Moutai Prince (茅台王子酒) Baijiu review

If you've been waiting for a video where someone awkwardly tries to explain high-end baijiu by way of Champagne, you're in luck. Buckle in.

Luzhou Laojiao is the oldest producer of baijiu and Wuliangye is at the top by volume, but Guizhou Maotai (贵州茅台, written "Kweichow Moutai" since they prefer the archaic Wade-Giles romanization) has by far the most prestige. Maotai, the king of the jiangxiang or maoxiang (酱香/茅香, savory/Mao aroma) style, is the stuff that gets used for state dinners and bribes. Now, this Prince here is only the entry-level offering from the distillery - it's intended to be younger and lighter and cheaper - but it's still pretty serious and pretty, well, still not that cheap. Stats:

- Moutai Prince Baijiu ((茅台王子酒, Guizhou Maotai distillery in Guizhou province; 50% sorghum and 50% wheat, around 3 years' ceramic aging; bottled around 2019; 53% ABV), 84+?/100

For the basics on baijiu (白酒) you can refer to my review of Ming River by Luzhou Laojiao (   • Ming River (Luzhou Laojiao) Baijiu re...  ). This is far less busy than that, but more than makes up for it with sheer silkiness. (Be warned, the combination of silk, extreme food-friendliness - again, see that Ming River review on the food thing - and a stonking high 53% ABV means that this will get the unprepared very sloshed very easily once they get past the initial shock of the baijiu flavor profile.) Is it worth the money? Eh, probably not. But I still think it's an interesting character well worth knowing.