Buying Baijiu in Europe: Where to Start

Baijiu is arriving in Europe, from specialist spirits shops to Asian supermarkets and cocktail bars. The choice can be confusing, especially if you cannot read Chinese. Here is how to buy your first bottle.

Where to find it

• **Specialist spirits retailers** are adding baijiu to their shelves. In the UK, for example, The Whisky Exchange has a dedicated baijiu selection covering several aroma types.
• **Asian supermarkets** in large European cities often carry everyday brands, especially light and strong aroma.
• **Online shops** offer the widest choice, including small bottles that are perfect for tasting several styles.
• **Cocktail bars** in big cities increasingly use baijiu. Tasting it there before you buy is a good idea.

Read the label

You do not need to read Chinese. Five words on the back label tell you almost everything:

• 香型xiāngxíngthe aroma type, for example 清香型 light, 浓香型 strong, 酱香型 sauce.
• 酒精度jiǔjīngdùthe strength, often written as 53%vol or 53度.
• 净含量: net volume, usually 500 ml.
• 原料: ingredients, such as 高粱 sorghum and 小麦 wheat.
• 生产日期: production date.

Brands made for the West

Some producers have created baijiu specifically for international drinkers and bartenders, with English labels and a style designed for mixing. Ming River, developed by Luzhou Laojiao for export, is one example. These bottles are an easy first step.

What to buy first

1. **A light aroma baijiu**, the cleanest and easiest style. Fenjiu is the classic name. 2. **A strong aroma** from Sichuan, for fruit and richness. Luzhou Laojiao and Wuliangye are the classic names. 3. **A sauce aroma** from Guizhou, when you are ready for the most complex style.

If you can, buy small bottles of each and taste them side by side.

A word of caution

Famous bottles, especially sauce aroma, are sometimes counterfeited. Buy from reputable shops and importers rather than unknown sellers. Be careful with "year" claims on labels too: in baijiu they are often part of a product name rather than a strict age statement.

Storing it

Baijiu does not spoil. Store bottles upright, at room temperature, away from light, and keep them well closed. Once opened, a bottle keeps for a long time, though its aromas slowly fade over many months.

In one sentence

Look in specialist spirits shops, read the aroma type on the label, start with light or export-style baijiu, and taste your way from clean to complex.