Rating: 18/23 N: Proofy with sweet black licorice and notes of tropical fruits. Passionfruit, banana, mango. A touch of paper as well. P: Tropical fruits and big proof hit first, but then earthy nuance comes out and the character develops. Clay pots with some straw. A touch of ferrous mud. There's a richness that is slightly savory. Numbing. A hint of melon that I didn't get on the nose. F: Dry with an odd combination of tropical fruits, hay, and mud. Not bad, but lacking the coherence I'd really hope for with this - Conclusion - This is interesting. It has that core baijiu flavor, but also some more interesting notes. They're a bit challenging though and sometimes the overall profile ends up tasting a bit watery, despite the proofy punch up front. This is less approachably tropical and clean than Niu Lan Shan Chen Niang Baijiu (17/23), but it also shows less alcohol flavor. It's an interesting comparison. I feel like this is technically better, but I also find it more challenging. Maybe this one is a 17 as well. I like that this is mellower and more nuanced, but it has issues. Maybe this is an 18? It isn't pleasant enough to be a 20 and I do see arguments for going under a 17. I think I'll go with an 18. The main problem I have is that the mud is a bit too ferrous.