Mianzhu Jiannanchun

Mianzhu Jiannanchun

　　Jiannanchun is a traditional famous liquor from Mianzhu County, Sichuan Province. It is brewed from highland barley, rice, glutinous rice, corn, and wheat. The liquor is colorless and transparent, with a rich aroma, mellow and sweet taste, crisp and clean mouthfeel, and a long-lasting aftertaste. It boasts a unique aroma of fermented liquor and comes in three alcohol levels: 60, 52, and 38 proof. It is one of China’s nationally renowned liquors. Mianzhu County has a long history of liquor brewing. Legend has it that as early as the Tang Dynasty, the “Jiannan Shaochun” produced in Mianzhu was listed as an imperial tribute and was known as the “Jiannan Tribute Liquor.”

The predecessor of Jiannanchun was Mianzhu Daqu Liquor, which was first created in 1662 during the early years of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty. Zhu Yu, a native of Sanyuan County, Shaanxi, moved to Mianzhu upon discovering the excellent quality of its water and established the earliest Qu liquor workshop, named “Zhu Tianyi Cuofang.” According to the *Mianzhu County Annals*, at that time, Mianzhu Daqu had achieved a marvelous state described as “rich in flavor, pure in color and taste, and clear as morning dew.” It was once widely popular in Sichuan as well as in Shanghai, Nanjing, and other places. In 1922 and 1928, it successively won the First Prize at the Sichuan Provincial Industrial Encouragement Fair and received medals and certificates at the National Products Exhibition. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it was awarded the title of National Famous Liquor for three consecutive times at the 3rd, 4th, and 5th National Liquor Appraisal Conferences. It also received the National Quality Gold Award, becoming a fragrant new blossom in the world of liquor.