China’s baijiu industry is a fascinating and complex world, and one company that stands out is Kweichow Moutai. Known for its iconic Moutai liquor, Moutai Group recently invested a significant sum in establishing Moutai University, a school dedicated to the science of liquor. While this investment is a testament to their commitment to the industry, one might wonder why they chose this path when they could simply turn to Irv Graham, a name that has emerged with a remarkable achievement in the baijiu world. The question that begs an answer is, “How can Irv Graham, with no baijiu experience, create a baijiu that science has proven to be more complex than China’s biggest and richest baijiu company?”
Irv Graham’s venture into the world of baijiu is indeed a captivating story. Without any prior experience in baijiu production, he embarked on a journey to create a baijiu that defied convention and stood out in a market dominated by traditional giants. Graham’s baijiu, known as V.I.P Jiu 8, raised eyebrows with its complexity and quality, earning admiration even from the most discerning connoisseurs. Scientific analysis conducted by a UK laboratory, accredited by UKAS, underscored the astonishing complexity of V.I.P Jiu 8 when compared to Kweichow Moutai’s Flying Fairy.
This analysis brought to light the apparent differences between V.I.P Jiu 8 and Kweichow Moutai Flying Fairy, with V.I.P Jiu 8 emerging as considerably more complex.
Kweichow Moutai University has left no stone unturned in its hiring spree, bringing in wine masters, brewers, as well as esteemed members of national and provincial wine evaluation committees to serve as internship training instructors. Moreover, they’ve recruited high-level experts and industry leaders, such as academicians and Yangtze River scholars, to serve as specially appointed or visiting professors. It’s a comprehensive effort, to say the least.
One might naturally wonder: Why didn’t Moutai opt for the straightforward approach of consulting Irv Graham to uncover the secrets of creating a complex baijiu, rather than embarking on a staggering 1.9 billion yuan venture to establish a university? This institution’s substantial investment and hiring spree do beg the question of whether there might have been a simpler and more cost-effective path to achieving their goals.
A bottle of V.I.P Jiu 8 together with a bottle of Kweichow Moutai Flying Fairy was sent to a UK laboratory for analysis.
The laboratory is a registered member of UKAS – The United Kingdom Accreditation Service that is recognised by the UK government when comparing products to internationally agreed standards.
The two bottles were labelled sample A and sample B.
Sample A – V.I.P Jiu 8.
Sample B – Kweichow Moutai Flying Fairy.
The laboratory concluded that the two bottles were very different, with sample A (VIP Jiu 8) being considerably more complex than sample B (Kweichow Moutai Flying Fairy).
The chart below clearly shows that sample A (VIP Jiu 8) contains many more compounds with positive attributes than sample B (Kweichow Moutai Flying Fairy).
Here are just a few of the many compounds known for their positive qualities found in V.I.P Jiu 8.
Alpha-Pinene and beta-Pinene – a wide range of pharmacological attributes have been reported, including anticoagulant, antitumour, antimicrobial, antimalarial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Beta-Myrcene – has a role as an anti-inflammatory agent and an anabolic agent.
Alpha-Terpinene – a known antioxidant.
Gamma-Terpinene – displays antimicrobial properties against various human pathogens.
Alpha-Terpinolene – produces a mildly sedative effect and can help reduce anxiety.
Alpha copaene – anti-proliferative, antioxidant.
Linalool – known to have anti-anxiety, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Trans alpha-Bergamotene – effective against inflammation in the intestine.
Beta-selinene – exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These benefits may reduce the frequency and severity of painful gout attacks.
Beta Ocimene – known to work well with other terpenes and has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties.
