ( ₹ 800– ₹ 1,200) depending on the store and city you purchase it in. 4/6Vietnam: Song Cai Single Malt WhiskyVietnam grows, imports, and consumes a lot of corn — and it's at the heart of Sông Cái 'single malt' whisky. The Hanoi-based distillery sources native corn varieties directly from Vietnamese farmers and uses both malted corn and nixtamalized corn, a traditional method that improvesdigestibility and flavour by soaking the grain in an alkaline solution. The grain mixture is fermented for one to six months, then distilled twice with the solids still present in a fire-heated pot still. The leftover grain is fermented again and distilled once more in a wood-fired alquitar, a traditional still of Spanish-Arab origin. The whisky undergoes a soleramaturation, half of it in ex-bourbon American oak casks seasoned with yellow rice wine, and half with sweet purple rice wine. If all of this sounds interesting – and if you are considering visiting Hanoi – drop a DM at @songcaidistillery to find out specifics. 5/6Indonesia: Keris Single MaltIndonesia is massive. The archipelagic country, which consists of over 17,000 islands, is especially famous for its Batavia Arrack, which is made from molasses in Java. But their first single malt whisky happened fairly recently – in fact, as recently as September last year. Keris Single Malt is made in Bali by the Pt Asti Dhama Adhi Mukti Distillery, and named for the traditional Javanese dagger. The whisky, which comes in an attractive bottle shaped like the namesake dagger, is made from locally sourced barley and matured in a mix of ex-bourbon and sherry casks. A bottle will cost around IDR 1.5–2 million ( ₹ 7,500– ₹ 10,000), and it's usually found at upscale liquor stores in Jakarta or Bali.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Gen on 4-day visit to Bhutan to boost def ties
New Delhi: General Upendra Dwivedi is now on a four-day trip to Bhutan to further enhance already close bilateral military ties - which comes at a time that China continues to strengthen its military infrastructure in the Doklam plateau that saw a 73-day face-off between the Indian and Chinese armies in 2017. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Army chief will call on Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and hold wide-ranging talks with Lt General Batoo Tshering, the chief operations officer of the Royal Bhutan Army. "The visit reflects the deep-rooted and time-tested ties between India and Bhutan and reaffirms India's commitment to a close and trusted partner," Army spokesperson Colonel Nishant Arvind said. India has been keeping a close watch on the series of border talks between Bhutan and an expansionist China in a bid to resolve their territorial disputes, which include Doklam plateau in the west and Jakarlung and Pasamlung valleys in the north.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Army chief in Bhutan to bolster ties amid China's continuing build-up at Doklam
NEW DELHI: General Upendra Dwivedi is now on a four-day trip to Bhutan to further enhance the already close bilateral military ties, which come at a time when China continues to strengthen its military infrastructure in the Doklam plateau that saw a 73-day face-off between the Indian and Chinese armies in 2017. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Army chief will call on Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and hold wide-ranging talks with Lt General Batoo Tshering, the chief operations officer of the Royal Bhutan Army, during the visit. Gen. Dwivedi will also interact with senior officials of the Indian embassy, the Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) stationed in the country, and Project Dantak of the Border Roads Organisation, which is engaged in the construction of roads and other developmental work there. 'The visit reflects the deep-rooted and time-tested ties between India and Bhutan and reaffirms India's commitment to a close and trusted partner,' Army spokesperson Colonel Nishant Arvind said. India has been keeping a close watch on the series of border talks between Bhutan and an expansionist China in a bid to resolve their territorial disputes, which include the Doklam plateau in the west and the Jakarlung and Pasamlung valleys in the north. Ever since India's military confrontation with China erupted in April 2020, after the People's Liberation Army (PLA) made multiple incursions into eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army has also been shoring up defenses in the strategically vulnerable Siliguri Corridor, or `Chicken's Neck,' the narrow strip of land in north Bengal that connects the northeast with the rest of India. The PLA has steadily stepped up its activities and infrastructure development in the Bhutanese territory of Doklam near the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction, which witnessed the 73-day face-off between the rival troops in 2017. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Indian troops had then blocked PLA attempts to extend their motorable track towards the Jampheri Ridge, which overlooks the Siliguri Corridor. After the disengagement, the PLA has constructed a lot of military infrastructure and permanently deployed troops in north Doklam, as reported by TOI earlier.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Army Chief embarks on four-day visit to Bhutan
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday (June 30, 2025) departed for Bhutan on a four-day official visit aimed at further enhancing the defence cooperation between the two countries. During the visit, the Army chief will call on Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan and hold discussions with Lieutenant General Batoo Tshering, Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army. The chief will also interact with senior officials of the Indian Embassy, Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) and Project DANTAK. The visit reflects the deep-rooted and time-tested ties between India and Bhutan, and reaffirms India's commitment to a close and trusted partner, a press statement said. The Army chief's trip to the neighbouring country comes in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor conducted in May.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi begins 4-day visit to Bhutan
Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi is on a four-day visit to Bhutan to strengthen military ties amid China's infrastructure push near Doklam. He will meet King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Lt Gen Batoo Tshering to discuss regional security, including the Doklam plateau situation and Chinese activities. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Monday began a four-day trip to Bhutan to further enhance the already close bilateral military ties against the backdrop of China's relentless efforts to strengthen infrastructure around the strategically located Doklam plateau In Bhutanese capital Thimphu, Gen Dwivedi will call on King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and hold wide-ranging talks with Bhutan's military chief Lt Gen Batoo Tshering, officials Army Chief's visit to Bhutan from June 30 to July 3 comes amid the evolving regional security scenario and over seven weeks after India's Operation Sindoor targeting terror bases in Pakistani territories."The visit aims to further bolster the enduring bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations," the Indian Army said, adding it reflects India's commitment to its is expected that the overall situation in the Doklam plateau as well as Chinese activities in the region are set to figure in Gen Dwivedi's talks with his Bhutanese strategic ties between India and Bhutan witnessed an upward trajectory in the last few years in the backdrop of a 73-day face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Doklam tri-junction in Doklam plateau is considered an important area for India's strategic standoff at the Doklam tri-junction in 2017 began after China tried to extend a road in an area that Bhutan claimed belonged to it. India had strongly opposed the construction as it would have impacted its overall security India-China stand-off in the Doklam plateau even triggered fears of larger conflict between the two neighbours. Bhutan had said the area belonged to it and India supported the Bhutanese face-off was resolved following several rounds of shares an over 400-km-long border with China and the two countries have held a series of boundary talks in a bid to resolve the and Bhutan are looking at an expeditious resolution of their festering boundary row that could have implications for India's security late 2023, Bhutan's then Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing. A Chinese readout on the talks said Bhutan firmly abides by the one-China principle and stands ready to work with China for an early settlement of the boundary Delhi has been keeping a close eye on the negotiations between Bhutan and China on their boundary row as it could have implications for New Delhi's security interests, especially in the Doklam October 2021, Bhutan and China signed an agreement on the "three-step roadmap" to expedite negotiations to resolve their boundary dispute Chief Operations Officer of the Royal Bhutan Army Lt General visited India in the trip, he held talks with Gen Dwivedi, NSA Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
