Chinese tips to brighten up your cocktail cabinet

Last weekend marked the start of the Year of the Wooden Dragon and a two-week celebration of the Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year.

Amid the age-old rituals associated with the festival, my interest was piqued by how alcoholic drinks are often a regular part of these events.

But which one should you utter during a toast?

From Baijiu – the world's best-selling spirit – to China's famous 'yellow wines', here's my guide to some authentic drinks to tantalize your taste buds.

Baijiu

The powerful, clear spirit Baijiu is more than just a drink in its home country of China; it is deeply woven into the culture and an integral part of social gatherings, where it is drunk in shots and accompanied by a hearty 'ganbei!' (cheers).

Distilled largely from sorghum and other grains, baijiu is most similar to vodka but tastes somewhere between whiskey and raki, the clear brandy that is Turkey's national drink.

The best known Baijiu styles are 'Strong' (Nong Xiang), 'Light' (Qing Xiang) and 'Sauce' (Jiang Xiang).

Strong styles are clearly funky and exotic, and are often drunk at parties.

Light aroma styles, with their relatively mild, subtly scented flavors, are often reserved for more formal occasions.

Sauce flavoring styles are so named for their rich umami, savory flavors. They are often given as gifts and symbolize respect for others, happiness, prestige and luxury.

Attempt: Fenjiu Fen Chiew Red, £36.99 (53% alcohol), amazon.co.uk

Smooth and creamy with a more sweet, sweet-sour flavor and gentle notes of baking spices in the finish, this 'light aroma' style is a great introduction to Baijiu.

Try it over ice or in a cocktail I called The Wood Dragon.

Take 35 ml Fenjiu Fen Chiew Red, 25 ml Sweet White Vermouth and 10 ml Palo Cortado sherry. Then for the wood element you will need one piece of Palo Santo wood, available on Amazon.

Add the wet ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Light the Palo Santo and collect the smoke in a glass jar.

Strain the mixed cocktail into the jar and swirl it for ten seconds before pouring it into your chilled glass.

Try: Fenjiu Zhu Ye Qing Jiu Ten Year Old Baijiu, £70 (38% ABV), milroysofsoho.com

This award-winning aged Baijiu is a little quirky with its bamboo leaf and herbal infusions, giving it a wonderfully complex profile of linden flower with coffee bean, plum, nuts and vanilla. It all continues! Drink this slowly and not too cold, so that the flavors can unfold.

Huangjiu ('Yellow Wine')

Huangjiu is similar to wine, but grain is fermented instead of grapes. In the south it is usually made from rice, a bit like Japanese Sake, while in the north millet or corn is used.

It dates back to the Shang Dynasty (ca. 1600 BC-1046 BC) and is the milder cousin of Baijiu. Huangjiu comes in many varieties, ranging from sweet to dry, and is said to have many health benefits as it contains polyphenols, nicotinic acid and vitamins E, B1 and B2.

Try: Ten Year Old Shaoxing Rice Wine, £17.99 (14% ABV), souschef.co.uk

Deep amber, this is an aromatic, premium Huangjiu. Earthy and nutty with notes of sweet oak, honey and raisins. Best served chilled on ice.

Good wine

China's winemaking scene is undergoing a renaissance. There is rapid growth in the industry, with regions such as Ningxia, Shandong and Hebei emerging as major production areas.

With a steady stream of private investment, premium wine producers like , i.e. nuances of the specific soils and climate.

Ningxia is certainly one to watch, with ambitions to grow up to 100,000 hectares of vines by 2035.

Try: Changyu-Moser XV white cabernet sauvignon, £19 (13.5% ABV), ocado.com

A collaboration between leading Chinese winery Changyu, also based in Ningxia, and the pioneering Moser family of Austria, using only the white, free-flowing juice of red Cabernet grapes in this unique white (well, slightly blushing) wine. Generous with ripe pear and cherry fruit, elegant and refreshing.

Try: Xige Estate N28 Malbec, £28.95 (14% ABV), thedrinksmith.co.uk

Lovers of high altitude, Argentine Malbec and classic burgundy wines will love this fragrant, polished wine with its violet perfume and concentrated notes of blueberry and cocoa. Absolutely delicious and beautifully packaged.