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Baijiu

Baijiu (which translates to ‘white liquor’ or ‘clear spirit’) is China’s national drink and was first made 5,000 years ago. It is distilled from sorghum, wheat, rice, sticky rice or corn and uses solid-state fermentation without yeast, like most other production processes. What sets it apart? We’re glad you asked. It’s the use of a fermentation agent called Qu (pronounced “chew”) in a process that heats fermented grains in a special still until the liquid turns to steam. This is collected and allowed to cool, resulting in a colourless, yet fragrant spirit with an alcohol content that's typically 60% ABV or more.

You can distinguish baijiu by production methods, ingredients and other regional variations, but the Chinese government classifies baijiu linguistically by its aroma and its distinctive smell (simply nosing baijiu is an experience all in itself), which is highly valued in Chinese culinary culture. The current system of classification began in 1952 and was updated in August 1979 at the third nationwide baijiu competition. There are now four major baijiu categories.

The primary baijiu categories are ‘rice aroma’, a sweet and floral baijiu that originated in southern the Guangxi province and is made from rice (unsurprisingly); ‘light aroma’, a style common in the north which is fermented solely from sorghum and is usually delicate and dry; ‘strong aroma’, China's most popular baijiu which is produced with at least two different grains and fermented in mud pits to give it a complex flavour; and ‘sauce aroma’, which is the most expensive type of baijiu and is said to resemble soy sauce.

Traditionally, baijiu is served neat at room temperature and drunk with food rather than on its own (responsible, delicious and understandable given one variety has the soy sauce comparison going for it). However, it is becoming increasingly fashionable to infuse baijiu with fruit, medicinal herbs or spices, and cocktails are gaining popularity, too.

Due to its reputation for what could reasonably be termed a ‘challenging’ flavour profile, baijiu has become an appealing prospect for bartenders and drink connoisseurs alike in the West, where the fact that baijiu is a lesser known, lesser tasted, spirit, makes it something of a commodity. Seriously, try sitting in a ‘trendy’ cocktail bar in London and see if you can go an hour without hearing the word ‘baijiu’.

According to a report by International Wine & Spirits Group, there are around 14,000 distilleries producing baijiu. Thanks to China's huge population baijiu is the most widely consumed spirit in the world. Well, who knew? Apart from the Chinese, obviously. As you can imagine, the statistics are obscene. Baijiu accounts for almost a third of global spirit sales and it is estimated that about 5.5 billion litres were sold in 2016.

In 2017, our baijiu sales increased by 650% year-on-year. We think it’s fair to say that, in the West, baijiu has become an ever more appealing spirit of choice. Why not try some for yourself and see what all the fuss is about?

Best Seller

Ming River Sichuan Baijiu

70cl, 45%
Ming River

Ming River Sichuan Baijiu is produced at Luzhou Laojiao, the oldest operating distillery in China! It's made with red sorghum grain, and fermented in earthen pits with naturally harvested yeast…  More info

Ming River Sichuan Baijiu
3
$37.70
Best Seller

Baijiu Society - The Spirit of Society

70cl, 40%
Baijiu Society

An elegant baijiu from Baijiu Society, called The Spirit of Society. Generally made from a fermented (and then distilled) blend of grains, baijiu originally hails from China, it can be produced…  More info

Baijiu Society - The Spirit of Society
$36.68
Best Seller

Baijiu Society - The Spirit Of Life Peach

70cl, 40%
Baijiu Society

This intriguing offering from Baijiu Society combines floral Chinese baiju with the natural flavour of peach. Ought to make an exciting addition to a cocktail cabinet – try this in a twist on a…  More info

Baijiu Society - The Spirit Of Life Peach
$36.68

Kweichow Maotaizhen 5 Year Old Baijiu

50cl, 53%
Kweichow Maotaizhen

5 year old Baijiu from the Kweichow Maotaizhen brand - a well-known brand for those in the know when it comes to Baijiu. Very popular in China, but not exported all that much, Baijiu is made using…  More info

Kweichow Maotaizhen 5 Year Old Baijiu
$137.54

Kweichow Maotaizhen 9 Year Old Baijiu

50cl, 53%
Kweichow Maotaizhen

Popular in China, Baijiu is an intriguing Chinese spirit made from sorghum and wheat, which is served at room temperature and often alongside food. This is a 9 year old Baijiu from Kweichow…  More info

Kweichow Maotaizhen 9 Year Old Baijiu
1
$168.11

HKB Hong Kong Baijiu

70cl, 43%
HKB

Baijiu may be a spirit you've never heard of, but it's also the best-selling spirit in the world! Almost all of those sales are within its native China, but here we have a product that bridges the…  More info

HKB Hong Kong Baijiu

Xin Li He Zhu

50cl, 45%
Xin Li He

From the Xin Li He range comes a baijiu which has been infused with bamboo leaf, alongside a selection of herbs and a touch of sugar. The result is fairly fruit-forward, with a good kick of spice…  More info

Xin Li He Zhu

Xin Li He Fen

50cl, 48%
Xin Li He

This baijiu is produced by Fenjiu in China, and released as part of the Xin Li He range. It's an unaged baijiu, and boasts a flavour profile balancing tangy fruit notes with leafy, savoury elements.  More info

Xin Li He Fen

Fen Chiew 10 Year Old

50cl, 53%
Fen Chiew

This baijiu from the Fen Chiew range, produced by Fenjiu in China, is allowed to age for 10 years in ceramic vessels, before being bottled up at 53% ABV. It shows off an intriguing balance of honeyed…  More info

Fen Chiew 10 Year Old

Kweichow Maotaizhen 3 Year Old Baijiu

50cl, 53%
Kweichow Maotaizhen

This is a 3 year old Baijiu from the Kweichow Maotaizhen. Baijiu is a Chinese spirit with many, many years of history behind it, and is incredibly popular in China, though not a lot of it is…  More info

Kweichow Maotaizhen 3 Year Old Baijiu

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