Good morning Vietnam!
It would be odd to experience snow in Vietnam, but snow has arrived in Ireland, and it certainly wouldn’t be a rare occurrence at Diageo’s Scottish whisky distilleries who provide the main base ingredient for this Vietnamese bottling.
My blog on a Brazilian Whisky of the same name & similar composition here uncovered this Vietnamese Wall Street offering. Fortunately by an opportunistic twist of fate my South East Asian correspondent obligingly brought back a half bottle for me to sample.
Much appreciated Mr G!
Just like the Brazilian Wall St, the Vietnamese Wall St uses imported Scotch whisky mixed with locally produced spirits to obtain an expression that has both the allure of premium quality whisky – yet at an affordable price.
This strategy means Diageo can get some of it’s product into the country but lessens the high import tax which would make the price prohibitive for the mass market. It also retains some degree of aspiration for a superior foreign product – regardless if it’s actually superior or not – yet mixed with locally made distillate – probably of the rice variety.
There is still a culture of home made beer & spirits making in Vietnam as highlighted in a report here. This ‘traditional’ rice based distillate is facing the threat of growing globalisation as younger folks aspire to more recognisable brands – as in this Wall St blended spirit.
I couldn’t find anything on the internet as regards what constitutes a Vietnamese whisky or not – so my assumption is the situation is very much like how Ireland & Scotland would have been before the coming of definition rules & codes of practice laws.
Certainly makes it exciting!
And no – I had no fears in sampling this bottle – Diageo have given it their seal of approval after all.
So what did I find?
Well to begin with I found the bottle design – a neat little WS logo with clear & simple information labels back & front – visually attractive. Those labels also announced caramel was added – something missing on many Irish & Scottish bottles. There was also no tamper-proof plastic cap to hamper me pouring the spirit into a suitable glass.
On the nose I found a soft warm muted caramel aroma which was inviting.
Initially a rather soft mouth feel morphed into a straight – but not unpleasant – alcoholic kick somewhat devoid of any real character or flavour before it faded away to a short ending.
Overall I found it a rather simple easy drinking clear & crisp strong alcoholic beverage with caramel being the only hint of taste.
In a back to back with the Brazilian Wall St I actually preferred the no nonsense honest approach of the Vietnamese Wall St.
The irony for both is there is absolutely no bourbon influence in either expression.
Aspirations, expectations & associations over and above actual reality seem to be a marketing ploy in both countries.
Sláinte.
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 
its very good whiskey . I drink every day from past 4 years ..
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Slàinte.
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Was looking for something drinkable at Vinmart and asked for the price on this bottle: about $6 USD. I thought, oh boy, my liver is going to wave one long goodbye. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality; as mentioned in the review there’s not much complexity, only caramel notes and a good, pleasant mouthfeel. No burnt-match aftertaste or anything, but will definitely take it easy until I can measure the consequences of it tomorrow morning. All in all a good and inexpensive discovery in a well-designed bottle.
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Certainly is a cheap & cheerful drink – albeit lacking a little flavour.
My own bottle didn’t last long & I suffered no ill effects.
Always drink in moderation – whatever the bottle of choice.
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