Spirit Style: Baijiu

Producer: Ming River

Country: China

Taste: Aroma : Begins with green apple peel and gives way to a mélange of tropical fruit—papaya, guava and melon—rounded out by a hint of ripe cheese. Flavor : Spicy pink peppercorn, with pineapple, anise and a bright and briny middle note. A long, mellow and a slightly earthy finish.

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Additional Info: 

What is Baijiu? Baijiu is a traditional Chinese liquor that's distilled from grains and is often described as China's national drink. It's known for being very strong, with an alcohol content that can exceed 50% ABV

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Ming River is the original Sichuan baijiu. Using traditional methods passed down from master to apprentice for over twenty generations, Ming River is an authentic and uncompromising Chinese grain spirit. The journey to Ming River baijiu begins in the heart of Sichuan at China’s oldest operating distillery, Luzhou Laojiao.  Each batch of baijiu is fermented in earthen pits with locally harvested yeast cultures for two months before it is distilled in a traditional Chinese pot still.  The spirit then ages for up to two years before our master blender balances the baijiu to achieve Ming River’s exceptional flavor. The Luzhou Laojiao baijiu distillery invented the “Sichuan baijiu” style. Started in 1573, and using techniques inspired by a local tradition that spans two thousand years, it is the oldest continually operating distillery in China.

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We met in China and fell in love with baijiu. It offered us a world of unexplored flavors and experiences. It changed how we thought about drinks. We had to spread the word. People told us baijiu could never succeed internationally. We ignored them. The world beyond China knows almost nothing about baijiu, and we have devoted ourselves to correcting that. Derek penned the first English-language book about baijiu. Bill, Matthias and Simon opened the world’s first bar dedicated to baijiu. With Ming River we’re introducing the world to an authentic expression of Sichuan baijiu that reflects over twenty generations of skill and a true taste of the region. We have partnered with China’s oldest continuously operating distillery, Luzhou Laojiao, to bring you the original Sichuan baijiu. Together we’ve taken a tradition that began in the Ming Dynasty and created a shared future.