Monsieur baozi begins a new series of articles entitled “Made in China“. The first episode is sponsored by Crimson Pangolin, a Chinese craft Gin Brand, whom I want to thank here for their trust in my channel.
The idea? Highlighting products that are 100% Chinese because I believe there is so much to talk about!
Whether you are looking for an original gift, or just in the mood for learning about Chinese craft products, this series of articles deserves your full attention.

You are a brand that wishes to appear here? Send me an email: (monsieurbaozi@gmail.com)

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We all have this unforgettable Gin & Tonic from a specific bar, using a specific Gin. But what we don’t necessarily have, is a memorable Gin & tonic souvenir made with Chinese Craft Gin.

The world is facing a “craft-revolution” that includes spirits and many other industries. With numerous new brands distilling small-batch spirits, it is now very trendy for every place to produce its own Whisky, Beer, Gin or Vodka. Of course, this trend has not spared China even if its spirits market remains largely dominated by the production and sale of Baijiu, the local Sorghum spirit.

Today we are going to shine a light on a craft Gin that proudly distilled and bottled in China, and I can already assure you that it worth our interest.

The brand

Crimson Pangolin is one of the few gin brands born on Chinese territory: Distilled in Changsha, Hunan, its founders, David & Helena, are doing fundraising events (about 6 times per year) with the organization “Save Vietnam’s Wildlife” and “ENV”, to help for the preservation of the animal species that have been (sadly) talked about the most since the beginning of 2020: the pangolin.

Created in late 2017,  the brand fully demonstrates China’s diverse herbaceous plants and their different flavours: The wheat, necessary for its distillation, comes from Yunnan province, the juniper from Shandong province, the citrus from Hainan island and the coriander seeds from Hunan province.

With 4 “editions” at the moment (original, black goji jasmine, peach rose and oak barrel), the brand is present on many Shanghai cocktails bar’s menus, such as The Botanist, Botanical Basket, Valpasso and the brand new Alimentary Grande.

Product tasting

To make me the best opinion possible, I have decided to rely on the expertise of two friends, for whom Gin is a serious matter: The “S&K couple”.
We then organized a workshop around one topic: Making the best Crimson Pangolin Gin & Tonic.

When we first open the bottle, it is an aroma of liquorice that reaches us instantly. We taste it first as itself, then with Mr S, our Gin specialist, we suggested 4 different recipes of Gin and Tonic, among which the best association would be:

“The Red Velvet”, sweet and gentle with cubes of crushed strawberry, meets ladies interest for its colour, but also its slightly sweeter and softer taste…

“The Scoville” literally blast in mouth, and the ending is deeply infused with chili and ginger. I personally appreciate the taste of chilli and think it makes a really interesting combination.

“The fizzy” is not uninteresting either, with its slightly bitterish notes with zests.

But in the end, it is “The classic” that prevails as a favourite of this workshop: Cucumber is Gin’s best companion and it brings, with the rosemary, a wind of freshness that is lifted by the delicate bitterness of juniper.

We are only in April, yet the Gin has set up a festive atmosphere that re-calls for long summer evenings, laughing with friends over a good barbecue and a few refreshing Gin & Tonic.