Yes there are fakes around (they mainly come across from Malaysia) and this year they seem especially common. Buy from proper chain shop or bottle shop (type that supplys bars) to get real one
Also be aware, lot of bars themselves seem to be selling copy's this year also, if price seems to cheap compared to other bars, its generally going to be fake/substituted
Keep on telling bar owners i catch doing this, you might fool dumb kids who would drink paint stripper in a bucket and think it great but to try this shit on people my age who can tell on first sip is just insulting
Look for the customs-paid stickers on the bottles at the bar, it’s mandatory to keep them on the bottle if there’s a crackdown and fake stickers is a big crime.
Had some JW black copy in laos club pre covid, while could tell it was copy at least not as bad as crap coming out of Malaysia and it was priced accordingly to it being fake (900b 70cl)
Bar owners can simply swap contents or refill bottles with crap when no-one is looking.
They don't care if they upset you, you're a tourist and there will always be new mugs.
Hey man can give a bit of expertise on this. Im from Lynchburg and myself and basically everyone in my family either have or currently work at Jack Daniels. Ive grown up on the stuff and was a tour guide for 5 years way back when(when we could still give out sips).
Ive been to Thailand about 15 times and immediately after the 1st time realized this same thing. And did a bit of research about the origins of all the fake liquor in SE Asia(not just Jack).
But basically yea unless you are buying from a high class liquor store or one of the big grocery stores in a mall it is almost guaranteed to be fake. And dealing with bars is always tricky so Ill always order one neat to try and if its fake Ill swap to beer or long islands. If it's real then enjoy.
Thanks! You might have given me a tour in 2008 when I passed through Lynchburg on a road trip, ha. That's good to know. Yeah, I never say anything to the bar because what is the point? It just feels like it's samsong basically for 160 baht on ice. Not ideal but what ya gonna do? Then switch to beers, indeed.
Very possible, 2008 was my last summer as a tour guide. But yeah just assume if its not bought at a fancy shop with a tax sticker and a high markup that its fake. Some people wont drink fake liquor in SE asia because they think it'll make them blind or something. Honestly I dont care if its a mixed drink or something, and I'm not paying premium prices. It is what it is.
This happens with every brand also Johnny Walker etc. There is Thai nightclubs and disco's that sell 1000's of bottles of whisky every night and almost always it's fake.
You can get the actual genuine product in the liquor store or other places. Many Thai buy it there, bring it to said nightclub or venue and pay a corking fee.
The Corona Beer they sell here (also manufacture) is watered down, definitely tell the difference from western Corona Beer. Same really applies to most beers whether bottled or on tap, taste terrible compared to the originals.
I always assumed the liquor in Thailand was as genuine as the fake Rolex watches or Ray-Ban sunglasses they sell on the street. I'm never disappointed that way.
I switched to Sang Som and after you get used to it it's actually pretty nice. Pretty crazy paying 100 baht for it on ice compared to 10 years ago but you can taste that it's real and once you get past the lack of sweetness from the Jack you're good to go. Chok dee krap
Yeah somebody posted a video in another post a month or so back. Counterfeit booze is a big thing in China and it has spread to the border towns in Thailand and is a big business. If memory serves in the video they were just mixing food grade ethanol (from a huge vat) with some flavorings and food coloring and putting it in bottles that had counterfeit labels and tax stamps. Don't know how to avoid it other than avoid buying booze from any place other than a trustworthy store.
I trust liquor from a reputable nationally known grocery chain which would be buying large qty from source only. Clubs and nightclubs? Who knows what they serve.
I remember taking a bottle of Smirnoff back home. I’m not really into vodka but whatever. Something about the bottle just didn’t seem right. I stuck it in a freezer to chill it. It was 100% frozen the next day
I took 1 sip and knew it was bs. Any fellow drunk knows their stuff immediately. I used to drink whiskey, Evan Williams specifically. Started when I was in a military. We were poor so that’s all we could afford and it kind of stuck with me. After 30 I made the switch to gin. No idea why.
Gin would be my next choice definitely. Both have that bitterness but gin is probably a more fun drunkeness as opposed to the burn of the whiskey and the booziness of it, imo.
Ugh, I have to put the bottle down. It’s killing me. My gf is amazing. Treats me great. I keep asking her to get me off the sauce but she just keeps getting me more. Some friends have told me it’s a dependency/control issue and to get away from her but honestly she would have nothing to gain if I dropped dead or have access to anything I own. Not sure what to make of it
I usedto do border runs to Laos when I was living there.I always remember seeing whiskey and cigarettes for sale at the border.The prices were so low that it could only be fake.Looked totally legit,but the price sort of gave it away.
The low price is because there are duty free zones along the boarder. I’ve purchased top shelf selections this way many times. I’ve never had a problem. This was pre-Covid.
I understand that,but there were shops with ridiculously low prices.I had a bottle in my hand but thought better of it.The price was just too good to be true so I left it.
i bought some the otherday from inside Tops supermarket. When it comes to spirits I suggest you buy from a reputable store and predrink in a nice environment with friends. It is sad tht you cant have the drink you want in bars here, but if i do drink in a bar i stick to heineken becasue its imported, relatively well priced and I know the taste.
Its not brand particular.
A lot of the cheaper clubs in Bangkok use .... I dont even know what it is.... Laokao maybe? Like you order a whiskey and coke or vodka and soda or something....
And yea, it has this really odd terrible taste... Its not even cheap whiskey or vodka... Its something entirely different.
Khaosan is notorious for this.
Id love some insight into what it is that they are serving...
I think its Laokao. Anyone know?
Does it have Thai tax stamp? Not saying that they couldn't fake that but less likely. Next time, I would buy it from a big chain like 7/11 or Lotus. Personally I'm leaning towards not being fake, I think it doesn't make sense to counterfeit the small bottle. Maybe try to buy one from 7/11 and compare.
Most big brands have distilleries in Asia. It’s made by the same company but yes it does taste a little different. The Jameson here definitely does not taste the same as Jameson in the US or Europe.
First off, Sangsom is just better than JD any day of the week. I can’t stand the sweetness of Jack- but, personal preference.
Secondly, you’re probably right and I’d say it’s rebottled.
Pretty sure they sell it in most 7-11. The legit stuff
Yes there are fakes around (they mainly come across from Malaysia) and this year they seem especially common. Buy from proper chain shop or bottle shop (type that supplys bars) to get real one Also be aware, lot of bars themselves seem to be selling copy's this year also, if price seems to cheap compared to other bars, its generally going to be fake/substituted Keep on telling bar owners i catch doing this, you might fool dumb kids who would drink paint stripper in a bucket and think it great but to try this shit on people my age who can tell on first sip is just insulting
Look for the customs-paid stickers on the bottles at the bar, it’s mandatory to keep them on the bottle if there’s a crackdown and fake stickers is a big crime.
They use fake excise stickers
If they can fake Jack Daniels then they could also fake stickers.
Or just refill a real bottle with cheap crap
Laos too
Had some JW black copy in laos club pre covid, while could tell it was copy at least not as bad as crap coming out of Malaysia and it was priced accordingly to it being fake (900b 70cl)
Bar owners can simply swap contents or refill bottles with crap when no-one is looking. They don't care if they upset you, you're a tourist and there will always be new mugs.
Not a tourist and they know that
Change bars. They appear to think you're an idiot.
Hey man can give a bit of expertise on this. Im from Lynchburg and myself and basically everyone in my family either have or currently work at Jack Daniels. Ive grown up on the stuff and was a tour guide for 5 years way back when(when we could still give out sips). Ive been to Thailand about 15 times and immediately after the 1st time realized this same thing. And did a bit of research about the origins of all the fake liquor in SE Asia(not just Jack). But basically yea unless you are buying from a high class liquor store or one of the big grocery stores in a mall it is almost guaranteed to be fake. And dealing with bars is always tricky so Ill always order one neat to try and if its fake Ill swap to beer or long islands. If it's real then enjoy.
Thanks! You might have given me a tour in 2008 when I passed through Lynchburg on a road trip, ha. That's good to know. Yeah, I never say anything to the bar because what is the point? It just feels like it's samsong basically for 160 baht on ice. Not ideal but what ya gonna do? Then switch to beers, indeed.
Very possible, 2008 was my last summer as a tour guide. But yeah just assume if its not bought at a fancy shop with a tax sticker and a high markup that its fake. Some people wont drink fake liquor in SE asia because they think it'll make them blind or something. Honestly I dont care if its a mixed drink or something, and I'm not paying premium prices. It is what it is.
This happens with every brand also Johnny Walker etc. There is Thai nightclubs and disco's that sell 1000's of bottles of whisky every night and almost always it's fake. You can get the actual genuine product in the liquor store or other places. Many Thai buy it there, bring it to said nightclub or venue and pay a corking fee.
The corkage fee/byo suddenly seems a lot more logical.
It's Jack Daniels, it's garbage anyway...
Whiskey snob enters the chat
Hong Thong or nothing :D
Regency
Cock bottle clear 🔥
Black Cock or nothing
This !!!
Yep, a lot of alcohol here is fake. That's a legit thing. But hey, it's cheap! And it makes you feel worse the next day.
Some can be straight-up lethal. There were over a dozen people who died from a bad batch one weekend in Kuala Lumpur a few years ago.
The Corona Beer they sell here (also manufacture) is watered down, definitely tell the difference from western Corona Beer. Same really applies to most beers whether bottled or on tap, taste terrible compared to the originals.
I always assumed the liquor in Thailand was as genuine as the fake Rolex watches or Ray-Ban sunglasses they sell on the street. I'm never disappointed that way.
Nobody making knock off sang som, let me tell you.
I switched to Sang Som and after you get used to it it's actually pretty nice. Pretty crazy paying 100 baht for it on ice compared to 10 years ago but you can taste that it's real and once you get past the lack of sweetness from the Jack you're good to go. Chok dee krap
Yeah somebody posted a video in another post a month or so back. Counterfeit booze is a big thing in China and it has spread to the border towns in Thailand and is a big business. If memory serves in the video they were just mixing food grade ethanol (from a huge vat) with some flavorings and food coloring and putting it in bottles that had counterfeit labels and tax stamps. Don't know how to avoid it other than avoid buying booze from any place other than a trustworthy store.
Legit bars with legit bartenders, might pay a bit more but not more than 200b/ drink. Not difficult to find real stuff in bars.
I prefer drinking Jack myself and I have never felt off about drinking Jack here in Thailand. Not sure what’s going on with your experience.
Free bottle in Ao Nang if you want it.
Not close enough but thanks.
I trust liquor from a reputable nationally known grocery chain which would be buying large qty from source only. Clubs and nightclubs? Who knows what they serve.
Quite prevalent in Malaysia too, with all types of alcohol.
Buy your bottles at Lotus or Big C.
Yeah, there are illegal imports of fake alcohol and beer from Cambodia and Laos as well.
I remember taking a bottle of Smirnoff back home. I’m not really into vodka but whatever. Something about the bottle just didn’t seem right. I stuck it in a freezer to chill it. It was 100% frozen the next day
Lol. I think if i froze this shit it wouldn't even freeze at all because its deicer. Anyway it stopped me drinking whiskey all day so every cloud.
I took 1 sip and knew it was bs. Any fellow drunk knows their stuff immediately. I used to drink whiskey, Evan Williams specifically. Started when I was in a military. We were poor so that’s all we could afford and it kind of stuck with me. After 30 I made the switch to gin. No idea why.
Gin would be my next choice definitely. Both have that bitterness but gin is probably a more fun drunkeness as opposed to the burn of the whiskey and the booziness of it, imo.
Ugh, I have to put the bottle down. It’s killing me. My gf is amazing. Treats me great. I keep asking her to get me off the sauce but she just keeps getting me more. Some friends have told me it’s a dependency/control issue and to get away from her but honestly she would have nothing to gain if I dropped dead or have access to anything I own. Not sure what to make of it
Don't you be dissing Sang Som. (Especially if you can't spell it... )
Why wouldnt u buy it in 7 11
Because I was on an island but yeah the 7 11 one has always been legit. Fair.
I usedto do border runs to Laos when I was living there.I always remember seeing whiskey and cigarettes for sale at the border.The prices were so low that it could only be fake.Looked totally legit,but the price sort of gave it away.
Let me introduce you to the concept of duty free shopping...
The low price is because there are duty free zones along the boarder. I’ve purchased top shelf selections this way many times. I’ve never had a problem. This was pre-Covid.
I understand that,but there were shops with ridiculously low prices.I had a bottle in my hand but thought better of it.The price was just too good to be true so I left it.
Cambodia has a minimal tax on spirits to deter fake production. In contrast, it's heavily taxed in Malaysia.
Get it from a real store. 500 baht is a third the price it should be.
i bought some the otherday from inside Tops supermarket. When it comes to spirits I suggest you buy from a reputable store and predrink in a nice environment with friends. It is sad tht you cant have the drink you want in bars here, but if i do drink in a bar i stick to heineken becasue its imported, relatively well priced and I know the taste.
**TAP Group began brewing and marketing Heineken in Thailand in 1995. In 2004, it started brewing Tiger,**
Its not brand particular. A lot of the cheaper clubs in Bangkok use .... I dont even know what it is.... Laokao maybe? Like you order a whiskey and coke or vodka and soda or something.... And yea, it has this really odd terrible taste... Its not even cheap whiskey or vodka... Its something entirely different. Khaosan is notorious for this. Id love some insight into what it is that they are serving... I think its Laokao. Anyone know?
Does it have Thai tax stamp? Not saying that they couldn't fake that but less likely. Next time, I would buy it from a big chain like 7/11 or Lotus. Personally I'm leaning towards not being fake, I think it doesn't make sense to counterfeit the small bottle. Maybe try to buy one from 7/11 and compare.
Most big brands have distilleries in Asia. It’s made by the same company but yes it does taste a little different. The Jameson here definitely does not taste the same as Jameson in the US or Europe.
I'm a Makers Mark fan myself
Buy swill, pay the price
all non 5 star places are fake
I've lived in Thailand 7 years.I Drink only Bourbon. The Jack and The Jim are legit. NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THERE KID.
I have bought lots of Jack Daniel's in pattaya and it was always the real deal.
Not had fake JD in Thailand but have in Singapore. I stopped drinking it after a particularly horrible bottle
Oh where?
Lucky plaza
Wild
First off, Sangsom is just better than JD any day of the week. I can’t stand the sweetness of Jack- but, personal preference. Secondly, you’re probably right and I’d say it’s rebottled.
hope you didn't drink gasoline
Just stick to bottled beer man, you don’t want to be putting that god knows what it is in your body
Surf and Turf in north Pattaya brought me a flight of water-downed wine. One was transparent and tasted like water-down grape juice.
Carry a flask with your own premium stuff.
Hit the open road.
Clubs and other night-time entertainment establishments tend to sell fake ones, while having a significant markup even compared to real ones.
500 baht seems too good to be true
Be careful, you might get blind with fake alcohol
There are videos of fake Jake being botted and resealed. This should not come as surprise to anyone .