[CLIP] This Company Ages Alcohol in Military Tunnels | Taiwan’s Mega Factories

Kinmen Kaoliang is the best selling spirit in Taiwan, with over 45,000 liters consumed across the islands every day. Take a look behind the scenes to see how Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc. transformed abandoned military tunnels on the Kinmen Islands into a one-of-a-kind liquor aging facility.
Kinmen Kaoliang is a clear, fragrant spirit with a spicy taste. This alcohol has been produced on the Kinmen Islands (formerly known as Quemoy) since the Chinese Civil War, and the name “Kaoliang” comes from the Mandarin word for sorghum, a cereal crop from which the liquor is distilled. The Kinmen Islands are Taiwanese territories located just two kilometers away from China’s coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province. These islands were once at the frontline of the Chinese Civil War, during which they were bombarded with heavy shellfire from Chinese Communist forces.
To protect their troops and supplies, the garrison on Kinmen bored networks of underground tunnels through solid granite. During the war, these tunnels provided much-needed shelter for the Kuomintang (KMT) Nationalist troops. However, after the Chinese Civil War ended the tunnels were eventually abandoned. As the business grew, Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor looked to expand its facilities and saw an opportunity to reuse existing infrastructure on the island. With their cool, dark, and humid environment, the underground structures provided the perfect parameters to age kaoliang liquor.
After fermentation and distillation, Kinmen Kaoliang is aged in clay jars underground for anywhere from 3 to 30 years. The unique environment inside the tunnels creates a breeding ground for molds, which interact with the liquor stored there. Over time, these molds impart specific flavors to the kaoliang. The batches aged in these tunnel facilities become some of the company’s most high-end products and are sold as special blends and small batch varieties. After aging is complete, the finished products are shipped out in the finest packaging, reflecting Kinmen’s rich heritage and traditions that live on through this mega factory.
Chapters:
00:00 A Liquor Aged Underground
00:42 History of Taiwan’s Kinmen Islands
00:53 Chinese Communists Attack Quemoy
01:20 Garrison Excavates Defensive Tunnels
01:38 Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Repurposes the Tunnels
02:23 Humid Environment Creates Kaoliang’s Unique Flavor
Watch full episode here: • Inside the Kinmen Kaol...
#Kinmen #Kaoliang #Liquor #Military #ChineseCivilWar #Communist #Quemoy #Factory #Taiwan #Factories #MegaFactories #TaiwanPlus
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What’s going to happen when Taiwan’s army needs them again because of crazy mainland ambitions?