electra-supply.comHigh standards lead to high quality and create new value. Four Special Liquor is actively promoting the ongoing development of standards for the unique fragrant type of baijiu, establishing a benchmark for category value and effectively driving the high-quality growth of this beverage.
As one of the twelve national aromatic types of baijiu in China, Four Special Liquor is renowned for its distinctive “12353” brewing process, which results in its unique flavor profile. Using whole grain rice as the primary raw material and medium-high temperature Daqu as the saccharification fermentation agent, the production process involves techniques like “reuse of mash with mixed steaming, three entries and four exits.” This innovative method creates a harmonious blend of the three aromatic profiles of strong, light, and sauce-like scents, setting Four Special Liquor apart from numerous other baijiu brands.
Since 1963, Four Special Liquor has been honored with the title of Famous Liquor of Jiangxi Province three times in a row, further gaining recognition with a silver cup at the Light Industry Ministry’s liquor quality competition in 1984. The brand continued to gain prominence, and 1988 marked a pivotal year in its history. Renowned baijiu expert Mr. Zhou Henggang led a team of experts to investigate the Four Special Liquor factory, where they summarized its unique production characteristics, noting the use of whole grain rice, large qu, and specialized brewing cellars. The experts unanimously agreed that Four Special Liquor possessed distinct characteristics, qualifying it as an independent aromatic type, which was later established as the unique fragrant type.
In 1997, the unique fragrant type received official recognition as an independent aromatic type, leading to the creation of industry standards that same year. By 2017, national standards for this aromatic type were approved. In 2011, the Special Fragrant Baijiu Subcommittee of the National Baijiu Standardization Technical Committee was formally established, with its secretariat located at the Four Special Liquor Company, further solidifying its leadership role in the establishment and revision of standards for unique fragrant baijiu.
In September 2024, the National Baijiu Standardization Technical Committee convened a significant meeting in Beijing to finalize the national standards for unique fragrant baijiu. Li Ke, from the Subcommittee’s secretariat, reported on the committee’s 2023 achievements and plans for 2024, detailing the revisions made to the national standard. The assembly unanimously approved the updated content regarding the standards.
During the meeting, Nie Qingping, Deputy Director of the General Office of Four Special Liquor, spoke on behalf of Chairman and General Manager Liao Chang, emphasizing the company’s commitment to standardization efforts as the secretariat for the Unique Fragrant Baijiu Subcommittee and the lead organizer of the national standards. He noted, “In recent years, Four Special Liquor has proactively explored extending the liquor standard system to consumer applications, refining the distinctive traditional processes of unique fragrant baijiu and developing standardized language that consumers can easily understand, thus clearly communicating the unique features and characteristics of our product.”
The aromatic type standards for baijiu are crucial for enhancing product quality and achieving sustainable development, providing scientific guidance for various corporate initiatives such as innovation in production processes, product development, market promotion, consumer education, and brand building.
The recent revision of the national standards for unique fragrant baijiu aims to offer consumers clear and easily understandable information. This initiative is designed to standardize production processes, strengthen quality management, and enhance market competitiveness. Additionally, it will help build consumer trust, expand the consumer base, and promote stable market demand, ultimately driving the high-quality development of the unique fragrant baijiu industry.
