Over the past few years, a trend has been emerging: a country has been quietly releasing gins and getting some very good results in international competitions. The quality of the gins has been high and if the country’s population takes even a modest interest in the category, it will have a huge impact on the category worldwide. That country is China.
China has had a long association with baijiu, a spirit that is notably different to gin; it was often consumed at ceremonial occasions such as weddings, business meetings, official events, and banquet-style dinners. Drinking was more of a ritual than enjoying a casual tipple. For decades, baijiu has dominated the Chinese spirits world, partly due to support from the state, and it is still the most widely consumed spirit today, with whisky being the second most popular.
Things started to change when Chinese premier Wen Jiabao banned the use of state funds to buy “luxury” items;
