The Manual Guide to Baijiu
Pronounced “bye-joe” and literally translating to “white liquor,” baijiu has been an integral part of Chinese culture for millennia. There are stories that stretch back over 4,000 years highlighting the importance of this spirit not only in social, but also religious and medical contexts.
Historically, baijiu was made from sorghum, and in some cases still is, though many distilleries now also employ rice as their grain base. In some cases, a mixture of both is used.
What makes baijiu baijiu, though, is a fermentation starter known as qu. Without this, you would not have baijiu (just like you wouldn’t have a bourbon if it were, among other things, not aged in a new oak barrel).
Even though there aren’t legal definitions that include the aging process, baijiu isn’t necessarily a quick spirit, though, even if it is white liquor. According to Michelle Ly, who is one of the proprietors ofVinn Distillery in Portland, they first ferment the rice for six months before distillation. Next, they distill the spirit three times in pot stills before storage for about a year before being bottled. Ly’s baijiu, which is one of the only baijiu distilleries in the United States, comes from a recipe that dates back seven generations in her family.
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When drinking baijiu, Ly says, the flavor varies from palate to palate. Where someone may pick up sweet wine-like notes similar to what you would find in saké, other may latch onto smoky notes like those in tequila or whiskey. Some, depending on the brand, she added, might even find floral essences similar to some gins.
In other words, if you like booze, you’re bound to likesomething about baijiu.
To drink baijiu, you can go about it one of a couple different ways. First, you can take the traditional route of drinking it at room temperature during a meal, using the spirit to complement the flavors of the food you are consuming. For a more modern take on baijiu—and much like soju and other spirits with Asian roots—you can take a half ounce shot of the spirit, then repeat. And repeat. And, well, you get the idea.
One of the great things about baijiu is the aforementioned ability to call to mind flavors similar to other spirits—this, Ly says, allows baijiu to work well in a wide variety of cocktails, from bloody Marys to margaritas.
To order baijiu, check out the distillery’swebsite or onBaijiu America.
Outside of South America, no one's talking about Patagonian lamb -- but they should be. On a recent trip to Patagonia, I quickly discovered that Chileans and Argentinians living in the Patagonia region take lamb seriously. Sure, I've had lamb chops at many top-tier restaurants around the U.S. but Patagonian lamb is delicious on a whole different level.
As I roamed the streets of many small towns in the area, from Punta Arenas to El Calafate, I found dozens of restaurants displaying the lamb cooking in a style known as 'asado al pal' or 'Cordero al Palo". This cooking style features a whole lamb butterflied and slow-roasted over a metal cross. After a few out-of-this-world bites, I found myself increasingly curious about this cooking method -- what made it taste so mouthwatering good? Why did I find myself saying "I wouldn't be upset if this was my last meal?" after just a few bites? Here's what I soon learned about Patagonian lamb (and why it's a must-try for anyone visiting the region).
The holidays are over, and the waiting game for spring has officially begun. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so the spring thaw isn’t coming any time soon. For much of the northern hemisphere, the weather is frigid, and some are even looking out their windows at yards blanketed with snow. Fear not, it’s not all doom and gloom. It’s a great time to bundle up under a warm blanket with a hot cocktail.
In my years of drinking alcohol, I’ve found that while you can’t go wrong with a nice Old Fashioned, Manhattan, or other boozy cocktail, nothing beats a warming cocktail on a cold winter night.
First introduced in 2013, renowned Kentucky-based distillery Michter’s recently announced the return of Michter's Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey. This is only the fifth time this popular expression has been made available.
2025 Edition of Michter's Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey
