The Chuan Malt Whisky Distillery is the first distillery opened by an international company in China
The Chuan Malt Whisky Distillery is the name of the first distillery opened by Pernod Ricard in China. It is also the first distillery opened in the country by a foreign company.
The opening of The Chuan Malt Whisky Distillery, located in Emeishan, has been made possible by a 150-million-dollar investment over the past decade and is intended to position Pernod Ricard at the forefront of whisky production in China.
Philippe Guettat, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard Asia, said: “Pernod Ricard has been privileged to be part of China’s dynamic development for more than 30 years. We see it as our mission to bring to life the most iconic malt whisky made in China with pride, drawing on the expertise we have as market leader. Our master distiller, Yang Tao, has worked with our legacy master distillers from Scotland to bring the most authentic whisky-making knowledge to China, while also making use of Emei’s pristine water source”.
He added: “From its refined products to its design, The Chuan malt whisky distillery will set new standards for single malt whisky and immersive experiences both for Sichuan and for China.”
The distillery, designed by Chinese architecture studio Neri+Hu, will host a permanent art programme beginning with an installation by acclaimed Chinese artist Zhan Wang. A visitor centre is also scheduled to open in 2023, with the hope of welcoming two million tourists in its first decade and supporting Sichuan’s local economy.
A building that is a work of art
The main inspiration for the design concept of The Chuan Malt Whisky Distillery begins with the site itself, carefully selected for its unique conditions.
Surrounded on three sides by the winding Liu stream, and with a direct view of Mount Emei less than five kilometres away, the topography is in some areas gently stepped with agricultural terraces and, in others, dramatic and striking, with steep rock cliffs dropping down to the water’s edge. This creates highly engaging paths and routes, as well as an ever-changing relationship with the mountain and the stream. The visitor journey brings mountain panoramas and river perspectives into the distillery experience, so that whisky-making and landscape are woven together into a holistic narrative.
Three long buildings housing the whisky production facilities are positioned on the northern side of the site; arranged in parallel, they are tucked into the land’s gentle natural slope, with roofs that descend gradually.
In a reinterpretation of vernacular architecture, reclaimed clay tiles lend a modest texture to the sloping roofs, which rest on a modern concrete post-and-beam structure. The rock wall infill is built using the very boulders excavated from the ground during site levelling, so the overall material palette sits in complete harmony with its surroundings. The strategic placement of the main industrial buildings around the edges of the site leaves a clearing at the centre, ensuring there is little to obstruct the enjoyment of the natural setting.
Within this clearing, the Tasting Experience building at The Chuan Malt Whisky Distillery is partially submerged in the ground; five underground tasting rooms surround a domed courtyard with a water feature at its centre.
The top of the dome rises slightly above ground level, its form lifting into a gentle ridge that echoes the profile of Emeishan.
Three concentric brick rings sit above the dome, with stepped layers that evoke the rippling movement of water, the original source of whisky, spreading across the site from this central point. This sculptural form becomes an iconic presence that can not only be seen from every part of the visitor route, but is also accessible and serves as an observation platform from which guests can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the site and its surroundings.
The final building at The Chuan Malt Whisky Distillery is a Restaurant and Bar, cantilevered on two sides, with one corner projecting over the riverbank and offering guests inside a different perspective on the striking natural landscape around it.
Sustainability
In line with the goals of Pernod Ricard’s 2030 Sustainability & Responsibility Roadmap, the distillery sources 100% of its electricity from renewable sources, minimises its use of natural gas and offsets its remaining emissions through a Sichuan biogas programme.
The race to become the first international distillery in China
Diageo, which is also planning to open a distillery in China, comes in second following the opening of The Chuan Malt Whisky Distillery.
The head of Pernod Ricard’s Asian division has welcomed the fact that the group has taken the lead over Diageo with the construction of The Chuan Malt Whisky Distillery, stating that the group is a “pioneer” in this fast-growing category.
Philippe Guettat said this advantage would serve the company very well. “We are the pioneers,” Guettat explained. “We are the market leader in China for this type of initiative, and it fully validates the strategy we began five years ago.”
The managing director welcomed Diageo’s “friendly competition” and added that he hopes other international distillers will enter the Chinese single malt category.
“This is the beginning of a long list of strong players coming in,” Guettat continued. “The ability to develop spirits in China is immense, and I am sure we have started a genuine trend that will continue for many years.”