On the morning of November 15, the "Qingxiang Xinghuacun · Vintage Lüliangshan — Expert Tasting Session for Xinghuacun Liquor Group's Collection Edition Lüliangshan Wine" was grandly held in Xinghuacun, Shanxi. The event brought together industry leaders, renowned experts, and representatives from leading enterprises to jointly appreciate the exceptional quality of the collection-edition Lüliangshan wine and discuss its promising future prospects.

The expert panel for the tasting event boasts a formidable lineup, comprising several renowned Chinese brewing masters and industry authorities. The panel is led by Du Xiaowei, a Chinese Brewing Master and Deputy Secretary-General of the China Alcoholic Beverages Association; members include Han Jianshu, another Chinese Brewing Master, former General Manager of Shanxi Xinghuacun Fenjiu Factory Co., Ltd., and Honorary Chairman of the Liquor Industry Branch of the Shanxi Provincial Experts and Scholars Association; Fan Wenyi, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the Shanxi Brewing Industry Association; Lei Zhenhe, a Chinese Brewing Master and former Chief Engineer of China Fenjiu City at Shanxi Xinghuacun Fenjiu Factory Co., Ltd.; and Wang Fengxian, a Chinese Brewing Master and China’s Chief Wine Taster. In addition, the event has specially invited Guo Shuangwei, a Chinese Brewing Master, representative inheritor of a national-level intangible cultural heritage project, and former Chairman of Shanxi Xinghuacun Fenjiu Group, to provide invaluable guidance and insights into product development. Also in attendance were key company leaders, including Xu Tangfeng, Party Branch Secretary and Chairman of Shanxi Xinghuacun Liquor Group Co., Ltd.; Chen Guoqing, Vice Chairman; Che Xiaoming, Party Branch Secretary of the Administrative Division and Director of the General Office at Shanxi Liuliu Coking Coal Group Co., Ltd.; as well as Lü Xiansun, General Manager of Haina Institute and Executive Director of the China Alcoholic Beverages Association.

In his welcoming speech, Chairman Xu Tangfeng extended sincere respect to the attending leaders and experts, and elaborated on Xinghuacun Liquor Group's commitment to quality and its philosophy of inheriting tradition while embracing innovation.

He pointed out that the launch of the two products—Lüliangshan Liquor 53° in its Collector’s Edition and the original Lüliangshan Liquor in its Collector’s Edition—carries profound significance: First, it reaffirms the commitment to traditional craftsmanship, including earthen-pot fermentation and the time-honored practice of using three types of qu, thereby infusing ancient techniques into modern brewing. Second, the entire process was meticulously guided by China’s Master Brewer Guo Shuangwei, while the wine’s unique flavor profile was expertly crafted under the supervision of national-level blending master Yan Xiang, ensuring that the product not only stands the test of time but also meets the rigorous standards set by industry experts. Finally, these products seamlessly integrate the "heroic spirit of Lüliang" rooted in revolutionary history with the enduring ethos of Jin merchants, breathing new cultural vitality into them for the contemporary era.

So, what exactly are the core advantages of these two exquisite wines? Zhang Xingyu, the director of Lüliang Winery, elaborated in detail during the subsequent product presentation: The Lüliangshan Collection Edition is crafted from one of the world’s top 10 spirits-producing regions—Lüliang—and is based on 10-year-old aged wine, carefully blended with premium 13-year-old aged liquor. This limited-production offering boasts exceptional quality and rarity. The product features "five unique advantages": - **Unique water quality**: It uses deep, mineral-rich karst spring water sourced directly from the Lüliang Mountains, ensuring purity and richness in minerals. - **Unique microbial profile**: Fermentation relies on three types of traditional Daqu, creating a remarkably diverse and robust microbial ecosystem. - **Unique production process**: The winery adheres steadfastly to the traditional methods of "double-clear steaming followed by secondary clearing" and "solid-state fermentation in earthen jars," strictly following the principle of "clarity first, clarity throughout." - **Unique aging method**: The wine is stored using time-honored techniques such as earthen jar burial and outdoor deep-burial practices, maintaining a stable temperature that promotes optimal maturation. This process enhances the wine’s aroma, depth, and complexity, resulting in a rich, mellow, and profoundly elegant flavor. - **Unique craftsmanship**: The entire production process is overseen by Mr. Guo, a renowned Chinese master brewer and inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage brewing techniques. Every employee embodies a spirit of dedication and meticulous attention to detail, striving for perfection in every step.

The product evaluation session is the core of this event. The expert panel conducted a rigorous and meticulous tasting of the products, assessing them across multiple dimensions—including color, aroma, taste, and aftertaste—based on the baijiu evaluation standards, and carefully documented their feedback.

It is worth noting that this tasting event brought together a total of five "Chinese Brewing Masters," including the specially invited expert Guo Shuangwei—making it an event of exceptionally high caliber. The selection of "Chinese Brewing Masters" was launched in 2006, jointly organized by the China National Light Industry Federation and the China Alcoholic Beverages Association. The selection criteria are rigorous, reflecting the highest level of technical expertise in China's brewing industry. As of 2025, only 116 individuals nationwide have earned this prestigious title. The presence of these five masters at the tasting event underscores the industry's strong recognition of the Lüliangshan Wine Collection Edition—and further affirms the product's outstanding and dependable quality.

After the evaluation session, Deputy Secretary-General Du Xiaowei read out the comprehensive assessment comments on behalf of the expert panel:

The Collector's Edition Lüliangshan Liquor, 53% ABV: Crisp and crystal-clear, with a pure, delicate aroma that evolves into a pronounced aged fragrance. It boasts a complex bouquet featuring notes of fermented grain, floral hints, and honeyed sweetness, delivering a smooth, mellow, and exceptionally balanced taste—rich yet refined, with a long, satisfying finish. The empty glass retains its alluring aroma for an extended time, perfectly capturing the quintessential style of Daqu-style clear-fragrance baijiu.

The Collector's Edition Lüliangshan Original Wine: Crisp and transparent, with a pure and elegant aroma that stands out for its aged fragrance. It boasts a natural, complex bouquet featuring notes of fermented grain, cereal, floral, and fruity scents. The taste is rich, full-bodied, sweetly smooth, and refreshingly clean, leaving a lingering, satisfying aftertaste. Even after the glass is emptied, the delicate aroma lingers beautifully—a hallmark characteristic of Daqu-style Qingxiang-type baijiu.

The successful hosting of this expert tasting event not only underscores the high regard for Xinghuacun Liquor Group's meticulous craftsmanship in brewing, but also lays a solid foundation for the entry of the 53° Classic Lüliangshan Wine and the Classic Lüliangshan Original Spirit into the premium Qingxiang market. From the experts' unequivocal praise of the liquor's exceptional quality to the brand's clear market positioning and rich cultural essence, the Classic Lüliangshan Wine has already taken a confident step forward, driven by both quality and market momentum. Moving forward, Xinghuacun Liquor Group will seize this tasting event as a fresh starting point, carrying forward its time-honored brewing techniques and leveraging five unique competitive advantages to write a new chapter in the ongoing journey toward elevating Qingxiang-style baijiu to the luxury segment.