Siam Sunrise a Vodka Based New Cocktail

Thailand's Novel Cocktail Out to Rival Singapore Sling

Feb 24, 2009

Thailand is a beautiful country with unbeatable beaches, mountains and endless expanses of deep green paddy-fields. Thais are gentle, generous and eager to please.

In a move to encourage a revival of tourism, Thailand has invented a new cocktail. The Siam sunrise is intended to rival other cocktails associated with countries and regions. The Singapore sling, mojitos from Cuba, Long Island mint tea and the copious volumes of Manhattans that are downed in New York every day.

Althought there is some confusion as to the name either Siam Sunrise or Siam Sunrays, has been chosen to suggest the exotic appeal of the country’s former name. That mysterious ‘golden land’ of long ago: a utopia in the turmoil of South East Asia.

Siam Sunrise is intended to give a flavour, a taste of the country and it excels here. Siam Sunrise is no weakling of a drink, it is robust and strapping just as Thais are themselves. The cocktail recently aired by the Tourism Authority of Thailand that has described it as "Thailand in a glass: the new punch in Thai Tourism". Well, come that as it may the drink stands up to any eponymous cocktail.

Even though tourist arrivals have shown a decrease over the last few months nearly 13 million visitors arrived in the country last year, and while the down turn is expected to last through to the end of 2009 travel companies are making great efforts to boost the market by tempting tourists to visit during the summer season of May to August or September.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand hopes that the cocktail will reverse the misfortunes of the last months of 2008 and the first months of 2009. It says that “Thailand’s new signature drink is based on very Thai ingredients and combines the spiciness of chillis, the sweetness of coconut liqueur and the tartness of limes and of lemon grass. Successful signature drinks are one way to fast-track holiday destinations on to the world tourism map.” Well that too remains to be seen.

So what is all the fuss about? What goes into Thailand’s new “Signature” drink? Just like the country’s famed cuisine Siam sunray is far from being bland:

Siam Sunrise Recipe

Shake the mixture then strain into a glass with ice and soda water. Once decanted into a tall glass it looks very refreshing indeed, its almost opelescent hue is reminiscent of ice on windows.

Siam Sunrise embodies the spirit of Thailand. The refreshing and uplifting qualities of fragrant Kaffir lime leaves and the aromatic tang of lemon grass reflect the fresh, vibrant nature of the people and country. A subtle hint of small prik kee nu chillies, super hot Thai chillies (an innovative alternative to peppermint) imparts a tingling sensation bu the drink is ice cool. While ginger warms the spirit. In a mixture of alchol they awaken the senses.

Siam Sunrise is already being offered as a welcome drink in many Thai hotels and it certainly is a very refreshing "welcome " after a sometimes a long and hot journey and a perfect introduction to the Land of Smiles.

So next time you find yourself in a bar ask for a Siam Sunrise cocktail and you will certainly be ae to feel as the true warmth and passion of Thailand and it's people.

The copyright of the article Siam Sunrise a Vodka Based New Cocktail in Cocktails is owned by John Howe. Permission to republish Siam Sunrise a Vodka Based New Cocktail in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.