In episode 256 of The Drinking Hour, host David Kermode is joined by drinks expert Billy Abbott, who is the IWSC Spirits Communicator of the Year and a judge, to talk about the world of spirits in China.
China is the world’s biggest spirits market but it exports little of its own products, so there is relatively little familiarity with them internationally. Abbott starts by explaining Chinese drinkers’ diverse tastes and how baijiu, the most popular spirit, came to dominate the country’s drinks scene. He outlines how baijiu is made and what the differences are between the four main styles.
The conversation then turns to how China’s spirits are assessed by international judges and the growing curiosity about Chinese spirits in the West. The pair discuss key Chinese whisky distilleries and styles, the rise of Chinese brandy and the importance of experimentation with unique flavours in Chinese spirits.
Discover more episodes of The Drinking Hour with David Kermode here.
