Wenjun (Bai Jiu) Chinese White Spirit (500ml)

'Bai Jiu' is a style of distilled spirit with over three millennia of history in China. It's typically produced by brewing and distilling five grains including broom corn, glutinous rice, rice, wheat and corn. The 'Nong Xiang Xing' styles (or rich, fragrant styles) are the most highly prized. The Wenjun distillery is located in the wine county of Qionglai within China's southwest province of Sichuan. White spirits have been produced here for over 450 years.

The wine and spirits arm of French company, LVMH, have recently acquired a majority share in the Wenjun company. "This investment in China's spirits industry signals an important strategic move for Moët Hennessy as it seeks to contribute to the development of the Chinese premium spirits market," said Moët Hennessy's president, Christophe Navarre. "Hennessy Cognac has been distributed with success in China since 1859 and Moët Hennessy has developed a deep understanding of the Chinese market, which has enabled us to apply our extensive expertise of harnessing and developing premium brands."

Tasting note: Flawless, crystal clear, silvery appearance. A faint soy sauce like top note is followed by a powerful combination of fennel, musk, cherry confectionary, crushed walnut and almond scents making for a complex if unusual sniff. The palate entry is immediately assertive with a sharp, concentrated attack of spice, sweet cherry, musk and plum. Hot, prickly mouth feel. Drying aftertaste includes fruit jube and cherry glace flavours. Fascinating. Polarising. Somewhere in between a Kirsch and Amaretto but with a feral dimension that’s difficult to pin down. 52% Alc./Vol.