The Mongolian Symbol

Mongolia’s most famous son Genghis Khan – and his descendants – may have created the largest contiguous empire in world history and reigned supreme along the Silk Road, but the worldly power, albeit once upon a time a superpower, was all but long gone. By way of culture and religion, the legacy of Zanabazar may well have surpassed those of Genghis Khan. What Genghis Khan forged by sabres and swords, Zanabazar achieved through scripts and symbols. In a distinctly northern Asian context, Jesus seems to have bettered Caesar.
Born Eshidorji, Öndör Gegeen Zanabazar (literally: High Saint Zanabazar) would go on to become the Jebtsundamba Khutuktu – the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism in Outer Mongolia. At the tender age of 5, he was recognised by the Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama, respectively the second highest and highest ranking lama in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. In broad strokes, what is known as Caesaropapism in Europe took the form of Buddhist theocratic autocracy in East Asia and High Asia, alternatively known as the Roof of the World.
During his lifetime, Zanabazar not only founded the Shankh Monastery, one of the oldest and prominent monasteries in Mongolia, but also championed development in arts and sciences as well as philosophy and theology, hence winning the sobriquet the “Michelangelo of Asia”. One of his major contributions and lasting legacies has to be the Soyombo alphabet and the Soyombo symbol.
A nation in the Asian Steppe whose boundaries are not pre-determined by natural geography but by power, Mongolia’s national borders have expanded and shrunk in a way that would be incomprehensible to island nations such as Japan and the UK. The constant changes are both the reason and the result of cultural exchanges. No language in the world has adopted – or was made to adopt – as many scripts and alphabets as Mongolian, ranging from Traditional, Galik, Oirat to Buryat alphabets, to Phags-pa, Soyombo, Horizontal, Latin (from 1931 to 1941) and now Cyrillic scripts (since 1941).
Created by Zanabazar in 1686, the Soyombo has since served as the national symbol of Mongolia, as well as other closely related nations such as the Republic of Buryatia and the Agin-Buryat Okrug, respectively a federal subject and an administrative division of Russia; it appears in Mongolia’s flag, coast of arms and armed forces. For readers who are interested in Buddhism or East Asian history, Mongolia is no doubt the roundabout of East Asia; for drinkers, the good news is that Mongolia is now producing some world-beating vodka gems, waiting to be discovered and savoured. Remaining loyal to traditions, they still bear the names of Soyombo and Genghis Khan.

Soyombo
Made with Mongolian wheat from Selenge Province and water from the Bogd Khan Mountain, both from central-northern Mongolia. Distilled 6 times and filtered continuously for 5 days. Meticulously clean and entirely transparent, the nose is refreshingly pure, effusing hints of aniseed, crystal sugar, wet stone and wild flowers. The mouthfeel is particularly smooth, with excellent depth and length, remarkable purity and good consistency. Bottled at 40%, the fresh entry continues through a lively mid-palate, leading to a sweetish finish. Excellent on its own, it can also be used in mixed drinks. Winner of Monde Selection 2008 Grand Gold Medal and World Beverage Competition 2009 Gold Medal.

Chinggis Khan
Made with Mongolian wheat from Selenge Province and water from the Bogd Khan Mountain, both from central-northern Mongolia. Distilled 6 times and filtered continuously for 10 days. Immaculately clean and faultlessly transparent, the nose is alluringly pristine, emanating traces of orchard fruits, aniseed, springwater and lavender. The mouthfeel is distinctly creamy, with extraordinary depth and length, crystal-clear purity and refined balance. Bottled at 40%, the clean entry persists through a sweetish mid-palate, leading to a lingering finish. To fully appreciate this fine vodka, it is best served neat. Winner of Vodka Masters Awards 2011 Gold Medal. Jacky I.F. Cheong

To explore the finest Mongolian vodkas, contact Ms Bolormaa Ganbold of PREM1ER Hospitality Management and PREM1ER BAR & LOUNGE; W: www.premiergroupworld.com; E: bolor@premiergroupworld.com; T: +853 6233 5262; A: 86, Rua Direita Carlos Eugénio, Old Taipa Village.

Jacky I.F. Cheong is a legal professional by day and columnist by night. Having spent his formative years in Britain,
France, and Germany, he regularly writes about wine, fine arts, classical music, and politics in several languages