When you have a calling for a culinary soirée featuring exquisite Thai cuisine, does your evening of gastronomic delights revolve around the adjectives green, red or white? And here we are talking about a green or red curry, and perhaps a dish complemented by a red or white Monsoon Valley wine, or an aromatic Gewürztraminer?

So, why not add another colour to your drink adjective repertoire? I suggest a deep and luscious amber by sampling the PRAKAAN Thai single malt whisky – part of the highly successful and delicious TRIBURA SERIES (meaning three fortified layers of Kamphaeng Phet’s historic wall) with a unique smoky character originating from peated malt and distilled, matured and bottled in Kamphaeng Phet City, within the Kingdom of Thailand.

You will easily spot the whisky’s subdued but distinguished blue label, marked by the Thai name in white lettering, PRAKAAN (ปราการ), which in English translates to a stronghold or fortress – a description embodied in the stone wall motif prominently featured in relief on the surface of the glass bottle. And the remarkable story behind the success of the PRAKAAN label only began in 2024, when the four-still distillery was built within the Western Forest Complex. The marque has built respect worldwide, having grown in prominence due to the Thai distillers’ skills. This success is rooted in providence achieved through a harmonious blend of century-old whisky distilling techniques, home-grown ingenuity, and deep knowledge of the Kamphaeng Phet unique micro-climate conditions and pure mineral groundwater.

The PRAKAAN company offers three superb whiskies available worldwide, including the UK, beginning with the PRAKAAN Select Cask, a 43% ABV aged in ex-bourbon oak casks, featuring citrus, vanilla, and lush honey notes within a rich, velvety, and smooth liquor.

To experience a full-bodied PRAKAAN whisky with timeless balanced complexities of chocolate, spice and raisins, choose the PRAKAAN Double Cask, 43% ABV, aged in ex-bourbon and sherry oak casks.

Now, for the star of this review and you will say it’s a star after tasting and savouring several fingers of the amber nectar; it is a 43% ABV PRAKAAN Single Malt, Select Cask (70cl, RRP £65 to £70), a deliciously smoky single malt releasing distinctive notes of honey, vanilla and spices that linger satisfyingly on the palate for minutes on end.

Let us look at this remarkable new whisky in more detail… or should I say in more taste!

In complete harmony with Thais’ rich heritage encompassing their knowledge of complex flavours, their stilled distilling process has produced a synergy of the unmistakable smokiness of peat and earthy complexity balanced with notes of raisin, citrus peel, melting chocolate and tropical fruit – this amalgam of smooth flavour is created for those whisky drinkers who value taste balance and bold distinct flavours that give a exclusive character in every delicious drop.

Now, if we are being particular about the Nose and Tasting Notes journey after pouring your PRAKAAN Single Peated Malt, the Nose is rich tropical fruit smothered in decadent layers of melting chocolate and vanilla, balanced by slivers of succulent raisin and candied citrus peel.

The Palate is rich and delicious, featuring pineapples in syrup and ripe mangoes, with elegant oaky vanilla, and the dark sweetness of warm toffee. To end your most enjoyable journey, the Finish is full-bodied and smooth, with oaky and leathery tones, complemented by a light touch of grated orange zest.

So, here we are, we have ended our journey into my whisky heaven.

Do you feel tempted?

Increase your knowledge of PRAKAAN whiskies at PRAKAAN Malt Whisky

Travelling to Thailand? Enjoy the satisfying and exceptional flavour of the PRAKAAN amber liquid range at these establishments:

Where to buy: PRAKAAN Malt Whisky

Written by Peter Sissons for Luxuria Lifestyle International 2025