Song Cai
In Vietnam, specifically in the Hanoi region, lies the production reality of Song Cai, the first Vietnamese distillery dedicated to gin production. In fact, it is the first estate of its kind 100% Vietnamese-owned, established in 2018 with the aim of capturing the flavor of the territory by producing gin and other spirits. The founder of the distillery is Vietnamese-American Daniel Nguyen, a visionary of sustainable agriculture who aims to enhance Vietnam in the world and the local rural fabric with his gins and spirits. To support this intent, the botanicals used in the preparation of the spirits are sourced from Vietnamese growers at fair prices, and Daniel invests heavily in reforestation programs, protection of local plant species, and educational assistance for native communities, also funding agricultural equipment and facilities. The name “Song Cai” means “mother river,” a tribute to the cradle of Vietnamese civilization.
The products of Song Cai are crafted from a careful selection of Vietnamese botanicals from long-established cultivations by local families of the H’mong, Red Dzao, and Kinh populations. In particular, in the crafting of Vietnam's very first Dry Gin, Daniel Nguyen used 16 different local ingredients, including green turmeric, jungle pepper, black cardamom, licorice, and pomelo. Meanwhile, in the London Dry Gin ‘Floral’, various local flowers can be found such as dragon claw flower, ylang-ylang, jasmine, magnolia, and pomelo flower. The distillation process takes place in copper pot stills heated by direct fire according to the most labor-intensive and qualitative discontinuous method.
From this sustainable and intricate process, the spirits of Song Cai originate, soft and complex distillates that encapsulate the essence of the Vietnamese territory. The gins are the core of the production, and the bottles are packaged with colorful labels inspired by Hang Trong, an ancient painting style from Vietnam.
In Vietnam, specifically in the Hanoi region, lies the production reality of Song Cai, the first Vietnamese distillery dedicated to gin production. In fact, it is the first estate of its kind 100% Vietnamese-owned, established in 2018 with the aim of capturing the flavor of the territory by producing gin and other spirits. The founder of the distillery is Vietnamese-American Daniel Nguyen, a visionary of sustainable agriculture who aims to enhance Vietnam in the world and the local rural fabric with his gins and spirits. To support this intent, the botanicals used in the preparation of the spirits are sourced from Vietnamese growers at fair prices, and Daniel invests heavily in reforestation programs, protection of local plant species, and educational assistance for native communities, also funding agricultural equipment and facilities. The name “Song Cai” means “mother river,” a tribute to the cradle of Vietnamese civilization.
The products of Song Cai are crafted from a careful selection of Vietnamese botanicals from long-established cultivations by local families of the H’mong, Red Dzao, and Kinh populations. In particular, in the crafting of Vietnam's very first Dry Gin, Daniel Nguyen used 16 different local ingredients, including green turmeric, jungle pepper, black cardamom, licorice, and pomelo. Meanwhile, in the London Dry Gin ‘Floral’, various local flowers can be found such as dragon claw flower, ylang-ylang, jasmine, magnolia, and pomelo flower. The distillation process takes place in copper pot stills heated by direct fire according to the most labor-intensive and qualitative discontinuous method.
From this sustainable and intricate process, the spirits of Song Cai originate, soft and complex distillates that encapsulate the essence of the Vietnamese territory. The gins are the core of the production, and the bottles are packaged with colorful labels inspired by Hang Trong, an ancient painting style from Vietnam.
