Commentary: Moutai hangover – why China’s fanciest liquor is in a slump

HONG KONG: This holiday season should be a joyous one for lovers of Moutai: the clear, potent spirit that is China’s most prestigious drink. With prices falling to their lowest in years, it’s an opportune time to stock up. But buyers should beware – the classic tipple is no longer such a solid investment. That wasn’t always the case. Although not widely known or appreciated in the West, the sorghum-based liquor sold by Kweichow Moutai has a history inextricably intertwined with the rise of modern China. With a lineage said to stretch back more than 400 years, the distillery is…