0221 Bottoms Up

“Bottoms up!” Or, “gan bei,” as they say here in China. But what are you drinking? It could either be the authentic 144-proof sorghum-based liquor Moutai, or a clever counterfeit. Moutai has been dubbed the “national wine” in China, and is credited with the success of Mao zedong’s Long March of 1934. Demand for Moutai has increased exponentially with China’s economic expansion, resulting in limited supply and soaring prices which is the perfect breeding ground for bootleggers, who are doing a thriving trade. With identical bottles and labeling, and a few chemical additives for flavor, the knock-off is pretty much indistinguishable from the original. So how do you know if you’re getting the real McCoy? Well, after a couple shots of either of the high octane spirits, you just won’t care. #boyd #ceas #china #hacker