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China's whiskey thirst causing global shortage amid booming sales

chivasregal.jpg All we have to do is step into BonBon or Muse on a Saturday night to see how popular whiskey (usually mixed with green tea) is in China. But did you know the thirst of the newly rich here is so strong that it's causing a global shortage at the top end of the market?

The boom in demand for 12-year-old and older malts has caused so much whiskey to be exported that certain distilling companies are starting to ration supplies. So how are whiskey companies ensuring that China gets its sweet nectar?

One way is by spending over 4.5 billion RMB to expand distilling capabilities. Until those new distilleries are built though, several companies are contemplating blending various ages under a non-age specific label.

We're not sure that would help, since the Chinese are very attached to buying what they consider "the best." When news reports stated that Chivas had allegedly mixed younger, inferior whiskeys into its Regal brand, it prompted a huge uproar.

Source: Ad Age

By the way, the Shanghaiist is aware that there are different ways to spell the word whisk(e)y, depending on where the whisk(e)y was distilled. But we're too hung over to figure out which spelling is proper so we're going with the one our spell check accepts.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@shanghaiist.com with further questions, comments or tips.
By Elaine Chow in on February 19, 2009 3:00 PM

Comments [rss]

  • ShangHighRoller

    Ha ha El Jefe, exactly right. The Chivas Life.



    Lots of Islay fans on this board. Good to see. Uisge-beatha, ladies and gentlemen.

  • EL JEFE

    Chivas is good for ice fishing and shooting bow and arrows

  • bawong

    doubtful the distilleries spent RMB, chinas taste for blended crap continues.. that is why there is so much counterfeiting, we should only start to worry when the average drinker in these clubs starts to get a taste for single malts and has the ability to discern the differnce between a lagavulin and anardbeg. then send out the warning signals and I shall stock up. until then im sure pernod ricard has pumped so many barrels of this shit, they could even make an scottishman blush.

  • stentor

    China, hooked on scotch, tobacco, the internet.



    vintageshanghai, that is encouraging, a just bite on the ass.

    I hope the counterfeiters have all the other rare scotches 'in stock' before the mobs get on to them in fads.

  • lasecondababele

    both are correct. it depends where you're from.

    and everybody's just too caught up writing flippant commentary to care (sorry I just had to join the crowd).

  • vintageshanghai

    Two things:



    1. Try Constellation (I or II) for the Lagavulin. I'm more of a bourbon guy, so I haven't kept a tab -- so to speak -- on their scotch collection, but worth a try.



    2. There's a shit-ton of counterfeit alcohol in this country (along with a shit-ton of other counterfeit stuff, for that matter). A friend of mine works for a brand protection company that has looked into the counterfeiting of alcohol for the big foreign producers, and the percentage of counterfeit alcohol is shockingly high.



    So imagine if all purchases of counterfeit alcohol were actually purchases of genuine product, the shortage would be that much more severe.



    Booze for thought.

  • liuzhou

    It always amuses me that so many Chinese people think Chivas is "the best". It's only a step up from cooking whisky.



    And you could have solved your spelling dilemma by looking at the picture you posted! :)

  • Elaine Chow

    Did you not read the part where I insinuated I don't caaaare?

  • yu888

    obviously you do since you bothered to reply. ;)

  • Elaine Chow

    Nope. It's just that sometimes something makes me roll my eyes so hard it stimulates a part of my brain that needs to throw out a quick snark.

  • McLustin

    The best? I'll believe it when they start buying Lagavulin. And when they do, I hope they let me know where.

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