I've been looking for alcohol free gin in Bangkok without success so far.It's a surprising big market in the UK with both established players (eg Gordons and Tanqueray) and many newcomers.Any thoughts?

there is some good ginger ale out there..

Lotus donot even sell Heineken Zero %

9 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Lotus donot even sell Heineken Zero %

Some do, some don't, I saw some at my local Lotus Express.

However, as a can of 0.0 costs more than real beer, I won't be buying any.

 

1 hour ago, jayboy said:

I've been looking for alcohol free gin in Bangkok without success

Good lord, whatever next - kosher pork?! 

6 minutes ago, Stocky said:

Good lord, whatever next - kosher pork?! 

I also like gin, alcohol free gin - best idea since sliced bread.

But is the alcohol free fattening (real gin is quite fattening).

 

Some years back I rented my house on Jomtien beach to an epat couple from the Map Ta phut Rayong oil refineries district. Husband from UK, a specialised refining engineer and his scottish wife. 

 

Husband was an aldoholic, only drank Guiness.

Wife was an even more severe alcoholic, she drank 2 full size bottles of gin, neat, unchilled, no ice every day.

 

Various issues and problems, she physiclly and emotionally abused her maid and her driver for no valid reason, husband thought it was all a big laugh.

 

Company sent them back to UK six months into his contract. Big drop in gin sales in Pattaya. 

But it's not gin as such is it, rather it's simply juniper water.

2 hours ago, jayboy said:

alcohol free gin

Out of interest, why would you like to drink alcohol free gin?

It sounds for me like a vegetable burger. IMHO a burger without meat is no burger.

And Gin without alcohol is not Gin.

So what is it all about?

 

15 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Out of interest, why would you like to drink alcohol free gin?

It sounds for me like a vegetable burger. IMHO a burger without meat is no burger.

And Gin without alcohol is not Gin.

So what is it all about?

 

Personal choice.

16 hours ago, scorecard said:

But is the alcohol free fattening (real gin is quite fattening).

I have been drinking gin for the last few years and I am still skinny. Before that I drank rum for a year and prior to that all my life I was a whiskey drinker. I am 62 years old. 

Thailand can't get their heads around alcohol free drinks.

I was told in Max-Valu that I couldn't buy Heineken 0% at 3pm.........

20 hours ago, jayboy said:

alcohol free gin......................................................................................established players (eg Gordons and Tanqueray)

Amazing, reference:- (Google)

The meaning of GIN is a colorless alcoholic beverage made from distilled or redistilled neutral grain spirits flavored with juniper berries and aromatics. 

So, do both named companies just sell flavored bottled water at a vast cost???

 

I am a G & T man - Gordons or Bombay Sapphire gin which are inexpensive here in Cambodia. 

1 hour ago, Andyfez said:

Thailand can't get their heads around alcohol free drinks.

I was told in Max-Valu that I couldn't buy Heineken 0% at 3pm.........

I suspect that's because their computer coding doesn't make the distinction clear.

 

For those who write off non alcoholic gin as juniper juice there is ignorance to be dispelled.The best have excellent botanicals and flavours.It will be enjoyed by those who have sworn off booze but equally by those who need to preserve a clear head (driving etc). The market demographic is a young sophisticated wealthy one - and I can perfectly understand why the late middle aged cor blimey Pattaya chubster would have little interest.

21 minutes ago, jayboy said:

The market demographic is a young sophisticated wealthy one - and I can perfectly understand why the late middle aged cor blimey Pattaya chubster would have little interest.

Meow!

3 hours ago, Andyfez said:

Thailand can't get their heads around alcohol free drinks.

I was told in Max-Valu that I couldn't buy Heineken 0% at 3pm.........

Many low / zero alcohol beers now available in Australia. Some same price as regular beer, some cheaper.

 

Several times in OZ I bought a six pack of Coopers; low alcohol / zero alchol (seems to be marketed using both descriptions, about AUD$11.xx-   (about 300Baht for 6 pack.

 

Very drinkable.

 

On the supermarket shelves along with Coke, Pepsi etc, rather than in the alcohol section.

1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

So, do both named companies just sell flavored bottled water at a vast cost???

Sometimes it's maceration (so yes, basically juniper-spice infused water) sometimes it's the usual process but with a special final distillation stage where most of the alcohol is evaporated and essential oils are re-integrated into the solution. This second way leads to the same manufacturing costs as for the ordinary gin but of course non-existent excise payments so the price still isn't justified.

Well, your chances are close to zero; maybe some luck in the high-end BKK restaurants who has it's own small-batch importers.

The next closest thing you can have here is to just make an infusion yourself, using the same maceration process some of the producers use. There are sellers on Lazada who have dried juniper berries at quite a reasonable price, especially when buying in bulk. Cardamom, star anise, cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, cloves, peppercorns, orange peel and lemon peel won't be a problem. Water, time and some experimentation with proportions to your liking.