CapitalSpirits

Many foreigners who visit to China who were introduced to Baijiu have a terrible experience. It could be due to the intense drinking culture, or equally likely you just got bad stuff. Did you drink Erguotou, by chance? Erguotou is an extremely cheap (about $4 per liter) and potent (112 proof) local Baijiu popular amongst working-class Chinese, that also unfortunately becomes many foreigners' first (and last) introduction to Baijiu due to its low price and wide availability.

Whisky is an acquired taste as well. Or beer. Imagine if you had never tried beer before, and someone gave you a tin can of Bud Light. You'd probably swear off the stuff forever! ;)

Baijiu should be drunk differently from western spirits. You shouldn't really shoot it, and it's best when paired with food. It's best to sip it through pursed lips and kind of atomize it inside your mouth.

As a whisky drinker, next time you are in China try anything labeled "strong" aroma, or "nong 浓" in Chinese. Avoid the light aromas, which are mostly just an alcohol burn without complexity. If you're into very complex scotch, you may want to try "sauce" aroma Baijius. (jiang 酱).

Mention this AMA and we'll give you a free flight of different Baijius when you get here!

They're very curious about the usage in cocktails, and also about how foreigners react to it. They're a little confused as well that it is not served with food, especially when it is served outside of cocktails. Chinese always drink Baijiu with meals. We do serve spicy peanuts, and lately we've had smoked sausage from Hubei. Baijiu is also drank along with traditional snacks like cured meats and pickled vegetables.

They also really love drinking in such a non-pressure environment outside of the typical banquet setting where they are forced to drink shot after shot until they puke.

Yes! It was known amongst his diplomatic team, specifically Henry Kissinger, that Nixon could not hold his liquor, so they were actually really nervous that Nixon would get too sauced and make a fool out of himself when meeting Mao and the Communists in the early 70s. The Chinese knew this as well, and probably put the pressure on Nixon to drink...

Kissinger also famously quipped during the meeting that if "we drink enough Baijiu, we can solve anything."

Here's a historical photograph that we hang in our bar!

It is actually very different from gin, although there similarities. They both are colorless, and have a distinct taste that can be difficult to newcomers. Apart from that they are very different. Gin is a botanically-infused spirit, whereas Baijiu gets its flavor not from infusion but from the fermentation process. Gin has a lightly fruity, waxy, medicinal taste, but apart from that is very neutral. Baijiu makes you notice! It can taste hot, spicy, salty, smokey, savory, and some are very heavy on esters.

Gin is also commonly mixed into cocktails, whereas Baijiu is brand new territory. We've been reaching out to mixologists all over the world and coming up with some really delicious stuff!