Ampov Distillery
Ampov is an emerging distillery located in Phnom Penh , Cambodia , specializing in the production of rum from pure sugarcane juice . The project is led by Ralph Meyer , a French entrepreneur from the IT sector, where he previously held technical management positions in logistics and production.
It was during humanitarian missions with his association that Ralph Meyer discovered Cambodian sugarcane cultivation and recognized its potential. Eager to change careers, he trained in the art of distillation, notably through an apprenticeship as a small-scale distiller in Lorraine and then as a distiller in Cognac . In 2020, he was ready to bring his project to fruition.
The Covid-19 pandemic, however, delayed the distillery's actual launch. A crucial meeting with Guillaume Ferroni ( Maison Ferroni ), who would become its advisor, was also necessary for the project to fully take shape.
After acquiring two stills — a 150-litre Holstein and a 600-litre Gilain — as well as fermentation tanks, a press and aging barrels, the adventure can finally begin.
Ampov sources its sugarcane exclusively from local producers , located less than 30 minutes from Phnom Penh. The canes, grown with little or no synthetic pesticides , are cut in the morning and pressed the same day , guaranteeing a fresh and expressive raw material.
After a fermentation of 4 to 5 days , the juice is subjected to a double distillation , giving a rum with a strength of 72%, then reduced for bottling or intended for aging.
In 2026, Ampov already offered white rums as well as oak-aged rums. The distillery's aged rums will require a little more patience before being revealed. Read less
