How to Get Drunk...Commie Style

One of the many ironies here is how the Communist aesthetic lives on amid unabashed capitalism. Red Star bai jiu is a fine example of this phenomenon. I procured this 250 ml bottle of Red Star to experiment with my hosts' preferred beverage. I was pleasantly surprised. It's a strong spirit, coming in at 43% alcohol by volume, but it actually tastes good, and does not cause a nasty aftertaste as many of the lesser bai jiu brands do. This small bottle cost me $3.00, which is rather expensive by Chinese standards, but I suppose only a fine spirit is worthy of the red star.