Top 12 Eastern Chinese Spirits and Liqueurs

Changyu is the oldest Chinese producer of wine and brandy, founded in 1892 in Yantai, Shandong Province, by Zhang Bishi, a patriotic Chinese expatriate. By introducing 124 noble grape varieties from Europe and building the first underground wine cellar in Asia, Changyu laid the foundation for modern winemaking in China. Koya is a brand of brandy produced by Changyu, utilizing traditional French Charentais copper pot stills for distillation. The distillery owns six of these stills, making it one of the wineries with the highest number of Charentais stills in the world. It has also implemented the first digital distillation control system in China, enabling precise monitoring and adjustment of the distillation process.The master distiller of Koya brandy is Zhang Baochun, who has over 30 years of experience in brandy distillation. Combining tradition and innovation, she has developed advanced techniques for producing high-quality brandy. In 2019, she became the first woman to receive the title of "Chief Brandy Master in China" from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association.Expand