By Jim Boyce | Interior design shop / wine bar Pop-Up Beijing has set the standard for World Baijiu Day events in Beijing since I launched this project in 2015. That first year, when some people were skeptical about celebrating China’s national spirit, Pop-Up embraced the idea and hosted over 60 people during a day-long tasting of both China and international brands paired with baijiu-inspired “drunken shrimp” pizzas from Gung Ho.
In 2016, Pop-Up shifted gears and partnered with Good Works for a charity fund-raiser that featured baijiu coffees and teas. The moutai-style chocolate coffee that day still ranks among the best baijiu concoctions I’ve tasted.
And for 2017?
Pop-Up was pretty quiet before letting out details in the first week of August about a food and baijiu pairing with caterer Sue Zhou. The event turned out to be superb and featured everything I believe World Baijiu Day should be about: baijiu skeptics realizing the diversity of this spirit, people trying and sharing thoughts about various brands, and a nice lineup of snacks to enjoy with the booze. There were plenty of good vibes and plenty of new friendships made.
Even better, Nine Inch, one of my favorite Beijing craft beer makers, released its first attempt at a spirit, while Glenn Schuitman of Pop-Up and regular customer Brian Hewson provided lots of fun info on the baijius. There were a lot of smiling faces that night.
Here are some photos, plus copies of the snack and baijiu menus, courtesy of Pop-Up Beijing:
Follow World Baijiu Day on Facebook and Twitter. And check out my China wine site Grape Wall and nightlife site Beijing Boyce.
Founded in 2015, World Baijiu Day is held each August 9, with events in over 60 cities so far. Follow WBD on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And get in touch via spirit (at) worldbaijiuday.com.
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