Xifengjiu, 'West Phoenix Spirit', is one of the oldest names in baijiu and the reference producer of phoenix (feng) aroma baijiu, one of China's twelve recognised aroma types. It is made in Liulin, in Fengxiang County, Shaanxi; Fengxiang means 'phoenix soaring'.
By the early 17th century, during the Ming dynasty, nearly 50 distilleries in Fengxiang were already producing a spirit called xifengjiu. In 1956 they were nationalised and combined into the Shaanxi Xifengjiu Company. At the first national alcohol appraisal conference, in 1952, Xifengjiu was recognised as one of China's 'Four Famous Spirits'.
Phoenix aroma
Phoenix aroma combines aspects of strong and light aroma. It is distilled mainly from sorghum, fermented in earthen pits with a qu made from barley and peas. Unlike strong aroma producers, Xifeng replaces the mud lining of its pits every year and uses a short fermentation of about ten days. The spirit is aged in 'jiu hai', 'seas of alcohol', large traditional storage containers.