VIENTIANE -- In landlocked Laos, in the heart of Southeast Asia, a Japanese entrepreneur has spent nearly two decades perfecting the Laodi brand of rum.
Bold sugarcane flavor wins international recognition, wider market for Laodi

Laodi rum has won international plaudits, thanks in part to its commitment to the "agricole" method of production, which uses pure sugarcane instead of molasses. (Photos by Kosuke Inoue)
VIENTIANE -- In landlocked Laos, in the heart of Southeast Asia, a Japanese entrepreneur has spent nearly two decades perfecting the Laodi brand of rum.