NEWS
DIAGEO UNVEILED YUNTUO WHISKY DISTILLERY IN CHINA’S YUNNAN PROVINCE
By Siulan Law Mathews DipWSET
18-11-2024
Source: Diageo
Global drinks giant Diageo has unveiled the YunTuo (云拓) Single Malt Whisky Distillery in China’s Yunnan province, with an aim to place China on the global whisky map.
Located in Eryuan county next to the highland lake of Erhai, the distillery will follow an investment of USD120 million that will span nine years.
“This new distillery marks a significant milestone for Diageo in China and reflects our confidence in the future of Chinese whisky,” said Debra Crew, Diageo chief executive.
“We are proud of the leading role we have played to grow whisky in China with our iconic brands. Our ambition is to combine our global heritage and whisky making craftsmanship with deep local insights to create the highest quality China-origin single malt whisky that will fire the imagination of whisky enthusiasts worldwide and place China firmly on the global whisky map,” Crew added.
Diageo said the name YunTuo expresses the distillery’s natural surroundings and vision. Yun 云 means clouds and synonymous with Yunnan, evokes a highland of unparalleled natural beauty.
Tuo 拓 means exploration which captures the distillery’s spirit of enterprise and innovation to explore new frontiers in the art of whisky making.
At 2,100 metres above sea level, the distillery benefits from a temperate climate, rich biodiversity and natural resources, including access to fresh spring water that feeds the Erhai lake.
This unique terroir will provide YunTuo with abundant raw materials to innovate, such as Yunnan oak for cask maturation, and other local ingredients.
The distillery, which will also feature a visitor centre, will be led by distillery head Jiao Changyi, who will work with ex-Johnnie Walker master blender Jim Beveridge, master blender Craig Wallace and master distiller Andrew Millsopp.
Also convinced that whisky has a lot of room to grow in China, Diageo’s major competitor - Pernod Ricard of France - unveiled The Chuan 叠川 Malt Whisky Distillery in 2021 in Yunnan’s Emeishan.
Boasting itself as the pioneer of whisky making in China, the distillery has since released three products under the new Chinese brand. A core whisky went on sale for RMB888 (USD124), a second whisky finished in PX cask for sale at RMB1,119 and a “bottle your own” version for RMB1,488.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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