榮茅拾載

Established by the Wang family, Rongtaihe stands as a renowned distillery with a century-long heritage. Their legacy includes the crafting of the prestigious Daqu liquor, a testament to their expertise and tradition.

In the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1796-1820), the Wang family, hailing from a lineage of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, relocated from Shanxi to Bijie and Xishui in Guizhou. Alongside their medical practice, the Wang family constructed a dedicated cellar in Dong Town, Xishui, where they meticulously crafted fine liquor. Originally intended for medicinal applications and personal consumption at inns, this marked the inception of their longstanding legacy in the distillery tradition."Jujiang liquor," an ancient liquor derived from paper mulberry juice by the ancient Yelang people, serves as the precursor to sauce-aroma liquor and boasts a history spanning over two millennia. The Wang family ingeniously integrated local Jujiang liquor techniques with the refined Fen liquor-making expertise from Shanxi, thereby enhancing the art of distillation with a harmonious blend of traditions. Drawing upon traditional Chinese medicine principles, the Wang family assimilated herbal essence and infused the fermentation starter with numerous precious ingredients, capturing the essence of nature in their craft. The outcome was the creation of Jujiang liquor, distinguished by its rich and mellow flavor, imbued with unique characteristics. Although not available for sale to the public, its exceptional reputation permeated far and wide. Those privileged to experience its taste were astounded and effusive in their praise.

In 1879, warlord Sun Quantai extended an invitation to the Wang family to establish a distillery. Initially hesitant to relinquish their medical profession, the family opted to delegate the responsibility to Shi Rongxiao, the second son of the second branch (who had been adopted by the affluent Shi family in Moutai Town). Shi Rongxiao collaborated with the proprietor of Wangtianhe Salt Store to establish the Rongtaihe Distillery, constructing the liquor cellars in Moutai Town.

In 1915, Rongtaihe and Chengyu distilleries collaborated to present their liquors at the "Panama-Pacific Exposition" in the United States, operating under the name "Moutai Liquor Company." During the exhibition, a bottle of their liquor accidentally fell, releasing an astonishing aroma that captivated the world and earned them the prestigious gold prize. In the 1970s, the Ministry of Light Industry of the People's Republic of China formally categorized baijiu (white spirits) into four aroma types: sauce, strong, light, and rice. The liquor represented by Moutai was officially designated as the sauce-aroma Rong type. Since gaining recognition at the Panama-Pacific Exposition, Rongtaihe has faithfully preserved its classic flavor, remaining unchanged for over a century.

In 1915, it won the gold prize at the Panama-Pacific Exposition.

In June 1935, the Red Army passed through Moutai Town during the Long March, where Moutai liquor was utilized to alleviate fatigue and treat injuries. Recognized for its exceptional quality, it garnered favor from national leaders, including Zhou Enlai. Acknowledging its significance, the Political Department of the Red Army issued a special directive to safeguard Moutai liquor. The order emphasized, "Moutai liquor, produced by private enterprises and distinguished by its high quality and the gold prize it won at the Panama-Pacific Exposition, has brought great honor to our country. Therefore, our army is authorized to openly purchase and sell it solely in the distilleries. All related equipment, such as stoves, cellars, jars, vats, and bottles, must be safeguarded and kept intact."

In 1951, following the government's policy of public-private collaboration, the privately-owned distilleries of Chengyi, Rongtaihe, and Hengxing underwent a process of consolidation through redemption and acquisition. This initiative led to the formal establishment of the state-owned Moutai Distillery in 1952. Despite this transition, the formula and artisanal techniques of Rongtaihe's exquisite liquor have been diligently preserved through generations and have never been disclosed to outsiders.

​

Subsequently, individuals within the industry began referring to these distilleries using the surnames of their respective leaders from that period: "Chengyi Distillery" under Hua Wenqu's leadership became known as "Hua Moutai"; "Rongtaihe Distillery" led by Wang Binggan was called "Wang Moutai"; and "Hengxing Distillery" under Lai Yongchu's management was referred to as "Lai Moutai."