Photo taken on Nov. 28, 2020 shows a distillery surrounded by Chishui River in Maotai town of Renhuai, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)
GUIYANG, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Guizhou Province is mulling a regulation to protect the water source for Kweichow Moutai, the country's top liquor brand, according to the provincial department of ecology and environment.
Moutai is made with water from the Chishui River, which is also the water source for over a thousand liquor distilleries.
The regulation aims to protect the environment of Moutai-flavor liquor production and promote the development of the industry.
The local climate and vegetation are quite unique, which contribute to the taste of the liquor. Moutai is classified as "sauce-fragrances" for it offers an exceptionally pure, mild and mellow soy sauce-like fragrance that lingers after drinking.
Sales revenue of Kweichow Moutai in the first three quarters of 2021 surpassed 74.64 billion yuan (about 11.81 billion U.S. dollars), up 11.05 percent year on year. ■
