Yilan: Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation Yilan Distillery Visitor Center Introduction
【Evaluation Validity Period: 2023/08/02~2026/08/01】 The Yilan Distillery was established in 1909, originally as a private company named Yilan Distillery Company. In 1920, it was reorganized into Yilan Distillery Co., Ltd. In 1922, the Japanese government implemented a monopoly on alcoholic beverages, and the distillery was placed under the direct management of the Taiwan Governor-General's Bureau of Monopoly in Yilan. After the end of World War II in 1945, it was taken over by the Nationalist government and renamed "Taiwan Provincial Tobacco and Liquor Public Corporation Yilan Distillery" in 1957. In 2002, it was restructured into the current "Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation Yilan Distillery," making it the oldest distillery in Taiwan with over a century of history. The distillery contains five major historical buildings: 1. Administrative Building: Completed in 1929, this brick building serves as the administrative hub of the distillery. Originally, it was the Yilan branch of the Taiwan Governor-General’s Bureau of Monopoly. The building features a beautiful Western Baroque architectural style, with elegant and striking shapes; the original four-leaf decoration was replaced with a five-petal plum blossom after the end of Japanese rule. 2. Jiazilan Wine Museum: The main building was completed in 1935 and is a unique steel structure that initially served as a raw material warehouse, with glutinous rice stored on the first floor and red yeast rice on the second. In 1998, the distillery opened for tourism and transformed it into a wine museum, named after the old local name "Jiazilan." The second floor showcases wine-related exhibitions, displaying the production process of red rice wine and related products while providing sensory experiences related to wine culture. 3. Taiwan Red Yeast Museum: The main building was built in 1927, originally serving as the blending room for red rice wine. Each batch of wine must meet specific quality, flavor, texture, and alcohol level standards before leaving the facility. In 2007, the blending room was moved to the storage area, and the space was converted into the Red Yeast Museum, using fermentation as its theme with displays in the original fermenting tanks. The roof features a unique "waist floor" design to enhance ventilation and prevent the accumulation of alcohol vapors. 4. Honglu Art Gallery: Originally constructed by the distillery's founder Mr. Lin Qingyun in 1909, the distillery was requisitioned in 1922 and underwent extensive renovations. In 1926, the current building was completed, initially serving as a distillery workshop before being adapted for staff meetings, recreational activities, and dining. In 2011, it was redesigned as the Honglu Art Gallery, serving as a platform for artists to exhibit their work, enriching the cultural and artistic ambiance of the distillery. 5. Container Warehouse: Built in 1942, it was soon damaged in wartime. The original office (administrative building) was borrowed by the Yilan office of the Public Bureau, and a reconstruction was done at the original location to serve as a temporary office. Years later, the distillery office returned to the administrative building, converting the site into a packaging materials warehouse. Notable slanted wooden columns, known as "flying buttresses," were added to support the heavy roof of the original wooden warehouse, creating a distinctive architectural feature. Honglu wine has its origins in the old red wine from Anxi County, Fujian Province, China. It is a fermented wine that transforms from a red liquid to a transparent and brilliant amber color after a period of maturation in jars. The aged Honglu wine can be categorized by age: 2-year special grade Honglu wine, 3-year Golden Chicken aged Honglu wine, 6-year cellar-aged Golden Chicken old Honglu wine, and 12-year cellar-aged Golden Chicken old Honglu wine, designed with the Lanyang Eight Scenic Views as motifs. The wine is smooth and mellow, and it is also a characteristic souvenir of Yilan. The Yilan Distillery is the only factory remaining in Taiwan using red yeast brewing techniques to produce traditional red rice wine. In 2006, through a public vote and official government documentation, Honglu wine was designated as "Yilan County's Wine." The area features large installation art made from Honglu and old red wine products for public photo opportunities, as well as a popular Instagram wall. Walking through the distillery, visitors can discover many pieces of information about red yeast and the production process of early Taiwan's red rice wine. The Taiwan Red Yeast Museum provides extensive knowledge on red yeast, while the Jiazilan Wine Museum creates an immersive experience of "Taiwanese red rice wine aroma," offering free tours and paid DIY experiences (NT$200 per person) to awaken public awareness of the traditional values of "Honglu wine culture" and "red yeast culture." In the future, the company will adhere to the principles of culture, service, and quality while continuing to grow with everyone. ♦Excessive drinking is harmful to health♦♦Drink responsibly; do not drive after drinking♦♦Legal drinking age is 18 years old and above♦
Red Yeast Rice Museum
Red Dew Art Gallery
