Baijiu is no longer just an old man’s drink. The Chinese liquor is seeing a revival in China and the world over with new iterations that are more palatable as shots and more versatile for cocktail making.
While legacy brands like Moutai and Wu Liang Ye continue to produce traditional baijiu that is brings the absolute kick to your palate with its sharp yet floral expressions at high alcohol content (up to 72 percent), younger brands like Jiangxiaobai are taking the front seat in developing new world baijiu at a more reasonable 40 percent alcohol content, and even flavoured ones to target the younger audience.
If you’re still new to baijiu, it is a sorghum-based alcohol that carries a sweet fragrant scent on the nose but a smooth crisp finish on the palate — much like gin or vodka. It is traditionally drunk neat in bowls or in mixers like ginger ale or orange juice. Shots of baijiu are quite potent, so pace yourself.
This Chinese New Year, why not usher the arrival of the Metal Rat with an alternative liquor that is not wine, whisky or rum. Try baijiu instead and we are sure you’ll be getting friends and family talking about this underrated Chinese liquor. Additionally, baijiu comes in beautifully designed bottles and some in intricate oriental elements — making them great gifts for the festivities.
Here are the baijiu bottles you should be pouring your guests this Chinese New Year. Ganbei!
