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Vinn Honey Baijiu
About Vinn Honey Baijiu
Vinn Honey Baijiu is produced by Vinn Distillery, a family-owned distillery based in Wilsonville, Oregon. Founded by Phan Ly in 2009, the brand was created to fill a void in the U.S. market by producing classic Chinese spirits such as Baijiu and Mijiu. With strong ancestral roots in China, the Ly family uses recipes that go back 7 generations to create their core products.
Their flagship baijiu, which is also the base for this honey baijiu, is made using brown rice and a starter culture called “qu”. After a preparation process, the ingredients are fermented together for about 6 months. It is then distilled in pot stills and aged for at least a year. To make this bottle of Honey Baijiu, the base baijiu is flavored with Oregon honey. Sold seasonally, it’s available only from September through March.
Bottle Specs
❖ ABV: 35%
❖ Distillery: Vinn Distillery
❖ Aging: 1 year (base)
❖ Price Point: low price
My Tasting notes
As I took my first whiff of this baijiu, I noticed the alcohol scent was strong in the nose. This was closely followed by a sweet apple scent that was very pleasant. After a few sniffs, I also noticed spice notes that gave the impression of a delicious apple pie filling. Overall, the aroma was very festive.
I took my first sip, and the apple notes were prominent. There was an alcohol heat in the finish, which was noticeable but not overwhelming. I found that the flavors were nicely balanced, with the apple notes giving way to a tasty cinnamon.
There was a slight brandy-like quality to the flavor, though the comparison is only surface-level. The brown rice base created a quality that was quite distinct. Overall, my sipping experience was very pleasant.
Cocktail
For my cocktail, I was inspired to create an original drink that celebrates the winter season. Since the Vinn brand suggests drinking this baijiu with apple juice, I wanted to create a variation on this suggestion by combining it with some other winter flavors. Hope you enjoy!
Golden Frostbite
recipe by Emmeline Gonzalez-Beban
Ingredients
- 2 oz honey baijiu
- 1 oz apple juice
- 1 dash orange bitters
- 1 oz ginger beer
Instructions
- combine the honey baijiu, apple juice, and orange bitters to a shaker with ice, and shake until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a small cocktail glass, and add in 1oz of ginger beer.
I really enjoyed drinking this honey baijiu inside a cocktail. I found that the baijiu’s flavor was more unassuming than I expected against mixers, however it still supported the other ingredients nicely. The flavors of this cocktail seemed to meld together into a singular flavor, with none being particularly prominent. It felt like a pleasant winter chill inside my mouth. Very tasty!
Bottom Line
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience trying out Vinn Honey Baijiu. I feel that it’s a nice introduction to the world of baijiu, especially since it’s made with a lower ABV than usual for the American consumer. The unique flavor is very pleasant, and it makes a nice sipper.
The only drawback is that it’s a bit hard to find! According to the website, this seasonal baijiu is available September through March. However, this particular bottle was already on clearance when I ordered it back in mid-October, and it’s now nowhere to be found on internet retailer sites. That’s a bit disappointing, as I would love to recommend this bottle for the holiday season. If you happen to see one, I highly recommend picking it up to enjoy.
As always, drink responsibly.
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