Laizhou Distillery, in Qionglai, Sichuan, began operating in 2021 and has become China's largest domestic whisky producer: according to China Daily, it accounts for around 80% of the country's whisky production and oak barrel supply. By the end of 2023 it had filled 300,000 casks of 52 types, with plans to expand to 1.2 million casks. Its first range of bottles was officially released in winter 2024.
The distillery is known for its innovation. Master distiller Wu Hao ages whisky in casks previously used for huangjiu, Chinese rice wine, giving it sherried, rice-like notes, a flavour familiar to Chinese drinkers because yellow wine is so widely used in Chinese cooking.