Page 35 - Thirst Magazine Issue 2 June 2017

MARINE

LUCCHINI

t 24, Marine wanted to move to the Chalong Bay Rum was established out of
other side of the world to distil spirits. a passion for the production and science of
Recently graduated from university spirits making. The production process follows
with little working experience, her the traditional French technique that is used in
Aparents tried to convince her to gain Caribbean rum-making, and is distilled in an
a few more years experience before starting this imported copper still designed by an 80 year old
adventure. “Why wait when you can do it now?” French Armagnac still maker who flew to the
she thought, so she packed and went to Thailand island and built it specifically for the distillery.
with her partner, Thibault Spithakis. With few resources in a foreign land and
Six years later in 2016, the distiller created needing help, Marine went on the search for
Chalong Bay Rum, a pure sugar cane rum, people who would believe in her project and
naming the spirit after the beach near where the willing to go on this crazy adventure with her
distillery sits (“chalong” also means “celebration” and Thibault. The first person who joined the
in Thai). The agricole-style rum has won several project was by chance. While getting a ride
awards since 2012. to pick up their car, Thibault mentioned to
WHY PHUKET? the driver that they were looking for people
to join their project. Coincidentally, the
“Phuket holds a special place in my heart and driver’s friend who was following happened
I can’t tell you how grateful I am to the people to be looking for a project to join. And that’s
on the island after the tsunami in 2004. So many how it started. Since that person, Pang, came
people died but my family survived. I believe on board, she’s now one of the partners in
there is a reason for that.” So when Marine and Chalong Bay. As Marine says “What we do is
Thibault decided they wanted to start a business so much about people and I believe that many
together, the location was never a question. things happen for a reason.”

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