Kweichow Moutai Moutai 15 Years & Flying Fairy Baijiu

Tasting Notes A luxury Baijiu experience like no other… Harvey Nichols is proud to present the ultimate gift for fans of Kweichow Moutai. It comprises a rare Flying Fairy bottled in 2019 and an even rarer age-statement expression of their Baijiu. And as an added bonus we've provided an array of Moutai drinking vessels to take your experience to the next level. Due to the tiny quantities available we'll be limiting this gift set to one bottle per customer. The Kweichow Moutai branded bag contains:;; 1 x Moutai 15 Year Old Baijiu 500ml 1 x Moutai Flying Fairy Baijiu 2019 Bottling 500ml 4 x Moutai Cups 1 x Moutai Jug; Kweichow Moutai 15 Year Old was created in the 'sauce' style from organic sticky sorghum. It uses a base spirit that has been matured for at least 15 years in ceramic pots. This is then blended with older Moutai chosen by the master blenders who look for the finest fragrance flavour profile and mouth feel. The result is a nutty fruity and smoky Baijiu. The liquid has a golden hue Moutai's classic 'jiang' fragrance notes reminiscent of baking and a sweet mellow finish. How something so rich and powerful can feel so smooth and elegant is quite remarkable. The bottle comes nestled inside a stunning gift box alongside a traditional helmet-style stopper and a clever light for verifying the bottle's authenticity – an absolute must-have for any serious collector.; The famous Flying Fairy is also crafted in the 'sauce' style. It's a big and powerfully aromatic Baijiu with flavours of soy sauce ripe papaya fresh pear toasted walnuts smoked nuts sesame seeds coffee beans cacao garden herbs white flowers and cooked tropical fruits. On tasting it it's not hard to see why it was awarded the honourable title of National Liquor the highest accolade for any wine or spirit in China. Starting with a base of organic sticky sorghum it takes five years to make each bottle of Moutai Flying Fairy which includes nine distillations and three years ageing in ceramic pots. There really is nothing else quite like it. We genuinely believe that every drinker should experience this incredible spirit especially when sipped around the dinner table with friends and family. Consider pairing it with rich roasted and umami dishes or something with a splash of tropical fruit for example Caribbean dishes or some of the wonderful curries of Southeast Asia. Each bottle comes with a pair of matching glasses to sip it from. Spirits Business ranked Kweichow Moutai as the world's most valuable spirits brand in 2021 beating the likes of Jack Daniel's Hennessy Smirnoff Bacardi and Johnny Walker again. So this is a bottle that deserves a place in any serious drinks cabinet. Named after the town of Maotai in Guizhou province where it originated Kweichow Moutai have been making Baijiu for over 200 years. The brand shot to fame outside of China when it picked up a gold medal at the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco and later when it was served by Mao Zedong to visiting dignitaries at state dinners.; Baijiu has been China's national drink for more than five millennia and is the most-consumed hard liquor on the planet (18 billion litres are made each year). Although the West has been slow on the uptake that's all about to change. Sales of this fascinating spirit are exploding around the world. And it's worth noting that Baijiu is as important a part of Chinese heritage as silk tea ceramics martial arts and calligraphy all of which have become very popular on these shores. The name translates as 'clear spirit' and Baijiu can be distilled from sorghum wheat rice sticky rice or corn. What makes it unique is two-fold. Firstly it's an ingredient called 'Qu' – bricks of damp grains left in a warm place until they grow yeasts fungi and microorganisms – that is used to kickstart the fermentation a little like koji for Japanese Sake. This gives Baijiu a distinctive aromatic funk which reminds us a little of high-ester Jamaican rum. Secondly it's the fact that Baijiu – unlike any other spirit we're aware of – is created by distilling the solids not the liquid. Baijiu is then matured in ceramic jars; something that's becoming increasingly fashionable in the world of wine also. These breathable containers allow micro-oxygenation of the spirit and remove impurities all without adding flavour. Again like fine wine production methods vary and there are strong regional variations. So the Chinese generally classify Baijiu by its distinctive smell. The primary categories are 'rice' a sweet and floral style from the south; 'light' a delicate style from the north made with sorghum; 'strong' the most popular style crafted using at least two grains and mud pits for fermentation; and 'savoury' or 'sauce' an expensive and umami style thought to resemble soy sauce. Following a similar trajectory to other strong artisanal spirits like Mezcal Baijiu is traditionally sipped neat but it has recently captured the attention of cocktail aficionados and the world's finest bartenders. Baijiu now looks set to cement its status as the greatest spirit on the planet by increasing its global reach. Product Details Country: China Alcohol by volume (ABV): 53% Volume: 1000ml