Chalong Bay Distillery Lunar Series - Fût Ex-Shochu (LMDW) 2023

Review by TheRhumhoe

Most helpful positive review

TheRhumhoe

Dec 2023943 reviews

8.2/10

This Chalong Bay expression draws on the full potential of terroir and cask to produce a very attractive juice. There's a lovely balance on the nose between Asian fruitiness on lime and lychee, the floral and herbaceous side turned to agricultural notes of sugar cane and which is more green and fresh, then the spicy notes and the barrel which gives an original and successful alcoholic influence. The attack on the palate retains the charm of the nose, with suppleness and elegance. The fruitiness is intense, the sugar cane greedy, while the vegetal flavors bring a welcome freshness to the palate. A hint of shochu adds a touch of originality. Behind the high proof lies a mellow, highly drinkable rum. The finish is in keeping with the nose and palate, with a beautiful homogeneity between the agricultural, spicy, fruity and gourmet aspects. Compared with the previous edition of the Antipodes collection, it's more structured and balanced, and the finish here adds value to the final product, much to our delight. The future will certainly be Asia.

Review by Jan Lu

Most helpful critical review

Jan Lu

Dec 2024109 reviewsGermany

4.7/10

Sehr starke frische fruchtige Nase. Am Gaumen ist fast nicht mehr davon zu schmecken. Es wird alkoholischer und Bitterkeit macht sich breit, zusammen mit etwas Frucht und Kräutern. Im (zum Glück) kurzen Abgang bleibt das noch ein wenig erhalten.

Review by LukaŽiga

LukaŽiga

Sep 2025927 reviewsGermany

7.6/10

7,5:On the nose, a sugarcane honey, fresh and floral, is the first impression we get, with citrus, spicy(pepper) and nutty wood. On aeration, ex shochu finish notes are stronger, as the cane is still vegetal with mushrooms and minty.There are some confectionery and yoghurt notes... 7,8:On the palate, the attack is sugary with syrupy, herbaceous sugar cane, fresh, then citrus, strong notes of barrel ageing, as the wood is spicy and salty.Resting accentuates vegetal, flowery, mineral cane, defintely fermented. 7,6:The finish is medium long, dry with spicy and smoky wood notes, citrus, as the cane is still flowery, herbaceous. Edit:21.9.25, top in Watermelon Daiquiri.

Review by zabo

zabo

Feb 20251,630 reviewsGermany

7.6/10

The more bottlings I try from Thailand, the more I like them. These bottlings probably won't make it into my best ratings, but I still find them interesting because they have a unique profile.

Review by Timo Groeger

Timo Groeger

Aug 20252,096 reviewsGermany

7.0/10

Ein richtig krasses Teil. Wenn man grad Hampden trinkt, dann passt dieser 0 rein ins Schema ;) Ist jedenfalls übelst floral in der Nase. Am Gaumen gibt es dann Zitrusfrüchte zu bestaunen, außerdem noch leicht salzig...

Review by Jarek

Jarek

Nov 2023704 reviewsGermany

7.7/10

I kind of like Chalong Bay. I discovered the first rum under this name on vacation years ago and have followed the development with interest ever since. Nice guys, great project (e.g. with the mobile sugar juice press to press the sugar cane directly on the small farmers' fields). Very unique floral profile, here still with the barrel influence that reminds me of sake. Not the highest league, but delicious, pure and as a mixed rum.

Review by Johannes

Johannes

Dec 20232,933 reviewsGermany

7.3/10

The fruitiness is somewhat lost in the finish. Alcohol could be better integrated.

Review by Fasen

Fasen

Jul 2024107 reviewsFrance

6.4/10

For my first time at Chalong Bay, and my first time in Thailand after all, I find in my glass a well-fermented, gourmet cane ( Caramel / Pastry / Butter / Cream ) with a lovely freshness ( Menthole / Ginger / Anise / Citrus / Vegetal ) underlined by a pretty, just-ripe banana. The ageing brings us aged wood and spices ( Vanilla / Pepper / Nutmeg / Dried fruit ) as well as the well-marked notes of Shochu ( Rice / Starch / Sake ). A little disappointed with this rum given the price of the bottle... Still, it's interesting and rather wild, but a little light (rather short finish) and simple, despite a rather innovative aging process that has left its mark on the juice.