Tongshan Burn

Tongshan Burn

　　Tongshan Burn is a specialty of Tongshan Town in Zhuji City, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. This light-aroma baijiu is often called the “Little Moutai of the South.” The liquor is crystal clear with a crisp, refreshing taste, and among its varieties, Tongshan Zuimei is hailed as the model of southern-style light-aroma baijiu.

　　Tongshan Burn derives its name from Tongshan Town in Zhuji City, Zhejiang Province. It is made from a unique variety of tall-stalk glutinous sorghum native to Zhuji, using water drawn from the Longshui Spring in Tongshan Town. Due to the area’s basin geography, the liquor undergoes constant temperature cellar aging all year round, resulting in a crystal-clear appearance and crisp taste, especially the prized Tongshan Zuimei, recognized as a model of southern-style light-aroma baijiu. Additionally, although Tongshan Burn is a baijiu, its unique brewing process gives it a reddish hue—when poured into a glass, it resembles a ruby in a cup, earning it the title “Gentleman of Spirits.”

　　The brewing technique of Tongshan Burn is said to originate from Du Kang, the legendary father of Chinese liquor. Over thousands of years, it has been continuously refined by local people, evolving into a distinctly unique "southern-produced northern-style liquor." Among them, Xiyuan Village in Tongshan Town represents the finest production of Tongshan Burn. Located in Xiazhuang within Tongshan Town and nestled in the heart of a basin, Xiyuan Village borders mountains and water, with a landscape resembling that of Maotai Town. It is often said that the quality of baijiu depends on its place of origin, and that origin depends on temperature and water source. Xiyuan Village lies at 29.6°N, right on the globally recognized fine liquor belt. Its unique basin climate, formed by its hilly terrain, causes favorable microbial populations essential for brewing to gather over Xiyuan Lake. The carefully selected tall-stalk glutinous sorghum serves as premium raw material, and when combined with ancient brewing techniques passed down through generations, the perfect combination of time, place, and craftsmanship results in an exceptional liquor.

　　The most distinctive feature of Tongshan Burn is its ruby-like luster. While most people associate baijiu with being “crystal clear and colorless yet fragrant,” Tongshan Burn, through its intangible cultural heritage brewing process, naturally takes on a red-jade color. Along with Majian Tea, Xiashanhu Pearls, and Fengqiao Torreya Nuts, it is celebrated as one of the “Four Beauties of Zhuji.”