I am a beer drinker first and foremost, so I'm a bit unsure about the "dark side" of drinking in Thailand. Can someone fill me in on it? I've heard Mekhong whiskey mentioned as a popular spirit (and that it's rough as a badger's armpit). Is this the same sort of thing as Sang Som? Are they both different "brands" of the same thing? And aren't they both more of a cough-mixture/rum hybrid rather than a whiskey?

Also for those who have drunk or know about the infamous "buckets" you get most everywhere there are big groups of tourist drinkers. What ingredients go into the buckets typically? (Apart from floor cleaner)

I have no desire to go to the "dark side", especially as my body is incapable of handling them - the most radical I get when it comes to spirits is Bombay Sapphire - but I'm curious.

I would always be a bit suss of these as I think that they contain the roughest of spirits.
I think that the young 'un's can cope with them because you seem to vomit everything back up at that age !
The whiskeys are strong and rough Dave has drunk them sometimes.
The Thai wine is gross and I would rather lick my own arm pit.
As dangerous as I live is chang with the floating % alcohol.

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Mekhong Whack (that's how it is sometimes spelt), Steve is ghastly. I tried the horrible concoction only once with some Thai golfers after a game circa 1982 and I have never forgotten the experience.

Despite being called "whiskey" it is a very rough rum. I would not recommend it to anyone. I still shudder when I think of the two days following the "experiment". I was so ill, all I could do was lay on the bed and sweat.

I have never heard of Sang Som so I can't help you there but if it is related to Mekhong Whack then the same advice applies.

And my wife endorses your comments regarding Bombay Sapphire Gin. She says its "the best".

Hi there,

to drink and not in Thailand from my point of view :)

Beers: Singha, Leo Beer are strongely recommended, Chang and Archa Beer (these taste a bit "chemic") but try em and see for yourself.

Spirits: SangSom (thai rum) is nice with coke (well chilled ofc).
Mekhong tastes like "airplanefuel" can ruin any drink.
Laokao (thaivodka sortoff) tastes like homebrew gone wrong (extremly cheap though).
Laohai (special risewine in a sealed clayjar) add water and wait a lil b4 drinking.

There are ofc more to drink in Thailand but these are most common imo.

Take care and enjoy!!

I have to add this here, I quite like Mekong. I had it with coke and it changed to a kinda vanilla taste. Was beautiful!! Shame I didn't bring any home with me

Buckets vary in price. Your vodka and whisky buckets will always be the cheapest. They tend to be filled with red bull and a choice of coke, lemonade or fanta. Red bull gives it a kick but can get quite sickening. To keep going in the wee hours, try putting an M150 instead of Red Bull.
You can get gin, bacardi, JD etc in buckets but these are dearer because they are not local spirits and I actually doubt that they are the real deal. You have to check sometimes when you are getting your vodka that its cracked open from a new bottle and not one that's been sitting and had the chance to be watered down.

Can't help on the beer front. I'm typically a cider girl or vodka and diet irn bru and sadly couldnt get either in Thailand!! Well got magners but it cost me £5 a bottle and buckets were 180baht. You do that maths lol

I have tried the Mekhong brew and I am convinced it also doubles as fuel the Thais use in their motor bikes. I had the most dreadful headache the following day after consuming only a few small shots of the brew. The wine I think must also be made in the same distillery- also to be avoided unless you are completely desperate........

A belated thank you (nearly 1 year on!) to everyone who answered my questions on this thread. I will be sticking to beer! However this post has been really useful as I'm now about to write a short article for a website on the booze that's available in Thailand... anyone know approx prices for Sangsom, Mekhong, a bucket, and beer at the moment? I seem to recall when I was in BKK earlier this year a small Singha was running at about 40 Baht. 70 Baht for a bigger, is that right? How about the others?

Thanks again!

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