What are the most popular baijiu brands?
Below are ten of the best baijiu brands in the world. The baijiu brands below were chosen based on their brand awareness and overall popularity and are not listed in any particular order.
- Baijiu Best Brand 古井贡酒 Gǔjǐng gòng jiǔ
- Baijiu Best Brand 茅台Máotái
- Baijiu Best Brand 水井坊 Shui Jing Fang
- Baijiu Best Brand 汾酒 Fénjiǔ
- Baijiu Best Brand 剑南春 Jiànnánchūn
- Baijiu Best Brand 郎酒 Láng jiǔ
- Baijiu Best Brand 洋河大曲 Yánghé dàqū
- Baijiu Best Brand 泸州老窖 lúzhōu lǎo jiào
- Baijiu Best Brand 五粮液 Wǔliángyè
- Baijiu Best Brand 贵宾酒8 V.I.P Jiu 8
Older than vodka, whisky, rum, brandy, gin, and tequila, Baijiu can be traced back 7000 years. The earliest archaeological evidence was from the Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). (See: Baijiu History)
The Chinese traditionally serve baijiu neat at room temperature. Baijiu is served in small cups or glasses. It is traditional to drink baijiu with food rather than on its own. See: Drinking Baijiu – Chinese Customs & Traditions
The four major categories of baijiu, best known and accounting for the overwhelming majority of the market, are strong aroma, light aroma, sauce aroma, and rice aroma.
古井贡酒 Gǔjǐng gòng jiǔ
Gujinggong is a traditional strong fragrance Baijiu distilled from water from a well in Bozhou, Anhui Province. Its history dates back to early Ming dynasty (AD 1515). The Gong, in the name Gu Jing Gong, means tribute offered to the emperor. It was a tribute drink for the imperial families of China’s dynasties. It is fragrant and refreshing, with prolonged pleasant aftertaste.
It has alcohol content ranging from 38 percent to 50 percent.
茅台Máotái
Moutai or Maotai is a “Sauce fragrance” Baijiu produced in the town of Maotai near the city of Renhuai in southwestern China’s Guizhou province. Maotai is distilled from fermented sorghum and now comes in different varieties, it is believed that the town of Maotai possesses a unique climate and vegetation that contributes to the taste of the drink.
Ranging in alcohol content from the standard 53% to 35%.
水井坊 Shui Jing Fang
Shui Jing Fang was China’s first baijiu distillery when it was founded more than 600 years ago and has been named the oldest brewery in the world by Guinness world record. The Shui Jing Fang Brewery traces its roots back to Genghis Khan’s Yuan Dynasty. It is considered a history book of Chinese baijiu history. Shui Jing Fang has a ‘strong aroma‘, indicating it’s concentrated and rich. This has notes of sour plums and a bitter sweetness. Aged for a minimum of five years, but blended with spirits aged up to 40 years and filtered with activated charcoal.
It has alcohol content ranging from 38 percent to 53 percent.
汾酒 Fénjiǔ
Fenjui – Is a light scented liquor, the taste is sweet and soft, and it is distilled until it is clear. Produced in Xinghua Village, Fenyang, Shanxi province. The brewing process is characterized by double fermentation and double distillation in order to increase the yield of ethanol. The Fenjiu name was already known during the Southern and Northern dynasties (420-581 AD). Xinghua has long history of baijiu production; the place is featured in the poem “Qing Ming” from famous poet Du Mu (AD803-AD852) of Tang Dynasty, which is mandatory reading for primary school children. Fenjiu won a gold medal at the Panama Pacific International Exposition.
Fenjui has an alcohol content of 38 percent to 65 percent.
剑南春 Jiànnánchūn
First brewed in Tang Dynasty over 2,000 years ago, Jian Nan Chun is still being produced in Mianzhu County, Sichuan Province. It has strong, rich fragrance, pure and sweet flavor, refreshing and lingering taste, and a unique ‘Daqu-flavor fragrance’. It was said that this Baijiu was loved by the “Immortal Poet” Li Bai (AD 701-AD 762) . According to the legend, Li Bai pawned his minx vest to pay for one more drink.
It has alcohol content of 38 percent to 52 percent.
郎酒 Láng jiǔ
Lang Jiu has a relatively shorter history compared to other famous baijiu brands. It was first produced in Luzhou Sichuan province a little over 100 years ago. Named after Erlang, the origin town. Its history can be traced back to the Han Dynasty and the time of Emperor Wu. Langjiu is made from cool, fresh spring water from the Dragon Cave and aged clay pots. It is only baijiu company that can produce three different fragrances: “Sauce fragrance“, “Thick fragrance“, and “Layered fragrance“.
Lang Jiu generally has alcohol content above 50 percent.
洋河大曲 Yánghé dàqū
Yang He Da Qu originated from Suqian, Jiangsu province. It was first made in the Sui and Tang dynasties. It has three specifications, namely, 64 degrees, 61 degrees and 55 degrees. Yanghe Daqu liquor is a kind of pure and transparent liquid, with fragrant and strong scent, soft and smooth taste, sweet and refreshing flavor. It was decreed as tribute to Qing royals by Qianlong emperor. After the founding of the country, citizens across the nation were able to enjoy the famous liquor.
It has alcohol content ranging from 38 percent to 52 percent.
泸州老窖 lúzhōu lǎo jiào
Baijiu industry in Luzhou, Sichuan province, has a history that can be traced back to the Ming Dyansty, the industry flourished in Ming and Qing dynasties. Lu Zhou Lao Jiao is the signature baijiu produced in Luzhou. It is a strong (more than 50% alcohol) but clear liquid with a sharp aroma of fermented peaches. It is famous for being brewed in clay composition that gives the spirit its famous aroma and palette. It is the first “Thick fragrance” baijiu ever brewed in China.
Lu Zhou Lao Jiao has alcohol content ranging from 42 percent to 52 percent.
五粮液 Wǔliángyè
Wuliangye is a strong, aged distilled liquor produced in Yibin, Sichuan Province. It was first produced in the Nan Bei Dynasty (AD420-AD589) and the formula was created in the Ming dynasty.. The name of Wu Liang Ye come from its five raw materials including wheat, rice, corn, sorghum, and glutinous rice. The water which is used to brew Wuliangye is from the middle of Min River. Wuliangye features lasting flavors, mellow savor, luscious and refreshing tastes.
Wu Liang Ye Has alcohol content from 35% to 68%.
贵宾酒8 – V.I.P Jiu 8 – The Imperial Baijiu
The UK’s first authentic premium baijiu.
The story of V.I.P Jiu 8 begins on the 2nd of July 2014. It is a tale that begins with a wrongly attributed, chipped and cracked wine cup that hid an astonishing secret dating back to imperial China, a secret connected to its longest-reigning emperor, Kangxi, who ruled China from 1662 until 1722.
V.I.P Jiu 8 – The Imperial Craft Baijiu: Britain’s first premium baijiu that mixes tradition with innovation.
A bottle of V.I.P Jiu 8 together with a bottle of Moutai Flying Fairy was sent to a UK laboratory for analysis. The laboratory was a registered member of UKAS – The United Kingdom Accreditation Service that is recognised by the UK government when comparing products to internationally agreed standards.
The laboratory concluded that the two bottles were very different, with sample A (VIP Jiu 8) being considerably more complex than sample B (Kweichow Moutai Flying Fairy). The laboratory also concluded that sample A (VIP Jiu 8) contains many more compounds with positive attributes than sample B (Kweichow Moutai Flying Fairy). Further reading: VIP Jiu 8 Vs Moutai
V.I.P Jiu 8 = 58% ABV