Sips & Sites & Bites

We know all about whiskey and Scotch, rum and vodka, and tequila as well. But how much do we know about the other types of liquor from around the world?

In Taiwan, drinkers cozy up to a pour of Kaoliang, a type of distilled liquor prevalent in China, Taiwan, and Korea. It’s made from fermented sorghum grains and typically has a high alcohol content, usually north of 50% ABV. 

Kaoliang liquor is known for its clear color and fragrant aroma, most often it’s consumed neat and sometimes used as a base for cocktails. 

The drink is culturally significant, as it’s a go-to for celebrations and social gatherings in Taiwan and other regions where it’s made.

Perhaps the best example of this drink is Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor, which was established in 1952, a big player in the Taiwan liquor industry for more than 70 years.

They make the product using high-quality sorghum from dry land that sees plenty of sunshine year round. Its pure water is filtered through layers of granite in an environment surrounded by the sea.

Kinmen Kaoliang is made in stages: Yeast making, distillation, stirring and mixing, fermentation, and cooling. It’s then stored in a cellar.

Freshly-made liquor collected after the distillation is actually stored and matured in stainless or pottery jars for years, in order to stabilize the liquor’s quality and taste.

Since its debut in international competitions in 2016, Kinmen Kaoliang has garnered numerous awards, including double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

Kaoliang is Taiwan’s best-selling spirit, with more than 45,000 liters consumed daily. A recent documentary explained that the prominence of this liquor rose from the ashes of military conflict and intense bombardment from PLA forces towards the end of the Chinese civil war. 

Today, old military tunnels help to regulate heat and humidity, housing state-of-the-art distillery tanks that produce one of Asia’s most prestigious liquors. 

The media channel TaiwanPlus recently released an episode of “Taiwan’s Mega Factories” that dives in detail into the world of Kaoliang. The show itself is quite an insight into the behind-the-scenes of Taiwan’s largest manufacturing giants. Kinmen Kaoliang Distillery, which is government-owned, is the highlight of this episode. You can watch the full Kaoliang Episode here.

If you’re looking for a bottle of Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor to try, you can find it in liquor stores and some U.S. Costco stores, as well as more information online at https://www.kkl.com.tw/en.