Chinese Whisky Selection

Chinese whisky is rising fast, driven by ambition, terroir, and innovation.

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China — The Next Great Whisky Frontier

China is rapidly emerging as one of the most ambitious and diverse new whisky-producing nations in the world. Goalong Distillery in Hunan became the first Chinese whisky listed by a major UK retailer in 2023, signalling the category's arrival on the international stage. In late 2024, Diageo opened the YunTuo distillery in Yunnan at 2,100 metres — a £94 million investment that represents the largest international commitment to Chinese whisky production. With more than 40 distilleries now operating across regions as diverse as subtropical Fujian, high-altitude Yunnan, and the hills of Sichuan, Chinese whisky is poised for extraordinary growth. The combination of vast domestic demand, diverse terroir, and climate-accelerated maturation makes China one of the most exciting emerging origins in the spirits world. Explore Chinese whisky on Spiritory and discover a category on the cusp of its breakthrough moment.

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Notable bottles to explore

Chinese Whisky — An Emerging Powerhouse on the World Stage

China — the world's fourth-largest whisky market by value — is rapidly transforming from a nation of whisky consumers into a nation of whisky producers. With more than 40 distilleries now spread across the country, from the subtropical provinces of Fujian and Hunan to the high-altitude plateaus of Yunnan and Sichuan, Chinese whisky is a category undergoing explosive growth. The pioneering Goalong Distillery in Hunan became the first Chinese whisky listed by a major UK retailer when The Whisky Exchange stocked it in 2023. In December 2024, Diageo opened the YunTuo Single Malt Whisky Distillery in Yunnan at 2,100 metres above sea level — a £94 million investment signalling the industry's belief in China's potential. Other notable producers include Daiking in Fujian, Nine Rivers (a crowdfunded distillery backed by over 200 international investors), and Dexi by Grace Vineyard. While the category is still young, with most distilleries having been established since 2020, the combination of diverse terroir, rapid climate-driven maturation, and enormous domestic demand makes Chinese whisky one of the most promising emerging categories in the spirits world.

What Makes Chinese Whisky Special?

Several characteristics define this fast-growing whisky frontier.

Vast and diverse terroir: China's geography offers an extraordinary range of distilling environments. The high-altitude, cool climate of Yunnan (2,100 metres) differs entirely from the subtropical warmth of Fujian and Hunan. This diversity means Chinese whisky has the potential to develop a wide spectrum of regional styles, much like Scotland's varied whisky regions.
Climate-accelerated maturation: Like Taiwan and Korea, many Chinese distilling regions experience warm, humid conditions that accelerate the interaction between spirit and barrel. In Fujian, producers expect maturation profiles comparable to Taiwan's Kavalan — achieving notable complexity in just three to four years.
Massive domestic market: China is the world's fourth-largest whisky market by value, with growth projected to reach 88% between 2023 and 2026. This enormous domestic demand provides Chinese distillers with a receptive home market while they also pursue international recognition.
International expertise and investment: Chinese whisky is benefiting from significant international know-how. Diageo's YunTuo distillery brings global-scale expertise. Goalong employs Suntory's former Chief Blender as an advisor. Nine Rivers was founded by whisky enthusiasts from over 20 countries. Scottish still-maker Forsyths has supplied equipment to multiple Chinese distilleries.

Notable Bottles to Explore

These four expressions represent the range and ambition of China's emerging whisky scene.

Goalong 5 Year Old Bourbon Cask Single Malt: The first Chinese whisky to be listed by a major UK retailer, Goalong's 5 Year Old is produced in Hunan province and matured in ex-bourbon casks. Soft, approachable, and clean with notes of vanilla, honey, and light oak spice. A milestone expression that opened the door for Chinese whisky in international markets.
Goalong Blended Chinese Whiskey: A blend of malt and grain whiskies from the Goalong Distillery, designed to showcase the accessible, easy-drinking character of Chinese whisky. Smooth and mellow with malt sweetness, gentle citrus, and a clean finish. An excellent introduction for the curious.
Pernod Ricard The Chuan: One of the first internationally distributed Chinese whisky expressions, launched by Pernod Ricard. The Chuan — meaning "river" in Mandarin — draws on distillation in Sichuan province and aims to create a whisky with Chinese characteristics, blending local and imported components for a smooth, approachable profile.
YunTuo Single Malt: From Diageo's new £94 million distillery in Eryuan, Yunnan, at 2,100 metres above sea level. While the first releases are still maturing, YunTuo represents the largest international investment in Chinese whisky to date and is expected to produce expressions that capture the unique high-altitude terroir of Yunnan's highland plateau.

From Goalong's pioneering exports to Diageo's high-altitude YunTuo distillery and the emerging craft scene in Fujian and Sichuan, these bottles and distilleries represent the ambition, diversity, and enormous potential of Chinese whisky as it takes its first steps onto the world stage.

For the Adventurous and the Discerning

Chinese whisky is the ultimate frontier for spirits explorers who want to discover a category before it reaches the mainstream. For newcomers, Goalong's approachable expressions offer an accessible and affordable entry point into a whisky culture that is still defining its identity. For collectors and early adopters, bottles from China's pioneering distilleries represent a unique opportunity to own pieces of whisky history from a category that is poised for extraordinary growth. With Diageo, Pernod Ricard, and dozens of independent producers investing heavily in Chinese production, the next decade promises an explosion of quality and diversity. Explore Chinese whisky on Spiritory and be among the first to taste the future of world whisky.

Do you have any questions?

Chinese whisky production is spread across several key regions. Hunan in south-central China is home to Goalong, the country's most internationally visible distillery. Fujian in the southeast hosts several newer operations including Daiking and Dexi, with a subtropical climate similar to Taiwan. Yunnan in the southwest is the site of Diageo's YunTuo distillery at 2,100 metres. Sichuan is home to Pernod Ricard's operation. Each region offers a different climate and terroir, giving Chinese whisky the potential for remarkable regional diversity.

Chinese whisky is still a very young category — most distilleries have been operating for fewer than five years, and many are still maturing their first stocks. However, the pace of investment and quality improvement is remarkable. Goalong, founded in 2016, became the first Chinese whisky available from a major UK retailer in 2023. Diageo's YunTuo distillery, opened in late 2024, represents the largest international investment in the category. Industry observers compare the current moment to the early days of Japanese whisky, when quality was emerging but recognition was still building.

China is the world's fourth-largest whisky market by value, with UK whisky exports alone valued at £237 million in 2023. Growth projections suggest the market could expand by 88% between 2023 and 2026. While baijiu still dominates China's domestic spirits market at 97%, whisky is the fastest-growing imported spirits category, driven by younger consumers, cocktail culture, and a growing appreciation for single malt. This massive domestic demand provides a strong foundation for local producers as they build quality and scale.