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From water hyacinth to award-winning gin: The unlikely story of Cambodia’s Mawsim

Asia-Pacific 1 source 1 country 🔦 Under-reported 18m ago

A Cambodian gin brand called Mawsim has won the World's Best Flavoured Gin award, according to reports. The distillery is based in Phnom Penh and produces gin using fresh Cambodian botanicals.

The origin of the business traces back to an unexpected source. A Japanese recycling company had initiated a bioethanol project in the Tonle Sap region of Cambodia, but the venture ultimately failed. This abandoned project eventually led to the establishment of the Mawsim micro-distillery.

Rather than letting the failed initiative fade away, the operation pivoted toward gin production, leveraging locally sourced botanical ingredients available in Cambodia. The transition from a stalled industrial project to a craft spirits producer represents an unconventional business trajectory.

The brand's recognition at an international spirits competition demonstrates that the pivot was commercially successful, establishing Mawsim as a competitive player in the global gin market despite its humble and unlikely beginnings.

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Read the full story at the source Channel NewsAsia · SG