News

When you think world class whisky – why not China? We certainly didn’t – at least not at first. Back in 2016, a group of us were at a monthly whisky social in Shenzhen, and as we got deeper into our cups the conversation kept on circling back to the question of why.

We explored this question and made our own conclusions. CLICK HERE to read all about it.

As Nine Rivers Distillery’s plans begin their move from paper to implementation, one exciting milestone took form in The Founders’ Casks announcement, the distillery’s very first limited-edition release.

Since the inspiration for the casks originated from the location of the barrels used, the six expressions of The Founders’ Casks will be named as follows: Madeira, Baixo Corgo, Kentucky, Jerez, Virginia, and Cima Corgo.  Juxtaposed with the location on the bottle, the names of all investors will be proudly written on each of the six expressions’ packaging, a solidly constructed case in the elegant Nine Rivers colours: dark blue and gold.

The founders and investors were given an informal announcement on July 26^th declaring that Expression One of the Founders’ Casks would be ready for reservation the following week.  As expected, the founders and investors reserved more than half of the available bottles, leaving the remainder to be sold through some of our whisky groups.

Each of the six expressions is a coalescence of passion and expertise blended with an enthusiasm to put China on the map of whisky production, a sentiment felt by both the Nine Rivers Founders and all whisky enthusiasts in China. 

The excitement is palpable. Bespoke glass, pristine boxing, and the investors’ names inscribed on the packaging display the level of commitment Nine Rivers dedicates to not only quality but also an elevated personal touch. All of us, this writer included, eagerly await shipping day.

There might be some left to reserve – you can find out by clicking ON THIS LINK.

Shenzhen, China.

On July 9^th, 2021, we had our first official Investors Social for the Nine Rivers Distillery Project.  While we have hosted many whisky themed events across China over the last few years, this was the first time we had a gathering of people from multiple cities come together in one place outside of our normal WeChat based Investors group.

We took over the rooftop veranda of the Residence G Hotel in Futian, Shenzhen and hosted a night full of amazing food, good wine, whisky (of course) and a chance for everyone to meet some new faces and help to cement together the bond that brought us all together to create this project.

Each investor was given the opportunity to share through an interview what this project means to them on a personal level or what it means to them on a grander scale; how Nine Rivers can influence the growth of whisky culture in China. Each investor spoke their native language in the interview, underscoring the international camaraderie that many investors feel is a core part of the project. The output of this will be made into a video to highlight our project to a much broader global audience.

Everyone got an opportunity to see the packaging and glass design for our first series of releases – The Founders’ Casks – the first release of which will be before the end of 2021.

Additionally, blind whisky tastings and several rounds of trivia allowed opportunities for newer members of the whisky culture to learn from those more established. Everyone went home with better appreciation of whisky, a closer relationship with other investors, and memories of a delightful evening.

We’re all looking forward to the next Investors Social in Dongguan, later in 2021, before we take these events outside of Guangdong and across China.  Xiamen, Shanghai and Wuhan are already on the list.

Another milestone in the history of Nine Rivers Distillery was the legal signing of the land lease for the distillery. The project covers an area of just under 2 hectares (about 20 acres) and features two modern industrial units with a total floor area of 6,850 square meters.

The distillery site is located in the scenic Peixie Village in the western part of Xiaochi Town, which is under the jurisdiction of Xinluo District, Longyan City, Fujian Province.

The natural beauty of the surrounding area is so beautiful that it attracts up to one million visitors each year to hike here and experience the tranquility and comfort brought by the local nature.

Longyan City, China.

Nine Rivers Distillery appoints Hayden Zou to the role of General Manager and also to the Board of Directors.

Hayden brings with him an extensive experience that includes a number of foreign owned and foreign invested startups at board level roles over the past 15 years.

Simon Szewach – Nine Rivers Distillery

“Hayden was a solid choice for us because he has the perfect pedigree – foreign owned start up within the China legal framework. Bringing two quite different business cultures together in perfect harmony to make things work.

Being able to facilitate the expectations of foreign business stakeholders while ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations of the China business framework is a very special talent and we spent a long time finding the perfect person for this role. The board and I believe we have made the right choice in appointing Hayden to our team.”

Hayden Zou – Nine Rivers Distillery

“My introduction to Nine Rivers Distillery was a coincidence – I actually worked for one of the key investors in this project at two previous companies. I was taking a sabbatical at the time but the chance to work with familiar people on something new and exciting was interesting enough to me to learn more.

I met with a few of the board members and started to understand their vision for this project. It will be a massive challenge for all of us, but I believe that challenges are what bring out the strengths in both individuals and in teams that work together.”