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Rick Salasar on 
August 05, 2004
Culture | SangSom Buffalo
Ok this is supposedly a true story and I figure I had better document it before it is lost forever. It was told to me during a particularly nasty whiskey circle involving myself, another agent, and several Thai's (mainly guys). It was about 6am and we were on our third bottle of SangSom in some dusty karaoke 'hut' around Sukhumvit Soi 101. The owner's pet rooster had just finished belching out his morning racket and we were drunkenly joking about the prolonged effects of SangSom on the human body. A small transistor radio was belting out the latest Isaan country ballads. One of the older Thai guys decides to tell a story in broken English. It went something like this:
Simon: Long time ago, have one guy in my home town. This guy very stupid - bun ya on - and he like to drink every day. SangSom or Mekong whiskey.
Me: So daily whiskey circles?
Simon: Huh? So this guy and he friends, they drinking for 7 days but this guy he get bad pain in he stomach. Jeb mak loey! One of the guy he drink with he think not his friend and put some curse on his body.
Me: A curse? Whatchu talkin 'bout Willis?
Simon: He thinks someone put some buffalo skin in his drink and he eat. He think this is make his body weak and he can die easy from his enemy. He decide to go home and get some sleep. But cannot! He wake up and so much pain. He think there is only one thing he can do.
Me: Banana pancakes!
Simon: No! He take a very sharp knife from his mother use to cook. Yai mak mak. He take knife and cut out buffalo skin. But this guy so stupid he really cut out he liver. So this guy he die always believe he die from buffalo skin curse. Oh ho-ahh! Hahahaha!
The story ended with crazed laughter from me and the group. After it subsided we fell into a sort of quiet stupor as each of us considered the potential for SangSom induced psychotic behavior. Red Bull and SangSom is a potent mix. When you consider this whiskey is arguably some of the cheapest commercially available alcohol on Earth, it takes on a very sinister charm. I have heard it is not easy to import into most civilized countries due to a fluctuation in alcohol levels.
With surgery on our minds we all went our separate ways to find the sharpest knife in the house to remove our own personal vexes.
Posted by Lance Powers at August 5, 2004 03:49 PM
Comments
ok you got me...I dont usually comment but that is hilarious ;)
Sangsom is indeed gastly stuff!
Posted by: smurf at October 16, 2004 02:56 PM
sangsom is the best drink ever and apparently it contains strictine, mild methamphetamines and the stuff you use to preserve dead bodies. happy drinking!!
Posted by: monkey nuts at December 30, 2004 12:57 PM
Just what exactly is in Sang Som (Thip), no- one on the face of the planet seems to know. They claim (Mango) its made massively from industrial ethanol. HHHhhhmmmm, not sure, I reckon there could be some truth in that one.....!!!!!
But, people generally go on to extol the virtues of this fine and, Godly drink.
A fact you may, or may not have known. Sang Som (Thip), is the largest spirit distiller in the world, bar none.
Man, how much of it did we really drink when we were there, I hear every half sensible (apart from when in Thailand) person thinking to themselves.
The memories will live long in the minds and, so will the days of no hangovers just more Sang Som. Oh, and a beach.
See you all in paddy rice........... (paradise)
Posted by: redrus at January 11, 2005 07:54 PM
many afternoons and nights spent in the warmth and happy drunkeness of Sang Som rum. and, no fucking hangovers!!!! when i heard that Sang Som contained amphetamines, i started to wonder why at times i felt like i was slightly scattered and paranoid after binging on the stuff! experience it for yourself.
now, where can i get Sang Som in Australia?
love Sang Som long time
Nat
Posted by: nat at February 23, 2005 12:02 PM
i drank sang som solid for three weeks backpackin around thailand,,,,,belter stuff,up all night every night with a stiffy,could'nt sign my travelers cheques with the shakes though
Posted by: john at September 23, 2005 06:57 AM
