Vodka, whiskey, rum, tequila, gin…these usual suspects can often be found making appearances at parties, in your cocktails, and straight up in shots. However, lesser known spirits are making their mark, whether as part of a signature cocktail, on a bar menu, or in your local liquor store. We recently discovered Byejoe, a handcrafted, small batch spirit that has made its way to the states from South China. The spirit, which is made from red sorghum grain, has been around for thousands of years, but is finally surfacing in the U.S.
For those of you not familiar with the sorghum grain, it is very rich in antioxidants and B vitamins, as well as a great source of protein. Additionally, it’s one of the only grains that is naturally gluten free. In order to produce the liquor, red sorghum is ground into a powder, steamed, and then left to ferment for five to seven days. The sorghum is then steamed again and then ferments for an additional 29 days. The alcohol is then distilled and aged in porcelain jars for five years. After all of this, the spirit is imported to the United States, where it undergoes a filtration process that uses ultrasound and oxidation to clean and smoothen the alcohol, resulting in a 40% abv, premium spirit.
If you’re wondering where the name came from, it’s actually rather clever. Baijiu, the traditional name for the spirit, is made friendlier to Western pronunciations with its new dub, Byejoe. Surprisingly, this spirit is the most consumed liquor in the world, surpassing all those usual suspects mentioned before. It’s about time America hopped on the bandwagon.
Byejoe comes in two flavors – Byejoe Red, which is the original spirit, and Byejoe Dragon Fire, which is infused with dragon fruit, lychee and fresh hot chilis. Both expressions are wonderful on the rocks, and equally satisfying when mixed in cocktails. For those of you who are fans of sake, you can look forward to trying this spirit, as it definitely has a similar grainy rice taste to it. But don’t be scared off by something new, Byejoe has an approachability that will entice Westerners and win them over.
For New Yorkers seeking out the spirit, hot spots such as Chef Yu, Macao Trading Co., Kelley & Ping and Buddakan are serving the spirit that is soon to be a household name. Both expressions are available in 750ml and 1L size with a SRP of $29.99 and $38.99 respectively.
Simply Paul
