Buying Booze In Tachilek

[CMHomeboy78]

Does anyone have recent experience buying wine and spirits in Tachilek?

Recommendations or warnings would be appreciated.

Some time ago I bought what I thought was Van Houten chocolate there. It wasn't bad chocolate, I've tasted worse, but it definitely wasn't Van Houten.

Since then I've been wary of buying well known brands of anything in Tachilek or even Mae Sai for fear they may be counterfeit.

Thanks for any information.

[BuddhaMind]

My friend, who smokes cigarettes, bought two different name brand cartons in Tachilek, and upon opening discovered that the cigs were filled with something tantamount to dirt and leaves. Unsmokable. My hunch is that anything in Tachilek that claims to be name brand, is not. Personally I'd stay away from the booze as well. It's kinda like that silly notion, you get what you pay for.

[theslime]

The duty free shop opposite Myanmar control is supposedly owned by military man and the spirits are ridgey didge.

[MisterTee]

Not being a heavy drinker myself I don't buy wine and liquor often; and when I do it's not the expensive stuff. I'm still mourning the demise of Mehkong. Of all the other cheap whiskeys nothing goes as well with manao and soda as good old Mehkong did. R.I.P.

But back to your topic; I've heard that the goverment place on the bridge was OK and could be trusted, more or less. Maybe some other posters could give more information.

You might also leave the market and venture into the town itself to see what's available there.

The main market may be one big tourist trap - Thais and others being ripped-off along with farangs.

The way things are progressing in Burma we might soon be adding "TIB" to the long familiar TIT.

Cheers.

[Mickeem]

I bought a quite decent bottle of Australian Shiraz for 150B last week. Was suprised at the quality. The spirits and wines being sold are imported from singapore,

I got my bottle from a shop on the main road, go to the roundabout opposite the bridge turn right go about 2 hundred yards on the left side and the shop is on the corner of the street where the 'Erawan Hotel' is. While you are walking on that side there is a new 'Minimart' with ABC stout 8% alc at 45B and Viet brewed Jap beer 6.4% at 12B a can!!

There is also the 'Duty Free' in the tourist market and a shop a few doors away (bit cheaper) the spirits are genuine.

Best deal is a 5 litre wine box.

[kalbo123]

I think it's all fake, does not matter where you buy it.I tried it several times, tastes different, label looks different, some labels are not being used by the liquor producers for years already. Old stock? I doubt it.

[Briggsy]

I think the big duty-free shop next to the stream near the immigration post may stock genuine wine and beer, etc. I have bought Australian wine there and it seemed real. I have also bought Bulgarian beer which seemed to hit the spot but since I have never been to Bulgaria I wouldn't know if it was real. No point in going anywhere else for alcohol.

[wigantojapan]

bought a genuine bottle of LAGAVULIN 3 weeks back yes and it was the singapore import

.I must be blind as i was expecting booze shops everywhere from reading past posts but i only found one.

basically after imigration i went down the stairs into the market turned left

hussled by viagra sellers kept on walking quickly

went as far as the market goes turned right and there is a shop there on the right hand side

good selection of various whiskies and even had torro wine from spain class drink

then i spotted the lagavulin

you cant even get this in scotland as it is a small distillery,well i should add you can but it sells out quickly

so i checked the bottle, the label, the seal for about 30 minutes and it seemed and felt good to me

was expensive but hey its my birthday soon and its the best whisky in the world at that price.

the girl in the shop who spoke good english did mention another shop but i didnt see any apart from a market stall type on the bridge just befoe you collected your paspport again on the burma side

[Briggsy]

Somehow you failed to see a huge duty free store next to the bridge on the left as you go in to Burma or perhaps that is what you are referring to.

I am a bit confused.

Check out the google map co-ordinates 20.444994, 99.879836

[rene123]

I heard from a fairly reliable source that the Burmese rum is as good as it gets and it's very cheap. I might try it out the next time I'm up there. I don't drink much myself, but I have friends who like a snort once in a while and it would be nice to offer them something. Apparently the British taught the Burmese how to make rum a long time ago and they didn't forget.

[CMHomeboy78]

I heard from a fairly reliable source that the Burmese rum is as good as it gets and it's very cheap. I might try it out the next time I'm up there. I don't drink much myself, but I have friends who like a snort once in a while and it would be nice to offer them something. Apparently the British taught the Burmese how to make rum a long time ago and they didn't forget.

Now that you mention the rum, I do remember it, and as you say, cheap and good.

But it was in Rangoon that I bought it about ten years ago. If I can find it in Tachilek the next time I'm there I'll buy it.

Thanks for the reminder.

[Semper]

Of all the other cheap whiskeys nothing goes as well with manao and soda

Have you tried Chin Shun (sp?) ?

[wigantojapan]

Somehow you failed to see a huge duty free store next to the bridge on the left as you go in to Burma or perhaps that is what you are referring to.

I am a bit confused.

Check out the google map co-ordinates 20.444994, 99.879836

yes looks like i did

i went downstairs on the right hand side going in and deliberately walked on the side you mentioned going out of burma back into thailand.

..nope never saw any duty free or thai policeman outside the duty free

anyway the shop i was in downstairs from the bridge ,end of market,turn righ walk 1 minute had genuine scottish whisky.even had a 18year old glenfiddich but the 16year old lagavulin is much better in my eyes.

i might have to take a shared van the next time i go so will look out for the huge duty free on the left side as you enter cheers

[Rancid]

Have tried smokes from there and a bottle of Jim Beam, both were revolting. In fact I knew of a Thai up in Fang that used to sell the Burmese copy whiskies as real, dangerous stuff if drink too much as apparently lots of ethanol. Things may have changed but thats how it used to be.

[kjhbigv]

"I think the big duty-free shop next to the stream near the immigration post may stock genuine wine and beer, etc."

I am not so sure, I used to buy alcohol (albeit spirits) and cigs there......BUT I am now convinced neither are real, having compared them side by side with stuff bought in 7-11.

I would also put money on ALL the alcohol and (definitely) all the cigs are fake in the market itself.

Just my opinion, but I could wrong.

Edited December 11, 2012 by kjhbigv

[HullyGully]

I have purchased wine and spirits from the duty free on the bridge and beleive it is genuine.

I have noticed carton of alcohol marked imported duty free from Singapore

So, I think the booze is okay...no idea about other products

FYI I have also purchased from the DUTY FREE shop from the shop on the second turning on the LHS..its a bit cheaper

[millwall_fan]

I've been doing visa runs to Tachilek for nearly 20 years and from the fags point of view only buy from the 'official' duty free shop on the Burmese side of the bridge on your way back into Thailand. For booze, there are a couple of reputable shops within the market, but again to be sure, the best place is the duty free shop on the bridge. The Whisky and wines are assuredly genuine. The Bulgarian beer, Boliarka, as an earlier poster states is an excellent black lager from Veliko Tarnovo well worth the 60Baht-ish a 500ml can, punt! and there are usually some amazing gems for sale in the whisky, spirit and beer departments. An Aladin's Cave of great drinks that have either pulled out of Thailand because of the corruption or never entered the market in the first place for the same reason. Happy drinking!!

[iainiain101]

Picked up some reasonable Port in Tachilek at the Duty Free on the bridge last week. In Chiang Mai the only option is usually Rimping at 1500 Baht a pop.

[hellodolly]

Somehow you failed to see a huge duty free store next to the bridge on the left as you go in to Burma or perhaps that is what you are referring to.

I am a bit confused.

Check out the google map co-ordinates 20.444994, 99.879836

yes looks like i did

i went downstairs on the right hand side going in and deliberately walked on the side you mentioned going out of burma back into thailand.

..nope never saw any duty free or thai policeman outside the duty free

anyway the shop i was in downstairs from the bridge ,end of market,turn righ walk 1 minute had genuine scottish whisky.even had a 18year old glenfiddich but the 16year old lagavulin is much better in my eyes.

i might have to take a shared van the next time i go so will look out for the huge duty free on the left side as you enter cheers

This is two posts by you pushing lagavulin. Neither post says it is the real deal or even tastes good. Any reason for leaving that little bit of information out.

[hellodolly]

I've been doing visa runs to Tachilek for nearly 20 years and from the fags point of view only buy from the 'official' duty free shop on the Burmese side of the bridge on your way back into Thailand. For booze, there are a couple of reputable shops within the market, but again to be sure, the best place is the duty free shop on the bridge. The Whisky and wines are assuredly genuine. The Bulgarian beer, Boliarka, as an earlier poster states is an excellent black lager from Veliko Tarnovo well worth the 60Baht-ish a 500ml can, punt! and there are usually some amazing gems for sale in the whisky, spirit and beer departments. An Aladin's Cave of great drinks that have either pulled out of Thailand because of the corruption or never entered the market in the first place for the same reason. Happy drinking!!

Are you saying Thailand is more corrupt than Burma?

[hellodolly]

Picked up some reasonable Port in Tachilek at the Duty Free on the bridge last week. In Chiang Mai the only option is usually Rimping at 1500 Baht a pop.

How much at the duty free shop assuming it is the same brand?

[MisterTee]

Of all the other cheap whiskeys nothing goes as well with manao and soda

Have you tried Chin Shun (sp?) ?

Thanks for the tip Semper, I'll try it.

But could you be a little more specific please.

Is it Thai or Chinese or something else?

Where is it available in Chiang Mai?

If it's more like Mehkong than what I've been drinking I'll be much obliged to you.

Bottoms up!

[CMHomeboy78]

Of all the other cheap whiskeys nothing goes as well with manao and soda

Have you tried Chin Shun (sp?) ?

Thanks for the tip Semper, I'll try it.

But could you be a little more specific please.

Is it Thai or Chinese or something else?

Where is it available in Chiang Mai?

If it's more like Mehkong than what I've been drinking I'll be much obliged to you.

Bottoms up!

Mehkong and the lore surrounding it would make a good topic in itself.

It was always a part of the scene here. Something taken for granted and not fully appreciated until it was lost.

It tasted a lot like Cruzan Gold Rum from St. Croix, but I was told it was rice spirit with molasses added after it was distilled.

I'd like to know how far it went back and who - foreigners or Thais - started making it.

It must have been some time before WWII because it was one of the things local Thais in and around Kanchanaburi gave the allied POW's when they had the chance.

Mixed with soda and the juice of a manao it was popularized by the Chiang Mai artists Theo Meier and Gert Barkowsky and their circle. Barkowsky claiming to have invented it and giving it his own last name. But he and Meier drank so many of them maybe they had the right to name it.

Anyway, the name "Barkowsky" slowly faded away, but the drink remained as popular as ever, going especially well with spicy hot Thai food.

What malign forces caused it to disappear?

I've never liked the other cheap Thai whiskies. To my taste they don't come close to Mehkong.

[wigantojapan]

Somehow you failed to see a huge duty free store next to the bridge on the left as you go in to Burma or perhaps that is what you are referring to.

I am a bit confused.

Check out the google map co-ordinates 20.444994, 99.879836

yes looks like i did

i went downstairs on the right hand side going in and deliberately walked on the side you mentioned going out of burma back into thailand.

..nope never saw any duty free or thai policeman outside the duty free

anyway the shop i was in downstairs from the bridge ,end of market,turn righ walk 1 minute had genuine scottish whisky.even had a 18year old glenfiddich but the 16year old lagavulin is much better in my eyes.

i might have to take a shared van the next time i go so will look out for the huge duty free on the left side as you enter cheers

This is two posts by you pushing lagavulin. Neither post says it is the real deal or even tastes good. Any reason for leaving that little bit of information out.

hahah dolly mixture up man if you know whisky and been of the red hair celtic variety that whisky runs through our blood no need to push lagavulin....keep to the jim beam if that is your knowledge...... had genuine scottish whiskey ....to me in my bilingual understanding means real

slainteva

[DaamNaam]

The duty free shop opposite Myanmar control is supposedly owned by military man and the spirits are ridgey didge.

This is true. No probs at all with liquor there. Stay well away from chocolate and cigarettes as stated already.

[wigantojapan]

bought a genuine bottle of LAGAVULIN 3 weeks back yes and it was the singapore import

.I must be blind as i was expecting booze shops everywhere from reading past posts but i only found one.

basically after imigration i went down the stairs into the market turned left

hussled by viagra sellers kept on walking quickly

went as far as the market goes turned right and there is a shop there on the right hand side

good selection of various whiskies and even had torro wine from spain class drink

then i spotted the lagavulin

you cant even get this in scotland as it is a small distillery,well i should add you can but it sells out quickly

so i checked the bottle, the label, the seal for about 30 minutes and it seemed and felt good to me

was expensive but hey its my birthday soon and its the best whisky in the world at that price.

the girl in the shop who spoke good english did mention another shop but i didnt see any apart from a market stall type on the bridge just befoe you collected your paspport again on the burma side

for Helly dolly to read again Slowly regarding real and taste hint GENUINE and BEST IN THE WORLD

[hellodolly]

bought a genuine bottle of LAGAVULIN 3 weeks back yes and it was the singapore import

.I must be blind as i was expecting booze shops everywhere from reading past posts but i only found one.

basically after imigration i went down the stairs into the market turned left

hussled by viagra sellers kept on walking quickly

went as far as the market goes turned right and there is a shop there on the right hand side

good selection of various whiskies and even had torro wine from spain class drink

then i spotted the lagavulin

you cant even get this in scotland as it is a small distillery,well i should add you can but it sells out quickly

so i checked the bottle, the label, the seal for about 30 minutes and it seemed and felt good to me

was expensive but hey its my birthday soon and its the best whisky in the world at that price.

the girl in the shop who spoke good english did mention another shop but i didnt see any apart from a market stall type on the bridge just befoe you collected your paspport again on the burma side

for Helly dolly to read again Slowly regarding real and taste hint GENUINE and BEST IN THE WORLD

Well not being a Scotsman I couldn't really reply to the quality of it. All I know was Johnny Walker and Cutty Sark were good enough for me. Bear in mind I drank it rather than sip it.

By the way you mentioned best whiskey in the world at that price. Which side of 300 baht was it on?

[jaideeguy]

We used to have a 'connection' that had connections and you could order whatever you wanted and I have carried cases of Australian 'penfoils' that was smuggled across the border at Maesai and it was genuine at 1/4th the CM prices.....lost that connection years ago unfortunately.

Speaking of rum, which is my favorite hard spirit....there is a new local rum that beats any imports. Called 'Uncle Tom R' and it's a clear rum with a hint of molasses and says on the label that it is distilled from sugarcane.....not the usual grain alcohol with fake coloring and flavorings. If you like rum, give it a try.........219thb/bottle at tesco and Big C.

An earlier post mentioned a Burma rum that I would love to try.....any sources in CM??

Edited December 12, 2012 by jaideeguy

[bikerjoy]

the burmese government shop at the bridge sells good quality wine and cigarettes!

[CMHomeboy78]

We used to have a 'connection' that had connections and you could order whatever you wanted and I have carried cases of Australian 'penfoils' that was smuggled across the border at Maesai and it was genuine at 1/4th the CM prices.....lost that connection years ago unfortunately.

Speaking of rum, which is my favorite hard spirit....there is a new local rum that beats any imports. Called 'Uncle Tom R' and it's a clear rum with a hint of molasses and says on the label that it is distilled from sugarcane.....not the usual grain alcohol with fake coloring and flavorings. If you like rum, give it a try.........219thb/bottle at tesco and Big C.

An earlier post mentioned a Burma rum that I would love to try.....any sources in CM??

The Burmese rum mentioned by rene123 and which I remember myself from about ten years ago in Rangoon was, like he says, good and cheap.

Unfortunately I forget the name.

In all probability it was a state enterprise product - the private sector doesn't exactly flourish in Burma.

And no, I don't think it's available in Chiang Mai. Although I may be wrong. But it probably is in Tachilek or Mae Sai. I'll try to find it on my next run up there.

Incidentally, I like your signature. I feel the same way myself.