When we imagine a location for baijiu distillation and production, we’re likelier to picture Shanghai rather than Sheffield. Clearly, nobody explained this to Chris Spencer and Craig Butler, owners of The Baijiu Society. These Yorkshire-based entrepreneurs hit upon the idea of infusing China’s national spirit with their very own craft ale to create baijiu beer.

It’s an interesting combination – made even more fascinating by the fact that bottles are being sold to a captive audience in China. So far, The Baijiu Society is shifting around 25,000 units each month. There are no plans to rest of these laurels, though. Spencer and Butler see great potential for further growth in their unique beverage.

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It is a little known fact in the West that the world’s most popular spirit is a liquor from China called baijiu, with global sales accounting for more than whisky, vodka, gin, rum and tequila combined.

Some 10.8 billion litres of baijiu (pronounced ‘bye-joe’) were consumed in 2018 – nearly all of it in China, according to UK-based International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR).

Now, for the first time, a British-made baijiu is being launched to meet the growing demand for the centuries-old drink that is appealing to a new generation of drinkers in the West.

V.I.P Jiu 8 is the brainchild of Irving Graham, an antique dealer from Newcastle who makes his living selling Chinese antiques. The remarkable series of events that led him to create the UK’s first authentic Imperial craft baijiu reads like the script of a Hollywood film.

Back in 2014 Graham bid £300 for a cracked Chinese teacup at an auction in southern England. He later discovered it was a piece from the Imperial Chinese collection once housed in the Forbidden City during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor between 1654-1722.

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Moutai is a spirit that is mentioned a great deal on this site, and indeed whenever Chinese liquor is discussed. It’s the biggest brand of baijiu in its native country, and Kweichow Moutai Co. Ltd has superseded Diageo as the most valuable booze business in the world.

Stocks in the company are considered a sound investment, and the turnover over the business is higher than the entire province of Guizhou, where the distillery is located.

Moutai is an experience as much as it is a sprit, often gifted by those looking to display their generosity. The asking price for a standard bottle typically exceeds £100, and drastically rises when the bottle in question is rare and of a limited edition.

There is no denying that Moutai is a big deal. This guide will explain, in layperson’s terms, why that is – and what sets Moutai apart from the many other baijiu brands in China.

• What is Kweichow Moutai?
• Why is Kweichow Moutai So Popular?
• Is Kweichow Moutai a Collector’s Item?
• What Next for Kweichow Moutai?
• Scientific Analysis: V.I.P Jiu 8 – VS – Moutai

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On July 13, Cheng International, which is an importer and supplier of high-quality finest baijiu is introducing an online master class focusing on baijiu. The master class is a four-part series, which will launch in the UK, and will talk about China’s most celebrated spirit.

The class will be hosted via Zoom and Qiqi Chen, who is the managing director of Cheng International, will lead the class. The course is intended especially for those who are a part of the UK drinks trade.

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Baijiu can be an acquired taste, so if you’re curious about sampling it for yourself, you should ensure that you choose a high-quality baijiu brand. Just like a cheap or lesser bottle of wine or gin, baijiu comes in many forms. The wrong choice may give you the wrong impression of what this drink has to offer.

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You have invited friends and family around for a birthday celebration, the cake looks rather lonely amid the sandwiches and finger snacks, what to do? Then you remember the punch bowl set you received off your aunt Margaret, last Christmas, now is the perfect time to use it. What better sight to greet your guests than a good punchbowl filled with a colourful punch.

Keep all ingredients in refrigerator until the last moment, so the punch will be nicely chilled. So here are the Ming dynasty creations.

In Honour Of China’s Ming Emperors “Fit for an Emperor: The Ming”

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The history of Baijiu is interwoven with the history of China and Chinese culture. Alcohol goes back 9000 years in China and at first, the simple origins of making alcohol was considered something of a luxury to these earliest of pioneers. The religious and political rulers and elite class communed with the spirit world or used alcohol as a gift during religious rites but since then, it has played a large part in influencing so much of life in China – from politics, mythology, art and religion to social occasions and formal ones, the way that the journey has led to Baijiu and its importance over the last 600+ years cannot be underestimated. Now that Baijiu is branching out to the wider world, it is time the world understood that the story of Baijiu is the story of China.

Jiahu

In Jiahu, archaeologists found pottery shards dating back 9000 years; organic acid from grape wine was found with evidence of rice, honey and fruit used in a mix to make alcohol. This is possibly the oldest evidence of alcohol although barley beer production may also be the same age from the Middle East. This Neolithic grog was used by the ancient Chinese to reach the spirit realm. At the same time, the earliest playable musical instruments in the world are also discovered here, the flutes playing a role in their commune with the ancestors, just like the ancients of Egypt.

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The Chinese are not only established as having the world’s biggest drinks brands, they also really do have incredible drinking games too!

However you view these drinking games, they are perhaps designed for maximum effect. That means the likelihood of being clear headed and sober after one of them might just depend on how much you managed to avoid drinking or if you drank water. So let’s look at some of these entertaining and unique Chinese Drinking Games:

• Chinese Drinking Games 1 : Liar’s Dice / Chui Nui
• Chinese Drinking Games 2 : Card Counting
• Chinese Drinking Games 3 : Two Little Bees (Liang Zhi Feng Ya Fei Dao Huacong Zhong Ya Fei Ya)
• Chinese Drinking Games 4 : Finger Guessing
• Chinese Drinking Games 5 : Gong Show
• Chinese Drinking Games 6 : Shi Wu (or Shi or Wu or 5, 10, 15)
• Chinese Drinking Games 7 : Chinese Poker

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The heritage surrounding the production and consumption of alcohol has shaped Chinese culture for centuries, influencing religion, art, philosophy and politics. One drink, Baijiu has helped bring together adversaries and brought about the downfall of kingdoms. The history of Baijiu has it all.

Jiahu

Nine thousand years ago in Jiahu, Henan Province, people started to brew a drink made from rice, honey, grapes and hawthorn fruit. Little did they know at the time that it would become the world’s oldest known alcoholic beverage, called Baijiu.

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In our last blog we discussed the mysteries of Baijiu. China has been cultivating this amazing and versatile spirit for centuries – and consumed responsibly, has a number of health benefits. Imagine that – a wonderful drink, full of character, that can be good for you!

So, what are the leading benefits that will bring you zest and vitality? Scientists have been researching this for several years in China – and after hours of dedicated and thorough research, results are now being released to the World outside ancient Chinese settlements, where this drink first emanated.

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