Shang, New East-West Collaboration, Debuts

Shang, a new entrant n the baiju whiskey line, debut Monday (6/15).

Born in China's Chìshuǐ River basin and matured in Kentucky, it bridges two of the world's most historic distillation traditions in a single bottle.

How It's Made: The foundation for SHĀNG consists of red sorghum from the Chìshuǐ River basin, selected for its resilience through repeated steaming and fermentation. Its structure and tannin content are unlocked through solid-state fermentation to create the depth and savory complexity that defines jiàng-aroma baijiu. After distillation and aging in traditional clay pots in China, SHĀNG is redistilled to a whiskey base, matured in American oak and blended in Kentucky to ensure continuity across each release.

Shang is produced by Maritine Brands, a joint venture between True Essence Foods and Guìzhōu Guótái Shùzhì Liquor Group, and in partnership with Whiskey House of Kentucky and The Blending House. SHĀNG’s portfolio will debut with two products:

• Shang Dàn Yǎ (pronounced dahn-yah) is SHĀNG’s first expression. All expressions share the same jiàngxiāng whiskey foundation; time in American oak defines the distinction. Dàn Yǎ rests in charred American oak barrels for a minimum of one month and up to just under one year, creating balance between fermentation depth and wood structure.
• SHĀNG East + West Kentucky Blend marries SHĀNG’s jiàngxiāng whiskey with a proprietary American red sorghum whiskey and ages the spirit in charred American oak barrels in Kentucky. The result is a globally inspired spirit that redefines expectations and presents a groundbreaking expression to the world stage.

“SHĀNG represents the future of global spirits innovation,” said Maritine Brands CEO Matt Rubin. “By bringing together centuries-old Chinese fermentation techniques with the precision and structure of American whiskey-making, we are creating something entirely new — an authentic collaboration of cultures, craftsmanship, and creativity.”

“Whiskey House was created to enable exactly this type of innovation,” said Whiskey House of Kentucky Co-founder/CEO David Mandell. “Shang is a powerful example of what’s possible when world-class partners come together with a shared vision. We’re proud to play a role in bringing this entirely new category of spirits to life.” 

The collaboration highlights the strength of an international partnership spanning continents and expertise. Guìzhōu Guótái Shùzhì Liquor Group contributes deep heritage and mastery in baijiu production; precision blending, aging, and bottling are provided by The Blending House for scalability across global markets. The proprietary American red sorghum grain whiskey is distilled at Whiskey House of Kentucky’s state of the art facilities.

“The unparalleled craft of dual-brewing and dual-aging defines the unique character of Shang,” said Yán Kǎijìng, Chairman of Guìzhōu Guótái Shùzhì Liquor Group. “It embraces the classic Western liquid-state fermentation technique, integrates the millennia-old art of Chinese solid-state jiàngxiāng brewing, nurtured through slow aging in ceramic jars and refined by maturation in American oak barrels, letting the timeless brewing and distilling wisdom of both worlds blend flawlessly in every bottle.”

“We could not be prouder to add our team’s incredible expertise to the Shang brand,” said The Blending House founder/CEO Monica Wolf Brown. “Shang is a transformational spirit that pushes boundaries and brings a new level of innovation to the art of whiskey blending and finishing.” 

On the Palate: Shang’s debut expression, Dàn Yǎ delivers a complex sensory profile featuring floral aromatics, umami depth, and a long, warming finish, alongside notes of fruit, chocolate, and baking spice and is bottled at 100 proof. The second expression, East + West Kentucky Blend, further enhances accessibility with a softer, rounder profile featuring vanilla, toasted grain, and caramel notes derived from the red sorghum whiskey and is bottled at 92 proof. 

Availability: Starting June 15th, Shang Dàn Yǎ and Shang East + West Kentucky Blend will be available for pre-order online in a special launch bundle, with direct shipping to 42 states at shangwhiskey.com. Shang Dàn Yǎ (50% ABV) will be available at an SRP of $64.99 for 500mL and $15.99 for 50mL, while Shang East + West Kentucky Blend (46% ABV) will be available at an SRP of $45.99 for 500mL and $13.99