appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Josephine Tee

Global gin consumption, driven in part by Chinese interest, has been growing faster than that of any other alcoholic drink category since 2018. China’s alcohol market statistics indicate that revenue generated in the gin segment amounted to US$70 million in 2019, and that the Chinese gin market is expected to grow annually by 2.5 per cent from 2021 onwards. 
Blossoming Chinese interest in the juniper-based drink has been stoked by local distilleries that trade on unique regional flavours, critical acclaim and full-throated branding efforts. 
8 wine trends for 2021: more rosé and everything going virtual
Chinese gin distillers are known for sourcing local, provincial botanicals that define their flavour profiles. This year, Porcelain Shanghai Dry Gin, created by serial restaurateur Shakib Pasha from Hong Kong and Hubert Tse (who hails from a family of Liaoning spice makers), became the latest Chinese craft gin to hit the market. 

“Liaoning, where the distillery is located, is home to our spice-making family for generations. It also has great natural water quality. The province has concentrations of baijiu distilleries, and the Snow Beer factory [the largest single beer brand in the world] is just a few hours’ drive from the distillery. One of China’s largest spice markets is in Shenyang – where [our] family buys and sells their spice ingredients frequently,” Tse reveals. “Gin gave us the opportunity to retell the story of Chinese craftsmanship.” 
Closely following London Dry Gin guidelines, Porcelain Shanghai Dry Gin contains at least 90 per cent Chinese native botanicals, is one-shot distilled to at least 70 per cent alcohol by volume, and has only water added after distillation. The gin is also the first in the world to use Mongolian juniper berries, which produce a naturally sweeter and more mellow finished product. 
9 new Hong Kong restaurants and dining deals for 2021
In Chifeng, a city in the southeast of the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia, chef Daniel Brooker distils Dragon’s Blood. Its botanicals are part-distilled and part-cold compounded, resulting in a distinct blood-red colour. Tapping into his expertise as a chef with over 20 years’ experience, Brooker’s distillery launched two products – Dragon’s Blood, which contains botanicals of wild juniper, Mongolian mountain pepper, Yunnan golden roses and orange peel, while the barrel-aged Gold Dragon features ingredients such as Mongolian desert orchid. In addition, the distillery has its own orchard, which grows up to 90 per cent of the spirit’s ingredients.

Bringing their distinctively flavoured spirits to the global stage, locally distilled Chinese gins have already been lauded for their efforts. This year, Porcelain’s mandarin edition of its gin won a silver medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which is regarded as one of the oldest and most influential competitions in the spirits industry worldwide.
Launched as one of the first international spirits distilled in China, Peddlers Gin is regarded as a pioneer, paving the way for other Chinese craft gin distilleries. Peddler’s signature Shanghai gin won a gold medal at the China Wine and Spirits Awards 2018. Its sister product, a barrel-aged gin with notes of smooth caramel, smoked Sichuan pepper, pinot noir grapes and fresh stone fruit, clinched silver at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards last year.
Baijiu beer to Drake’s champagne: the hippest drinks to say cheers with this holiday
Accolades for local gin distillers have been complemented by savvy packaging and marketing efforts. Befitting its carefully crafted spirit, the Porcelain Gin team commissioned an artfully refined bottle. Given a chinoiserie look by artisanal design house Lala Curio, it is produced – in porcelain, no less – by Hong Kong ceramic brand Loveramics and resembles an elegant Tang dynasty vase. The brand is also planning for a limited edition series, with an upcoming tea-based gin, and is expanding its gin experience with a distillery tour and showroom for public visits in Liaoning.
Since its 2016 launch, Peddlers Gin has thrived through partnerships with top bars featured on the “World’s 50 Best” list, and has been commended for its retail and marketing campaigns. The spirit maker just released a new jade green custom Peddlers bottle, launched with a limited edition mahjong set.

“ The idea of launching a premium gin from China really excited us. The gin was created in Shanghai, and we saw an opportunity to build a distinctive brand identity inspired by the city’s history and culture,” says Joseph Judd, co-founder of Peddlers Gin.
For Brooker, attention to detail and craftsmanship extend beyond his Dragon branded gins. Every bottle is personally packaged, from the label printed on Japanese paper to the wax dip and seal imprinted on it. Brooker also hosts gin dinners and guest bartenders in hospitality locations across China.
Why Asian wines are the next big thing – if grape purists give them a chance
The championing of Chinese gins has also been supported by other notable players in the gin ecosystem. Renowned Asian tonic maker, East Imperial, has hosted top local distillers such as Peddlers at the Gin Jubilee, Asia’s premiere annual gin festival, which was held for the second time in Shanghai in 2018. 
As China welcomes a steady recovery from the pandemic and cocktail enthusiasts fill bars all over China, craft gin brands are looking forward to a warm reception for their new offerings from both bar owners and drinkers.
Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.


Where to celebrate Negroni Week 2026 in Hong Kong, September 21–27

Is New York’s Bar Leone a copycat of Hong Kong’s ‘World’s Best’ original?

Young Malaysians brew goal for traditional tuak drink to become national success

Hidden Japanese omakase, ‘excellent’ Cantonese: a Hong Kong bartender’s restaurant picks

Wine and Spirits

Why will China drink, and create, more gin in 2021? Chinese gin distilleries are copping London Dry Gin guidelines and winning at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Porcelain gins have already won two medals at the important San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Photo: Porcelain Gin

Peddlers Gin is regarded as a pioneer, paving the way for other Chinese distilleries. Photo: Peddlers Gin

Peddlers Gin has worked with some of the world’s top bars to establish itself since its launch in 2016. Photo: Peddlers Gin

6 super-rare whisky launches to watch from Port Ellen, The Macallan, Karuizawa, Glenfarclas and more – priced from US$135 to US$75,000 and only gaining in value

Whisky is a very tempting investment – these 6 are some of the finest latest releases. Photo: Karuizawa

Port Ellen 40-Year-Old – 9 Rogue Casks. Photo: Port Ellen

Macallan Double Cask Range. Photo: Macallan

Diageo Prima & Ultima Collection. Photo: Diageo

Glenfarclas Pagoda Sapphire Reserve. Photo: Glenfarclas

The Balvenie Fifty: Marriage 0614. Photo: Balvenie

Around 40 per cent of vintage whisky bottles are fake – but now the Verifier app and an artificial tongue can date an old Laphroaig, Talisker or Ardbeg single malt accurately

The real deal? Radiocarbon dating can be used to get to the bottom of counterfeit vintage whisky debates. Photo: Sotheby's

IBM Verifier. Photo: IBM

Smoked Japanese Whisky Sour. Photo: Handout

The Macallan Fine & Rare, 60 Years Old, 1926. Photo: Sotheby's

Ghost series No.9. Photo: Bonhams

PIIN_Braised garoupa with bean curd skin Chichibu Ichiro's Malt Wine Wood Reserve. Photo: PIIN

Artificial tongue. Photo: University of Glasgow

Home of the highball, Japan gave us Hibiki, Nikki and Yamazaki – but does Taiwan love whisky even more?

Made in Japan: Hibiki whisky. Photo: @suntorywhisky_hibiki/Instagram

Hong Kong’s best Japanese bars – the exclusive hidden hangs mixing jazzy vibes and creative cocktails with matcha, shiso, artisanal gin and whisky highballs

Nagomi, a Japanese cocktail at Mizunara, Wan Chai. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Ichiro Idome at B.A.R. Executive Bar, Hong Kong. SCMP / Jonathan Wong [FEATURES]

Bartender Masahiko Endo of Mizunara makes the “Nagomi” drink, Mizunara, Wan Chai. 01JUN20 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Thaiger at Bar Buonasera in Tsim sha Tsui. 09JUN20 SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

Bartender Ivin Hui makes a Yan Cha at Bar de Luxe in Central. 02JUN20 SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

Yan Cha drink at Bar de Luxe in Central. 02JUN20 SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

Grape and Whisky cocktail at B.A.R. Executive Bar, Hong Kong. SCMP / Jonathan Wong [FEATURES]

Scotch whisky vs bourbon whiskey: which is better for food pairing menus?

Scotch versus bourbon – which is best for a successful food pairing? Photo: Instagram

Magazines

Style

Leisure

News & Trends


As China recovers from Covid-19, its cocktail enthusiasts are sipping on craft gin brands
Regional gin distilleries like Porcelain Shanghai Dry Gin and Peddlers Gin incorporate regional ingredients like Mongolian juniper berries and Sichuan peppers



Chinese cocktail enthusiasts can’t stop sipping on regional craft gin brands – whether Porcelain Shanghai Dry Gin, the first distiller to use Mongolian juniper berries, or the blood red Dragon’s Blood
