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.
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”.
