Two blends of baijiu and American whiskey have gone on sale in the US through a new venture.
US-based food-and-drinks R&D business True Essence and China-based distiller Guìzhōu Guótái Shùzhì Liquor Group Co. have teamed up to launch two products that have hit the market this week.
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Marketed under the Shāng brand, the beverages “represent the future of global spirits innovation”, True Essence CEO Matt Rubin said.
The partners said the launch has created a “cross-cultural category” called jiàngxiāng whiskey. Jiàngxiāng, pronounced jong-shong, translates as ‘sauce-aroma’.
Rubin, who is also the chief executive of the new Maritine Brands venture, added: “By bringing together centuries-old Chinese fermentation techniques with the precision and structure of American whiskey-making, we are creating something entirely new – an authentic collaboration of cultures, craftsmanship, and creativity.”
The partners have worked with US contract distiller Whiskey House of Kentucky and production site The Blending House on developing the 46% abv and 50% abv spirits.
After distillation and ageing in clay pots in China, Shāng is redistilled to a whiskey base, matured in American oak and blended in Kentucky.
The drinks are available at shangwhiskey.com. The 46% abv Shāng East + West Kentucky Blend (46% ABV) is available at an SRP of $45.99 for a 500ml bottle and $13.99 for 50ml.
The 50% abv Shāng Dàn Yǎ is on sale at an SRP of $64.99 for 500ml and $15.99 for 50ml.
The Dàn Yǎ spirit is held in American oak barrels for a minimum of one month and up to just under one year.
Yán Kǎijìng, the chairman of Guìzhōu Guótái Shùzhì Liquor Group, said the “unparalleled craft of dual-brewing and dual-ageing defines the unique character of Shāng”.
