OnlymadeinthetownofMaotai,GuizhouProvince,Maotailiquorhasahistoryofmorethan2,000years.Theclimate,soil,andwatercontributetotheuniquetasteofthedrink.DuringtheQingDynasty,MaotaibecamethefirstChineseliquortobeproducedinlarge-scaleproductionwithanannualoutputof170tons.Itfirstwoninternationalfamewhenwinningagoldmedalin1951.Maotaiwasalsonamedanationalliquorin1951,twoyearsafterthefoundingofPeople'sRepublicofChina.Sincethen,MaotaihasbeenusedonofficialoccasionsinbanquetswithforeignheadsofstateanddistinguishedguestsvisitingChina.