Have you ever had Baijiu? If you haven’t, you have not tasted the world’s best-selling liquor yet. It is mostly sold in China and with the country being the most-populated, there is no mystery to solve about Baijiu’s best-selling status.
Baijiu means ‘white liquor’ and is bottled at 40% to 65% ABV. It is distilled from fermented grains like sorghum, rice, wheat, barley and others.
While alcohol has been a part of Chinese history since well before the recorded time, Baijiu emerged between the 1300s – 1600s. The Chinese used their wine fermenting skills to create this new liquor which was referred to as ‘burnt wine’. As Baijiu gained popularity, its production process adapted to different regions and traditions.
In 1949, China emerged as a one-party state – People’s Republic of China, and the first regional distillery was established to produce the popular spirit. Soon after, many distilleries were set up all over the country where different original recipes were used to mass produce the liquor.
Today, Chinese distilleries are exporting the liquor across the globe. As Baijiu is being introduced to more people, the liquor is making a name for itself. Traditionally, it was poured in a cup and consumed neat at room temperature during meals. These days, popular cocktail bars across the globe have created cocktail recipes with the liquor as the base spirit.
Baijiu is originally classified by its aroma. There are many classifications, with the 4 listed below being the most popular
- Strong aroma – It is continuously fermented in mud pits and has a gentle lasting aroma.
- Light aroma – It is fermented in a stone vessel and has a dry and delicate aroma.
- Sauce aroma – It is repeatedly fermented in stone brick pits and has a bold aroma.
- Rice aroma – It is fermented in jars and is slightly aromatic.
Baijiu is available at different prices, the lowest being the same as that of a beer’s and the highest going around US dollars 3,375. In 2010, a vintage bottle of Baijiu fetched $ 220,000 at an auction. Some of the popular brands of the liquor are Kweichow Moutai, Red Star Erguotou, Luzhou Laojiao and Wuliangye.
The liquor distribution company VBev is launching Jiangxiaobai baijiu in India. The liquor will be rolled out in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore first before being made available in other cities. Would you make your friends sit down to taste the liquor? Tell us in the comments below.
