World Baijiu Day 2025
Get into the Spirit!
World Baijiu Day is August 9–a Saturday this year!–and this page lists places planetwide serving this spirit and in some cases celebrating the event.
Venues are listed by city, in alphabetical order, except for Sweden as there are so many places.
This list is a work in progress–get more frequent updates on the WBD Instagram–as there are far more places serving baijiu than someone like me can compile sitting at a kitchen table in Beijing.
If you don’t find your city listed, simply jump online and use search engines, social media platforms and friends’ recommendations to discover your own baijiu haven.
And if you do celebrate World Baijiu Day, and post any photos or videos, please tag with #worldbaijiuday.
Wherever you are enjoying World Baijiu Day, I raise my glass to you!
(Note: It’s usually good to double-check deals and opening hours–and to RSVP–at venues before you go.)
SWEDEN
Malmö. Gothenburg. Lund. Jönköping. Uppsala. Stockholm.
Sweden is always active during World Baijiu Day, in large part due to baijiu afficionado and importer Ludvig Saaf of Lu Spirits.
From new cocktails to baijiu gelatos—baijiulato!—to raucous banquets, Saaf gets into spirit each year like no one else. This year, he has compiled a list of places to find baijiu / baijiu cocktails in six cities in Sweden, making it easier than ever for people to join WBD.
STOCKHOLM
Restaurang Forma
Surfers (see below)
Zinnia
Stjärtilleriet
Pharmarium
GOMA
SWING by Golfbaren
LU Nytorget
MALMÖ
Dubbel Dubbel
RAU
LU Köket
Såjja
GOTHENBURG
Mei Rose
Kaifo
Yomo
LUND
Dubbel Dubbel
JÖNKÖPING
Cholon L’indochine
UPPSALA
Lilly´s
AUCKLAND
The Night Car
Baijiu fun at The Night Car, described as “a modern third culture lounge bar reimagining the ambience of the French Concession in China, burrowed under the heart of Auckland City.”
And where the featured baijiu cocktail is called… Baijiu.
The recipe includes its namesake spirit plus rice, butterfly pea tea, osmanthus syrup, lemon and verjuice, an acidifier, and pours an opera mauve.
The Night Car also lists plenty of tasty snacks like Zha Jiang Mian, Kao Leng Mian and Smashed Cucumber.
Check out the food and drink menus at thenightcar.com.
Huami Restaurant
Huami Chinese Restaurant offers baijiu-inspired gelato, ice cream, cocktails and more. The ice cream includes Huaimi baijiu, which is also misted on top when serving.
Baijiu cocktail fans can try Jade Dragon, including white rum, green tea, apple juice, green apple syrup and bitters, and Pao Pao Pasion, including passionfruit, elderflower, apple and sparkling rosé. The Baijiu Blush features rhubarb gin, creme de violet and citrus.
Huami also has a selection of baijiu, including its house label, hailing from Maotai Village. See the beverage list here.
BALTIMORE
Ni Hao Restaurant
Along with a wide range of Chinese dishes, from dim sum to mapo tofu to kungpao chicken to its signature Peking duck, Ni Hao has a substantial baijiu lineup, listing eight cocktails and 16 baijiu options, neat, includung Vinn, Moutai, Niulanshan, Kinmen Kaoliang, Luzhou Laojiao, Ming River and Wuliangye. Check out the menu here.
BASEL
Peng Dumplings
Peng Dumplings advertises itself as “a bite of China in the heart of Basel.” But you can also have a sip of China in this Swiss restaurant.
The menu lists a half-dozen cocktails, including Sichuan Spritz with Campari and blood orange soda, with made-in-China Ming River baijiu.
More info about Peng Dumplings at peng-dumplings.ch/en/.
BEIJING
Burge’s Bar & Bistro
If you plan to enjoy one cocktail in Beijing for World Baijiu Day, check out the Peking Beijing at Burge’s Bar & Bistro in Sanlitun, a refreshing mix of baijiu, fresh pear, oolong tea and osmanthus, topped with club soda. And excellent value at just RMB40 / USD7.
MO BAR
Exploring China’s eight great cuisines through cocktails: a compelling theme for Volume 5 of the MO Bar menu at Beijing’s Mandarin Hotel. Hard to imagine such a menu without baijiu and China’s national spirit does indeed appear in the section for the “Chuan” style of cuisine:
“Renowned for its bold, spicy, and aromatic flavors, Sichuan cuisine masterfully incorporates chili, Sichuan peppercorn, and various spices to create a rich and diverse taste experience.”
The ensuring concoction, Chuan Spicy Storm, combines spice-infused erguotou—a light aroma-style baijiu—and American whiskey with salty popcorn, cherry and lemon, plus, for an extra spicy edge, pepper tincture and chili powder (RMB168).
For those who want to explore further, MO Bar also has some baijiu-inspired holdovers from prior menus. That includes Time Lapse from Volume One, with a theme of giving historical buildings new life.
This recipe features Earl Grey milk-washed erguotou, Old Duff Genever, kumquat honey and clarified lemon juice. (RMB158)
And from Volume Three, themed on Beijing’s traditional hutongs, there is the Old Beijing.
Here, “hutong” spice-infused Jingye Erguotou meets dark rum, hawthorn cherry Heering, egg white and lime juice. (RMB158)
If you seek some creative cocktails in an upscale space in Beijing on World Baijiu Day, August 9, check out MO Bar.
Tangled Pasta Bar
Baijiu at a Beijing wine tasting!? That was one discovery at new venue Tangled Pasta Bar earlier this year. The menu might be dominated by wine, but it also features a baijiu cocktail: The Jasmine Martini features Shanxi baijiu (fenjiu), jasmine and gin.
Paper Planes
While the bar Paper Planes is not focused on baijiu cocktails, it has featured some tasty riffs on this spirit over the years. Fellow Beijinger Zane recently sent me a photo of one such concoction–King of Fools No 2.
This cocktail is a potent mix with baijiu, mezcal, absinthe and vermouth, plus mastika, a piney resin-seasoned liqueur. That’s a lot of booze and flavor power in one glass! Price: RMB98.
Paper Planes has other baijiu cocktail options, too, including the Master Po, with two kinds of Fenjiu.
BOSTON
*Sumiao Hunan Kitchen*
The Eastern Sun is rising at Sumiao Hunan Kitchen for World Baijiu Day. This cocktail pairs mezcal and light-aroma baijiu with passion fruit, pineapple and agave. And there is a second special cocktail this year, Golden Dynasty, with Earl Grey–washed baijiu, Cognac and citrus.
There are lots more options, too, as Hunan’s regular menu lists a trio of cocktails plus a half-dozen baijius by the bottle.
Those cocktails include Fung Wah ($15), with sesame baijiu and peated scotch paired with chrysanthemum, honey, giner and lemon. Perpetual Motion ($15) pairs baijiu with blood orange, elderflower and mint while Red Ruby ($14) sees baijiu team up with rum, prickly pear, lime and cinnamon.
BRISTOL
Jaded Dragon
Bristol-based Jaded Dragon bills itself as “the UK’s first Chinese Tiki Baijiu Bar” and “the home of baijiu in the UK.” And Bristol Bar is going bonkers for baijiu! Okay, perhaps not bonkers, but the Jaded Dragon team is very much getting into the spirit the week of World Baijiu Day, including:
– Fifty percent off all baijius from Tuesday, August 5 to Saturday, August 9.
– A special baijiu cocktail menu, with four concoctions, each featuring a different style of baijiu—strong, light, sauce and rice. Cocktails are £10 each or £6.50 during happy hour. Those happy hour cocktails are available daily from 3 PM to 8 PM.
– Plus, a lion dance on August 9 at 11 PM, with a free “ganbei shot” for all who are celebrating.
Tuesday also saw a bar takeover by the team from Silk, including two of their baijiu-inspired creations.
Check out the posters for more on what’s happening at Jaded Dragon this week.
BRUSSELS
Silk Cafe
Silk Café & Cocktail Bar gives baijiu fans a worthy option in Brussels.
This place specializes in cocktails that feature Belgian and Asian spirits, such as Mushu, which combines the sauce-aroma baijiu Moutai Yingbin with the liqueur Mandarine Napoléon and yogurt soda. The suggested pairing is coffee prune cake.
Another option is Gaoliang Highball, which stars one of the world’s most famous light-aroma baijius, Gaoliang, along with grapefruit and jasmine tea. Seaweed rolls are the pairing here.
I didn’t spot any other baijiu cocktails in the online menu, but you can find lots of baijiu options on the shelves as well as creative recipes on Cafe Silk’s Instagram–@silk_cafe_cocktail_bar–including a Moutai-inspired twist on the Cosmopolitan as well as drinks by @sophiewhobake.
Cafe Silk also lists a substantial range of speciality coffees and teas plus snacks ranging from bubble waffles with berries and cream to the popular Chinese street food jianbing, a kind of crepe.
Check out Silk Café’s site silkbar.be.
CHANGSHA
St Regis Hotel
Every St Regis Hotel in the world has its version of The Bloody Mary. And in the case of the St Regis in Changsha, it is called The Baijiu Mary.
“Infused with the spirit of Changsha, the Baijiu Mary combines fresh flavors from Hunan Province with Baijiu, a traditional Chinese liquor. Chili adds a distinctive touch inspired by local cuisine, while a twist of orange evokes nearby Orange Island and the curve of the grand staircase at The St. Regis Changsha.”
Along with that baijiu, chili and orange, the recipe also includes tomato juice, lemon juice, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. See the full recipe here.
CHENGDU
Cream Story
Cream Story has created a series of baijiu-inspired ice treats over the years, from a trio of ice creams to a series of popsicles.
One intriguing recent creation saw dried cranberries soaked in sauce aroma-style baijiu from Guizhou. That brought out the berry sweetness and tartness while imbuing them with the richness of the baijiu. The cranberries were then added to Cream Story’s classic Guizhou baijiu-style milk ice cream.
In any case, for World Baijiu Day this year, Cream Story shops in Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen will all be featuring that classic sauce aroma-style baijiu ice cream.
AlmosTea
This Sichuan operation puts intriguing twists on teas, including a baijiu cocktail called E’mei White and featuring a jasmine-scented green tea called Bitan Piaoxue–Snow Swirling in a Jade Pool.
This cocktail involves a milk wash in which the casein proteins of the milk bind to fusel alcohols in the baijiu to clarify it and smooth out the flavors.
The baijiu–TABB: The Abnormal Baijiu Brand–is infused with this tea before meeting the melon sweetness of Midori, which lifts the fruity esters of the baijiu.
And there is more. Peach syrup. Lemon juice. And tonic water: “the quinine bite is our wink to baijiu’s original medicinal roots.”
Check it out at AlmosTea in Chengdu.
CHICAGO
Nine Bar
Opening in Chicago’s Chinatown last summer, Nine Bar offers both tasty snacks, like dumplings, mapo hot fries, cold sesame noodles and “General Jones’ Wings’, and creative cocktails. The latter includes one baijiu concoction, Ebb & Flow, with Iichiko shochu, Ming River baijiu, the soft drink Calpico plus basil, strawberry and lemon. For more details, see Nine Bar’s website.
CHRISTCHURCH
Commodore Airport Hotel
Taizi is not only one of the rare baijius made outside China but has also been part of World Baijiu Day since the very first event in 2015.
This year’s party in Taizi’s hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand, will be held at Commodore Airport Hotel. Enjoy a four-course meal plus two servings of Taizi baijiu, either neat, on ice or in cocktail form, on August 9. RSVP with Sam Lu of Taizi at sam@taizi.co.nz by July 27 and get ready for a fun night of food and drink!
Taizi is also teaming up with four venues in town on cocktails for this year’s World Baijiu Day. That lineup includes the Baijiu Beach by No. 4 Bar & Restaurant, Purple Haze at Rydges Latimer and Taizi Blue at The Hoi Polloi. Also participating is Hotel Elms.
Sounds like a World Baijiu Day pub crawl waiting to happen!
Learn more about Taizi at www.taizi.co.nz.
COPERHAGEN
Hot Pot Republic
Two East Asian alcohols combine at Hot Pot Republic for a cocktail called Dragon Fizz. The potency of baijiu meets the milky Korean rice wine makgeoli, with kalamansi and cucumber syrup rounding out this zesty drink. Finished with a goldenberry—”a sweet-tart fruit wrapped in a delicate husk for a vibrant touch.”
Another option is Pinky Rachel, described as “summer in a glass”, as the fruit power of guava and peach pair wih hisbiscus and baijiu. More about Hot Pot Republic at hotpotrepublic.dk.
DALLAS
Apothecary
Creative riffs on classic cocktails are fun for curious consumers. And given baijiu is relatively new on many of the planet’s bar shelves, this spirit is often part of that twist.
Apothecary in Dallas has such a riff on a Scotch-and-Drambuie classic — the Rusty Nail — that rose to popularity in the 1950s.
“This isn’t your grandfather’s Rusty Nail,” posts Apothecary about The Un-Rusty Nail. “Ours trades nostalgia for nuance.”
Baijiu is swapped in for Scotch and given new partners–the citrusy tang of grapefruit and the Asian vibrancy of pandan and lemongrass Shochu–plus a nod to the past with Drambuie. Check this one and other cocktails out at @apothecary_bar / apothecary.bar.
DUBLIN
J2 Sushi
The thirsty in Dublin can get an early start on World Baijiu Day this year! Moutai Ireland is teaming up with J2 Sushi on a pair of cocktails available from August 1.
Moutai Ginger, a riff on the Moscow Mule, is “a modern highball with Chinese soul.” In this case, China’s most famous spirit is partnered with ginger beer, lime juice and simple syrup. “Clean, strong and unapologetically sharp,” states the tasting note. “The spicy warmth of ginger beer lifts the rich aroma of Maotai, while lime and syrup round it out.”
Meanwhile, Moutai Raspberry partners this sauce aroma-style baijiu with raspberry syrup, ginger ale and lime juice. “The deep character of Maotai meets the tart sweetness of raspberry and the crisp kick of ginger ale. Finished with lime for balance,” states the tasting note. “Smooth, playful—and it kicks just right.”
You can enjoy these cocktails with a wide range of dishes, including sushi, yakitori and tempura. See the lunch and dinner menus for No. 9 by J2 sushi at j2sushidublin.ie.
Wong’s Chinese Restaurant
Wong’s Chinese Restaurant x Moutai Ireland = Ten Days of a Special Food and Baijiu Pairing!
World Baijiu Day veteran Wong’s has a special combo until August 10. Drop into this Dublin establishment and indulge in the signature dish, Sweet & Sour King Prawn, which comes paired with a Moutai cocktail, all for just €35.
“This exclusive pairing highlights the versatility of Moutai, blending its rich, complex flavors with the bold, vibrant tastes of authentic Chinese cuisine,” says Moutai Ireland.
Check out Wong’s at wongs.ie.
Senbazuru Izakaya
Chill out on World Baijiu Day with Moutai Ice Cream. Senbazuru Izakaya in Dublin is once again featuring this icy treat–marrying the richness of Moutai with the creamy sweetness of ice cream–for the summer.
And there are ten discounted servings per day for parties that spend more than €80. They can order a serving of Moutai ice cream for €2 instead of the usual €12.99.
Check out the Senbazuru Izakaya website at senbazurufairview.ie.
EDMONTON
Baijiu
Cocktail bar and eatery Baijiu has been making baiiu cocktails for many years. The current menu includes the Baijiu Sour, with baijiu, Remy Martin VSOP, five-spice syrup, lemon and egg white, and the Baijiu Barbie (pictured), with baijiu, coconut tequila, pineapple syrup and lemon. For the full menu, including some creative twists on classic Chinese snacks, plus location and opening hours, check out the site.
GENEVA
Pekin Palace
Switzerland is on the World Baijiu Day map this year thanks to Pekin Palace in the heart of Geneva.
Guests get a free shot of baijiu from a choice of aroma styles. Plus, a buy-one get-one-free deal on baijiu cocktails.
Try the Moutai Lychee Cocktail, which partners this baijiu’s rich aroma with refreshing fruit sweetness. It comes complete with a panda plush toy (see image two).
Pekin Palace also offers a wide range of Chinese comfort foods. Check out the full menu at pekinpalace.ch.
GUANGZHOU
Sanyou
Baijiu bar Sanyou, by the same team behind Hope & Sesame, is one of the best places for baijiu fans to gather on World Baijiu Day.
Sanyou is marking World Baijiu Day with a special cocktail called Baijiu Trios. This one features a pair of styles – rice aroma and special aroma – along with Longjing green tea wine, Camellia and Bergamot, and bitter orange flower liquid.
“It’s very floral for the summer,” says Sanyou’s Bastien Ciocca.
More about this establishment here.
HAMBURG
Kofookoo
For a third straight year, Hamburg restaurant Kofookoo and Moutai Germany will celebrate World Baijiu Day with two new cocktails that mix traditional alcohol and innovative mixology.
Golden Blossom partners Moutai with plenty of fruit power — pineapple, passion and oranges juices — plus the sweetness of elderflower syrup.
Dragon Lagoon also features passion fruit and pineapple but switches out orange for apple, then gets a special twist from Blue Caracao.
Wisdom Express is the representative for Moutai in Germany and has done other fun World Baijiu Day events in Hamburg over the years.
Learn more about Wisdom Express at @moutai_germany and the restaurant at @kofookoo.
HANGZHOU
The Living Room
Spirits Architects, part of the Hope & Sesame Group that launched the baijiu-centric cocktail bars Sanyou in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, created a compelling list of cocktails for the newest Shangri-la hotel — The Silk Lakehouse in Hangzhou.
The cocktail menu, for the hotel’s The Living Room, includes a half-dozen cocktails with baijiu, and some pretty sophisticated ones at that.
Spring Water mixes the cleanness of Kaishan baiju and Wild Mist gin with Longjing tea, green apple, kiwi and aloe soda.
More intense is Moutai Milk Punch, which partners sauce-aroma baijiu Moutai Prince with sweet vermouth and cherry plus dark chocolate, milk and lemon juice.
Perhaps the quirkiest is West Lake Sour Fish. This one includes both Laimao savory aroma baijiu and Tailong barrel-aged huangjiu aka yellow wine. The drink is completed with red wine vinegar syrup, beetroot juice, lime juice and Angostura bitters.
Bar Infinite
New baijiu cocktails on the summer menu at Bar Infinite in Hangzhou.
Candied Hawthorn for Grownups (大人的糖葫蘆) features a garnish inspired by a snack popular with children. The cocktail itself is an intriguing mix of baijiu and coffee, grape and lemon, and clarified milk. The garnish evokes a popular street treat—candied hawthorns sold on a stick aka tanghulu.
In this case, “fresh grapes [are] coated in a sugar glaze made from red wine, cinnamon, cloves, and other ingredients.”
And Infinite has more options, such as a cocktail featuring baijiu, coffee and yangmei / bayberry as a base, rounded out with pomegranate, clarified milk and soda water. This one come with a milk foam crisp decorated with strawberry gel as the garnish.
Infinite calls it “fitting for this season—simple, refreshing, and easy to drink.”
Cream Story
Cream Story has created a series of baijiu-inspired ice treats over the years, from a trio of ice creams to a series of popsicles.
One intriguing recent creation saw dried cranberries soaked in sauce aroma-style baijiu from Guizhou. That brought out the berry sweetness and tartness while imbuing them with the richness of the baijiu. The cranberries were then added to Cream Story’s classic Guizhou baijiu-style milk ice cream.
In any case, for World Baijiu Day this year, Cream Story shops in Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen will all be featuring that classic sauce aroma-style baijiu ice cream.
HOBART
Tasmanian Spirits Showcase
Celebrate World Baijiu Day in a sea of spirits. Sanyou in Tasmania is the rare baijiu producer outside China using sauce-aroma and strong-aroma techniques. And it will be pouring its intriguing baijiu at Tasmanian Spirits Showcase on August 9.
It’s part of Tasmanian Whisky Week and will feature hundreds of local whiskies, gins, vodkas, rums, absinthes and more.
“Once you’re had five whiskies and five gins, and you want to try something different, come down and try some award-winning baijiu that’s made right here in Tasmania,” said Sanyou co-founder Ian Sypkes in a recent Instagram post.
To get more info or buy tickets for Tasmania Spirits Showcase, see taswhiskyweek.com/the-tasmanian-spirit-showcase-9-august-pw1-hobart.
JAKARTA
MO Bar
The menu at Mandarin Oriental’s MO Bar in Jakarta stars a baijiu-inspired creation with some kick.
Called the “Oriental Martini”, it not only features baijiu but also lychee liqueur and — for the kick — a Sichuan pepper and curry cordial. Find more details, including the link to the menu, here.
Minuman
Load up on baijiu at Minuman in Jakarta, which has over 20 different options covering the top brands.
Shui Jing Fang. Luzhou Laojiao. Wuliangye. Langjiu. Jiangbaixiao. Ming River. Yanghe. Kweichow Moutai. Kinmen Kaoliang. They are all there, with six options that also get you free glassware.
See the full lineup here. And the glassware deals here. Minuman also has a game with prizes like a bottle of Ming River.
JAKARTA
Mo Bar
The drinks menu at Mandarin Oriental’s MO Bar in Jakarta stars a baijiu-inspired creation with some kick. Called the Oriental Martini, it not only features baijiu but also lychee liqueur and — for the kick — a Sichuan pepper and curry cordial. More details, including the menu, here.
LONDON
Gong Bar
Enjoy the gift of education. Spirits importer Cheng International is teaming up with Cocktails in the City for informative baijiu fun this Friday and Saturday at Gong Bar in Shangri-la Hotel.
The pair will run a trio of classes that not only reveal the unique character of baijiu, with a focus on light-aroma Fenjiu, but also provide insights into using this spirit in cocktails, courtesy of the head of mixology, Mitsuhiro Nakamuras.
The first class is Friday, August 8, at 8 PM, with two more on August 9, World Baijiu Day itself, at 2 PM and at 8 PM. These sessions are open to all Cocktails in the City guests, with no reservations needed.
Follow @cheng_international on Instagram for more details.
Canton Blue
Canton Blue in The Peninsula Hotel in London will feature a week-plus of baijiu promotions that overlaps World Baijiu Day on August 9. From August 8 to August 16, Canton Blue will feature four dishes created using baijiu, with each accompanied by a glass of baijiu. For more about Canton Blue or to RSVP, check out @cantonblue.london.
LOS ANGELES
Peking Tavern
Original World Baijiu Day partner Peking Tavern is preparing for baijiu fun once again.
“Mark your calendar. We’re having a TIKI PARTY with baijiu on World Baijiu Day, this Saturday night, starting a 9 PM,” says Peking Tavern co-founder Andrew Chiu. “Get your island attire on and be the first to try a Bai Tai—a one-night only cocktail—served with complimentary Pizza Egg Roll for the first five to buy.”
Chiu also says that Peking Tavern will debut its Secret Menu, which means bringing back the Spicy Shumai—a popular dim sum dish with pork and shrimp fillings. RSVP on Yelp.
Since 2015, Peking Tavern has done everything from a baijiu cocktail contest with customers as bartenders to featuring mini bottles of erguotou to special one-night-only cocktails to some tenuous outdoors-only drinks during the pandemic to… this year’s Tiki Party!
NEW YORK CITY
Singlish
Those seeking to get into the (baijiu) spirit in the Big Apple can check out Singlish, billed as a Singaporean bar in the heart of New York.
The offerings include Chiobu, “a boisterous conversation of spice, juniper and baijiu funk”, and Henh Ah, with baijiu, orchid gin, jasmine tea, Sichuan pepper, blood orange and cardamom. Plus, a barrel-aged Negroni using Ming River baijiu, cinzano rosso vermouth and more.
ne intriguing cocktail posted in December is the “Kopi” aka “our twist on the classic espresso martini.” This drink pairs vodka and baijiu with homemade coffee liqueur, cold brew, pandan and cream – “Caffeine, comfort, and a little kick—perfect for late nights or whenever you need a bold pick-me-up.” More about Singlish at singlishnyc.com.
San Jose
Jack’s Bar | 7 Bamboo Lounge
SHENZHEN
*Sanyou*
Baijiu bar Sanyou, by the same team behind Hope & Sesame, is one of the best places for baijiu fans to gather on World Baijiu Day.
Sanyou is marking World Baijiu Day with a special cocktail called Baijiu Trios. This one features a pair of styles – rice aroma and special aroma – along with Longjing green tea wine, Camellia and Bergamot, and bitter orange flower liquid.
“It’s very floral for the summer,” says Sanyou’s Bastien Ciocca.
Of course, Sanyou also offers a wide range of other cocktails plus dozens of baijius to explore.More about this establishment here.
Cream Story
Cream Story has created a series of baijiu-inspired ice treats over the years, from a trio of ice creams to a series of popsicles.
One intriguing recent creation saw dried cranberries soaked in sauce aroma-style baijiu from Guizhou. That brought out the berry sweetness and tartness while imbuing them with the richness of the baijiu. The cranberries were then added to Cream Story’s classic Guizhou baijiu-style milk ice cream.
In any case, for World Baijiu Day this year, Cream Story shops in Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen will all be featuring that classic sauce aroma-style baijiu ice cream.
Bar Choice
Bar Choice in Shenzhen is teamed up with ice cream specialists Fabbri and TABB: The Abnormal Baijiu Brand from August 1 to August 14—6 PM to midnight daily—to feature three sorbets. That includes one featuring mixed berries and TABB that is then set in a cocktail of Longjing, lemon leaf, coconut water and vermouth.
SAN FRANCISCO
Li Po Lounge
Dark rum. Light rum. Baijiu. Pineapple juice. Given such as ingredient list, I’m not surprised the Chinese Maitai at Li Po Lounge in San Francisco’s Chinatown, is described as “strong” by multiple imbibers. But “legendary” seems like the best tag for this place as a whole.
Li Po Lounge is a self-described “dive bar” named for a famed Tang Dynasty philosopher and drinker also known as Li Bai. And has quite a history, with its 90th birthday coming up.
Per SFGATE: “Opened on February 10, 1937 (Chinese New Year’s Eve), Li Po Lounge was one of the first post-Prohibition bars in Chinatown. The original proprietors were Wilbert Wong, one of the organizers of San Francisco’s first Chinese New Year Parade, and William Jack Chow, one of the first Chinese American lawyers in the U.S. At the time, many of the Chinatown bars catered to white Americans looking for something “exotic.”
And that signature cocktail? “Possibly the most famous thing about Li Po Lounge is its Chinese Mai Tai, a potent cocktail created by current owner Kenneth Lee… It’s made up of pineapple juice, three kinds of rum and some kind of ‘Chinese Liqueur’. While it was well known locally for years, it became world-renowned when Anthony Bourdain got shickered on it during the SF episode of his 2012 show ‘The Layover.’”
SHANGHAI
Cream Story
Cream Story has created a series of baijiu-inspired ice treats over the years, from a trio of ice creams to a series of popsicles.
One intriguing recent creation saw dried cranberries soaked in sauce aroma-style baijiu from Guizhou. That brought out the berry sweetness and tartness while imbuing them with the richness of the baijiu. The cranberries were then added to Cream Story’s classic Guizhou baijiu-style milk ice cream.
In any case, for World Baijiu Day this year, Cream Story shops in Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen will all be featuring that classic sauce aroma-style baijiu ice cream.
SINGAPORE
Phool House Bar
Isz Valentino discovered China’s lost dynasty. In a cocktail. And it inspired me to write a poem:
China’s got dynasties / more than a few / The Qing and the Ming / the Tang Dynasty, too
But if you want fun / and want to get drunky / You need to check out / the Dynasty Funky
Valentino is a long-time supporter of World Baijiu Day and this year he will be at rooftop bar Phool House, part of the restaurant Meh’r by Inderpal in Singapore. The featured cocktail? The Funky Dynasty.
This one stars Kweichow Moutai, Blue Curacao, Banana Du Bresil, lime and AER, an alternative to egg whites.
“A bold high-contrast cocktail that opens with the unmistakable umami-rich intensity of Moutai, softened and lifted by the ripe candied notes of Banana du Bresil,” writes Valentino. “The Blue Curaçao adds a subtle orange zestiness and visual pop, while fresh lime cuts through with sharp acidity to balance the rich sweetness. Expect a funk-forward, tropical yet complex sipper — equal parts provocative and refreshing, like a neon-lit night market breeze.”
Choon Hoy Parlor
This new venue, with dozens of baijius as well as cocktails, highballs and tasting flights featuring this spirit, bills itself as having “the largest baijiu selection outside of China in Asia.”
The shelves hold everything from Yanghe and Fenjiu to Moutai and Red Star, smartly organized in styles such “umami series”, “refreshing grains series” and “intense tropical fruits series” and more. Meanwhile, the cocktails include the Sorghum Sour, with erguotou, pineapple, lime and egg white, and the Wode Mei Ren (My Beauty), with Shede baijiu and Mei Gui Lu (rose-infused sorghum liqueur), plus watermelon, melon, orange and lime.
Choon Hoy Parlor is above all a tribute to Singaporean food. More details here.
Cat Bite Club
The true loves at Singapore’s Cat Bite Club are agave spirits and rice spirits. But you can also find plenty of other fun booze options. That includes baijiu.
The online menu lists a trio of baijius–light-aroma Chu Yeh 10-year-old from Shanxi, strong-aroma Luzhou Laojiao from Sichuan and sauce-aroma Cang 7 from Guizhou–but the photos of the bar shelves suggest there is lots more to be explored.
Cat Bite Club also offers 45-minute “master classes”, each featuring four different spirits.
“There is a wide selection of mezcal and tequila offered, and enough soju, sochu and baijiu to keep you happy in more ways than one,” writes Robb Report.
And per 88 Bamboo: “Cat Bite Club is at it again! You know the new joint that has turned heads late last year with its eclectic focus on agave spirits and rice-based spirits. They specialise in agave spirits that encompass the world of tequila and its smoky, slightly wild cousin, mezcal. As for the rice side, think soju, shochu, and even some varieties of that potent Chinese spirit, baijiu.”
Discover more about Cat Bite Club at @catbiteclub and catbiteclub.com.
STOCKHOLM
Surfers
The Surfers restaurant ranks among the best spots in Stockholm to enjoy baijiu. Not only does it feature a wide range of Chinese comfort foods, but it has also offered plenty of baijiu cocktails over the years, including Baijiu & Berries, with Fenjiu, black currant and hints of coffee.
For World Baijiu Day 2025, Surfers will partner with Fenjiu for some unique baijiu cocktails, including with a new 10-year bamboo leaf-infused spirit called Zhuye Qing.
Surfers also has a wide range of baijiu to enjoy straight. The menu lists over a dozen options, including from brands like Red Star, Fenjiu, Luzhou Laojiao and Moutai. Beyond that, the adventurous can sign up for a tasting of baijiu and Shaoxing wine led by spirits importer and expert Ludvig Saaf. See the details about Surfers’ foods, drinks and interactive sessions at https://surfersstockholm.se/en/.
SYDNEY
Grain Bar
To celebrate World Baijiu Day, Grain Bar is serving a time-tested favourite, the Heart of the Garden, aka “a cocktail that’s as captivating as it is complex.”
This one brings together baijiu with Roku Gin, St. Germain, Yusuzhu and lychee for a “delicate balance of floral, fruit and fire.”
TORONTO
Big Trouble
The new summer drink special at Big Trouble in Toronto is a baijiu twist on an effervescent classic–the Aperol Spritz.
Fenjiu / Fenchiew, a light-aroma style baijiu, is partnered with Aperol, lemon and Prosecco for summer refreshment. Get it for $14 all season long.
Big Trouble also offers a “House Made Baijiu” trio–Passionfruit and Oolong; Mangosteen and Lemon; Peach and Calpico–that pours at 21 percent and cost $27 each. Or you can get them every Wednesday for $25 each.
Get more details on Big Trouble drinks and dishes at bigtrouble.ca.
Grey Tiger
For those Torontonians in search of intriguing cocktails on World Baijiu Day, look no further than Grey Tiger, currently celebrating its tenth year.
I checked out the online menu and spotted two cocktails with baijiu, both recently spotlighted on Grey Tiger’s Instagram page at @greytigerto.
One is the “umami-rich potion” The Sacred Taking ($23), created by Ryan Ringer with inspiration from American Horror Story: Coven. A trio of spiced blanco tequila, mezcal and baijiu already screams flavor and aroma complexity, but it comes with the umami backing of fino rice brine, smoked olive oil and olive tapanade, plus the power of Sichuan peppercorn (see image one).
The other is Dreams Unwind ($22). Knox Wong “created this Negroni Bianco variant while daydreaming about Lychee Martinis.” Along with lychee black tea gin, Lillet Blanc, Bitter Bianco and baijiu, it also includes longan and acid phosphate. Described as “floral and musky.”
Check out more Grey Tiger cocktails at www.greytiger.ca.
Hong Shing
Those desiring a deep dive into baijiu in Toronto may find no better destination than Hong Shing, serving the city for nearly three decades.
Hong Shing offers a range of cocktails using different styles of baijiu, thus allowing you to smell and taste the versatility of this spirit. And names like Shittake Happens and Grape Gatsby ought to evoke a smile or two.
Hong Shing also has tasting flights, again featuring a range of styles that will demonstrate that not all baijius “taste the same.” And you can also explore the entire collection of baijiu and sip or shoot this spirit straight up.
As a major bonus, there is plenty of comfort food to keep your belly full while you indulge!
Discover more about Hong Shing at @hongshingto and hongshing.com.
Sunny’s Chinese
Talk about a triple threat. Restaurant Sunny’s Chinese has a potent option called the Gun Powder Slap: down a daiquiri, then a shot of baijiu, then a draft beer.
The baijiu in question is that favorite style from Shanxi—fenjiu. You can pair that trio with some tasty eats, including mapo tofu, dan dan noodles and orange chicken. Check out the full menu.
VANCOUVER
The Keefer Bar
For those seeking baijiu straight, the options including sauce aroma-style Moutai Chun, light-aroma style Yellow Crane Tower, and Chu Yeh Ching Chiew, essentially Fenjiu infused with bamboo and other ingredients.
Prefer cocktails? The Prescriptions menu lists a tropical- and pungent-sounding option, Durian Colada ($19). Baijiu and overproof rum are paired with durian, citrus, pandan, coconut and clarified tofu.
Meanwhile, the Alumni menu offers Lunchbox Protocol ($19), featuring a trio of alcohols—baijiu, rum and absinthe—plus salted plum, coconut rice milk, lime and egg soda.
You can also grab a few snacks, with options ranging from spring rolls to a trio of baos to deep-fried dough stick with dips. Check it out at thekeeferbar.com.
Quanjude Beijing Duck House
Discount duck and free baijiu cocktails? That’s the double deal at Quanjude in Vancouver–all you need to do is a bit of social media work.
First, the duck: Follow Quanjude on social media, then send a DM to claim a voucher for 40 percent off a roast duck.
Then, the baijiu cocktails: You get two of in exchange for posting a review of at least 20 words on social media with three pics, tagging @idenquanjude on Instagram.
There are 100 duck vouchers in total. And they can be used from July 28 to August 10, so you can just make it in time for duck and drinks on August 9, World Baijiu Day. See the poster for full details.
And for those who prefer baijiu straight, Quanjude has six different Yanghe options as one-ounce and three-ounce pours. Plus, a selection of other baijius, including Moutai, Luzhou Laojiao, Gujing Gongjiu and a 15-year-old Erguotou.
YANTAI
Spring Bank
This coastal city in Shandong province is a regular stop for World Baijiu Day thanks to Spring Bank, which is co-owned by Steve Wang, known for his WBD events at WE Brewery in Tianjin and during his travels to Minsk — see “Operation GanbeiLarus.”
This year, Spring Bank has a brand-new cocktail aka The Leeward Slope. The recipe includes teas and spices grown leeward—that side of the hill, mountain et al sheltered from the wind and typically warmer and drier.
The featured spirit is a strong-aroma baijiu made by UrBrew. Also featured is Longjing green tea from the West Lake area of Hangzhou, and Mujianzi, an evergreen shrub sometimes called Mountain Pepper that is used as a spice. Lemon juice and clarified milk round out the recipe.
“The aroma of the green tea and mujianzi emerge first, followed by the subtle scent of the baijiu, and the final notes if fresh lemon and smooth milk,” posts Spring Bank.
In terms of taste, “the refreshing character of the baijiu lingers at the beginning, followed by a faint mango, thanks to the addition of clarified milk, which gives the drink a richer texture and a smooth blend of milky sweetness and tea fragrance.”
The Leeward Slope will be available throughout August at Spring Bank—just say “World Baijiu Staff” to the bar team.