Kweichow Moutai Baijiu 375mL
Kweichow Moutai Baijiu 375mL is the official state liquor of China in its classic 375mL half-bottle format: a sauce-aroma (jiangxiang) baijiu distilled from sorghum and bottled at 53% ABV (106 proof) by the state-owned Kweichow Moutai Company in Maotai, Guizhou Province, China — available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Spirit: Sauce-aroma (jiangxiang) baijiu, 53% ABV / 106 proof, 375mL
- Producer: Kweichow Moutai Company, Maotai town, Guizhou, China
- Mash: Locally grown red sorghum with a wheat-based qu fermentation starter
- Aging: 5-year production cycle; minimum 4 years resting in earthenware urns before blending
- Profile: Savory umami, tropical fruit, pear, fermented grain, smoky nuts — China's most prestigious spirit
The Story Behind Kweichow Moutai
Moutai is not just a spirit — it is a national symbol. Produced only in the town of Maotai along the Chishui River in Guizhou Province, it became the first Chinese liquor produced at large scale when the state consolidated local distilleries into the single state-owned Kweichow Moutai Company. The full production cycle takes five years and passes through 30 processes and 165 procedures: the sorghum is fermented with a wheat-based qu culture through repeated cycles of steaming, fermentation, and distillation, then rested in earthenware urns before the final blending. That patience is what gives Moutai its unmistakable depth. US retailers note it earned Double Gold for Best Baijiu at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Awards. Browse the Kweichow Moutai brand collection and other fine spirits.
Tasting Notes
Moutai tastes like nothing else in spirits. The nose is savory and perfumed at once: soy sauce-like umami, stewed nuts, tropical fruit (pineapple, guava), pear, and a floral lift. The palate is full and powerful yet remarkably smooth at 53%: white chocolate, sweet plum, Asian pear, a savory-saucy depth, and lingering warm spice. The finish is long, complex, and mouth-coating. US retailers describe the character as "crystal, pure, full-bodied" — clear as water, but intensely flavored.
How to Enjoy
In China, Moutai is drunk neat in small cups during ganbei toasts at banquets and celebrations — serve it at cool room temperature to honor the tradition. For the curious cocktail maker, it also appears in modern programs: a Moutai Highball (1 oz Moutai, 4 oz chilled soda, lemon peel) or a baijiu-forward martini with dry vermouth. Pair with hearty Asian dishes and dumplings. Looking for mixing ideas? Explore cocktail inspiration and pair it with the tequila chasers and premium tequilas on the shelf.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is baijiu? Baijiu is China's traditional distilled spirit — the world's best-selling spirit category — made from fermented grain (usually sorghum). "Sauce-aroma" (jiangxiang) is its most prestigious style, named for its savory, umami depth.
What does Kweichow Moutai taste like? Savory and complex: umami and soy-sauce notes, tropical fruit, pear, smoky nuts, and sweet plum — powerful and perfumed, nothing like vodka or whiskey.
How long is Moutai aged? The full production cycle is five years; the distilled spirit rests a minimum of four years in earthenware urns before blending.
Is the 375mL the real Moutai? Yes — the 375mL is the standard half-bottle of the flagship Flying Fairy-style expression (also sold in 200mL, 500mL, and 1L), same 53% ABV liquid.
One of the world's most valuable spirit brands and China's official state liquor — order Kweichow Moutai Baijiu 375mL online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA, and have this iconic bottle shipped to your door.