Camus Cognac and Gujinggong Baijiu begin work on US$30m whisky distillery

Cognac maker Camus has teamed up with Gujinggong, the fourth largest producer of Baijiu in China, to produce a new whisky with Chinese characteristics via a new facility in Bozhou.

Camus Holdings has begun construction on its Guqi distillery, which has seen an initial investment of approximately US$30 million as part of the partnership with Baijiu producer Gujinggong.

Based in Bozhou, Anhui Province, Gujinggong is China’s 4th largest Baijiu producer with a yearly Turnover of € 2.5 billion.

The company has said it will explore new techniques, ingredients and flavours that “go beyond traditional whisky production methods”, developing products with Chinese characteristics.

Cyril Camus, fifth-generation owner and president of the independent Cognac producer, said he sees the Guqi distillery as “a pioneer in the world of spirits”.

Two whiskies are on the agenda for the new distillery, and the company plans to produce “the world’s most aromatic whiskies” at the Guqi site in Bozhou in China’s Anhui Province.

Its architectureis inspired by French and Bozhou arches using local as well as French materials. As part of the plans for the new distillery, Camus and Gujinggong will offer tours to visitors of the Bozhou site.

Camus’ previous dealings with China include a partnership with Baijiu brand Kweichow Moutai going back 20 years as part of a plan to internationalise the Chinese liquor.

Six years ago, the Camus family created the Lambay Irish Whiskey in partnership with the Barrings family, a super-premium brand of Irish Whiskey aged in Cognac barrels on Lambay Island.

The global Cognac market is expected to almost double in value between now and 2032, according to a report released earlier this year by Fact.MR. The current global market for the prestigious French brandy was valued at US$5.5 billion in 2022, and by 2032 it will be worth around US$10.2bn. Read more on that story here.