The claim that
Kai Vodka is the first lychee vodka might be
a bit of a stretch, but the new line from Hawaii businessman and restaurateur Marcus Bender is the first one that is rice-based. Kai Vodka is made in Vietnam and comes in both standard and lychee flavors. The rice-based beverage is not sake because although both are rice based, sake is brewed, while vodka is distilled. According to
an article in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, Kai vodkas is made from Yellow Blossom Rice which is grown only in the Red River Delta of northern Vietnam. It is pot-distilled and transferred to a column-still where it is redistilled twice. The 750 milliliter bottle is under $30 and the brand is making its debut in Hawaii in June before extending out to the rest of the United States.
