Taichung Distillery

Taichung Distillery Introduction

The origin of Taichung Distillery can be traced back to the private "Taisho Sake Company Taichung Factory" during the Japanese colonial period. Established in 1916 in the South District of Taichung City, it primarily produced sake and rice wine, becoming the largest distillery in central Taiwan. After the implementation of the liquor monopoly system in 1922, this private factory was seized by the Governor-General of Taiwan and restructured into the "Taiwan Governor-General's Monopoly Bureau Taichung Distillery." Following an increase in production demand, the facilities were expanded. After World War II, the Taichung Distillery was taken over by the Nationalist Government. A few changes later, in 1957, it was officially renamed "Taiwan Province Tobacco and Alcohol Corporation Taichung Distillery." Taichung Distillery is known for developing yellow wine and high-concentration fermented rice wine. In response to market demand for brewed alcoholic beverages in the 1950s, in addition to its original production line of yellow wine, it actively developed new products such as "Hua Diao Wine," which became popular after its launch and won the "Gold Award" at the World Alcoholic Beverages Evaluation Conference in 1988. Due to equipment updates, environmental requirements, and urban development planning, Taichung Distillery relocated to Taichung Industrial Zone in 1998. The new plant was constructed with overall planning, integrating traditional brewing techniques with modern automated control technology, and implementing standard operating procedures. It became the first modern distillery in Taiwan to pass GMP certification, demonstrating the upgrade of the industry. The "Old Taichung Distillery Area," featuring clear water brick walls, a Japanese-style hall, and a wooden spacious factory, was designated as a historical building by the Taichung City Government in 2002 and was included in the cultural asset park designated by the Ministry of Culture in the same year. After relocating and reorganizing, in addition to its main offerings of distilled rice wine and brewed yellow wine, Taichung Distillery also launched "Yongkang Wine" in 1999. This traditional Chinese health wine, crafted from a formula of 22 herbal ingredients and high-quality rice, has a fragrant and elegant flavor, making it not only enjoyable but also beneficial for health, gaining popularity among consumers. After Taiwan's accession to the WTO and the abolition of the liquor monopoly system, Taiwan Province Tobacco and Alcohol Corporation was transformed into Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation. Taichung Distillery also began to adopt a consumer-oriented approach, developing diversified products. In recent years, in addition to its stable production of the most popular rice wine, it has also focused on the development of a variety of new alcoholic products, including oligosaccharides, fruit vinegar, and red yeast rice, effectively utilizing the facility, increasing production capacity, and improving equipment utilization. Source: Taichung Distillery Official Website.