Most people's first reaction is disbelief: how could a famous distillery pick such playful names? But the "Sword" family of Jiannanchun is practically a zoo and a calendar rolled into one: "Monkey Sword" and "Tiger Sword" from the Chinese zodiac, "Summer Sword" and "Winter Sword" for the seasons, "Zi Sword", "Shen Sword" and "Gui Sword" from the heavenly stems and earthly branches...
And the one blade that has actually stepped into the light and onto the dinner table is called "Rui Jian" β the Sharp Sword.
I. An entire "Sword family": a trademark moat
This is a common defensive trademark strategy in the Chinese baijiu industry. In the name "Jiannanchun", the character "Jian" (sword) is the most distinctive symbol β if another company registered a name like "XX Jian", consumers could easily be misled into thinking it was made by Jiannanchun, siphoning off the brand's traffic.
It is a moat around the brand. The famous chilli sauce maker Laoganma does the same thing, registering "Laogandie" (Old Godfather) and "Laoganniang" (Old Godmother) to guard its name.
II. The three-year rule: why they actually brew it
You might ask: if these are just defensive registrations, why actually produce the liquor? Because Chinese trademark law states that a registered trademark not used for three consecutive years can be cancelled.
So Jiannanchun turned these "Swords" into small-batch, label-light (guangping) bottlings, mostly circulated internally and rarely seen on the open market. The names may be whimsical, but every bottle holds the same base spirit β simple packaging, honest everyday liquor.
III. Rui Jian: the sword that stepped into the light
The "Dog Sword" is hard to find β but its younger sibling Rui Jian is always within reach. Earlier there was a batch of "Qing Jian" (Romance Sword) that sold so well the distillery added Rui Jian to the line: brewed by the Jiannanchun distillery in Mianzhu, with a clean ingredient list β sorghum, rice, glutinous rice, wheat and corn, five grains in traditional solid-state fermentation.
As an everyday pour it genuinely delivers. Our editor's "old drinking buddy" at home now reaches for Rui Jian at every mealtime, pouring himself a glass with visible satisfaction β for daily drinking, it is very, very decent.
IV. An everyday blade, three daily moments
With every meal
The old drinker's fixed routine: when dinner comes, out comes the Rui Jian.
The family table
Clean and smooth five-grain aroma β the unpretentious choice on a family dinner table.
Friends gathering
It does not rely on fancy packaging; the liquor speaks for itself β honest drinking.
Curious what Jiannanchun's mysterious "light-label Sword" series tastes like? No need to hunt for the "Dog Sword" β Mingpinhui carries its sibling Rui Jian. WeChat: +86 186 8275 6100 β tell our wine consultant and we will set bottles aside for you.
Want to know what Jiannanchun's "meme swords" actually taste like? Try Rui Jian and find out.
