Drunk in China

Derek Sandhaus has published four books on Chinese history and culture, most recently Baijiu: The Essential Guide to Chinese Spirits. In 2018 Sandhaus co-founded Ming River Sichuan Baijiu in partnership with China’s oldest continually operational distillery. He serves as Ming River’s communications director and as the editor at drinkbaijiu.com. He lives with his wife and dog in Washington, DC.

• AcknowledgmentsNotes on LanguageTime Line of Alcohol in ChinaIntroduction: The First SipPart 1. Climbing the Sky1. The Wild West2. Three Hundred Shots3. The WayPart 2. Jiu’s Story4. Drink of the Dead5. Drink of the Immortals6. Firewater7. The People’s ChoicePart 3. The Journey of a Thousand Drinks8. Party Favors9. Song of the South10. Yangtze Delta Blues11. Dust Bowl Ballad12. Yellow River RamblePart 4. Warning Labels13. Burning Questions14. Quality Control15. The Cost of Doing Business16. Red TapePart 5. Matters of Taste17. Reinventing the Flavor Wheel18. Exclusion19. A Seat at the BarAfterword: Why We DrinkAppendix: About the RecipesNotesBibliographyIndex

"An engaging introduction to baijiu, the world's biggest selling spirit, Sandhaus gives the reader as much historical and societal context as he does entertainment."-Millie Milliken, Imbibe “It’s a fun journey.”-Wall Street Journal"Derek Sandhaus offers a rollicking, hard-drinking exploration of baijiu, China's national tipple."-Janet Brown, Shelf Awareness "This is bound to become the go-to guide on how China's national drink is produced, con­sumed and marketed, charting its history, culture and effects."-Mike Cormack, South China Morning Post "If his aim is to encourage greater consumption of the fiery booze, his enthusiastic writing and raucous tales are likely to do the trick."-Jeremiah Jenne, World of Chinese “Drunk in China takes readers on a spirited, entertaining journey through the lens of China’s favorite and often misunderstood drink, baijiu. Derek Sandhaus illuminates Chinese history and contemporary life in his devoted quest to embrace and relish a traditional Chinese liquor.”-Jen Lin-Liu, author of Serve the People and On the Noodle Road and founder of Beijing’s Black Sesame Kitchen cooking school  “I have learned so much from Derek Sandhaus over the years, and Drunk in China is no exception. It’s not just about baijiu-although it offers a master class on the subject. It’s about China and its history, culture, and relationship with the West, told through the perspective of a witty, generous storyteller.”-Clay Risen, deputy opinion editor at the New York Times and author of Single Malt: A Guide to the Whiskies of Scotland“Who knew that the history of China was so wrapped up in its drinking culture? This ramble through time and geography is an intoxicating romp through a boozy China. Sandhaus’s ability to turn a phrase keeps us laughing all the way.”-Scott D. Seligman, author of The First Chinese American