As 2026 approached, Cheng International hosted a relaxed Fenjiu Cocktail Happy Hour at Hunan Bar in Manchester, bringing a light, end-of-year atmosphere to the local community. Levs Surovecs, Assistant Bar Manager at China Tang at The Dorchester and UK Fenjiu Ambassador, crafted cocktails on site, integrating Fenjiu into contemporary mixology and presenting baijiu within the social settings familiar to young members of the UK Chinese community.
Fenjiu returned to Manchester for a Happy Hour at Sakura Bar. Two cocktails were showcased within the bar’s pan-Asian environment, positioning Chinese flavours naturally within contemporary Asian-inspired bar culture as 2026 drew closer.
Fenjiu International and Cheng International welcomed British media and spirits professionals to Shanxi for a dedicated cultural visit. The delegation toured production facilities and heritage sites, gaining first-hand insight into the craftsmanship and history of light-aroma baijiu, while engaging in discussions on the future development of Chinese Baijiu abroad.
In mid-December, Cheng International partnered with Nightjar to host the latest Fenjiu Cocktail Competition. Seven bartenders from three London bars reinterpreted Fenjiu 10YO in live competition, combining tea elements, spice infusions and flame techniques to showcase the spirit’s versatility in modern cocktail culture. The seven distinctive creations brought fresh energy to London’s winter drinks scene.
To mark the turn of the year, Cheng International hosted two Fenjiu’s New Year Dinners at Bright Courtyard Club in London, welcoming partners from the hospitality and drinks industries. Seated around shared tables, guests experienced the communal rhythm and refined etiquette of a traditional Chinese banquet. Qinghua Fenjiu complemented the courses with quiet elegance, adding an understated Eastern warmth to London’s New Year celebrations.
As the Year of the Horse approached, Cheng International partnered with leading Asian bar talents, SANYOU from Hope & Sesame and SANYOU at The Living Room Bar, The Silk Lake House at Shangri-La Hangzhou, for a baijiu masterclass and guest shift at GŎNG, The Shard. Education and tasting unfolded side by side, with a series of Eastern-inspired Fenjiu cocktails served against London’s skyline. Throughout the evening, demand remained high, and all 180 cocktails prepared for the event were enjoyed before the night concluded, reflecting the growing curiosity around baijiu in an international bar setting.
On the first day of the Chinese New Year, Fenjiu collaborated with British luxury brand Victoria Grant for the “Year of the Fire Horse” presentation in London. Eastern inspiration shaped many of the couture designs, with over 150 guests from the fashion industry in attendance. Three bespoke Fenjiu cocktails became a highlight of the evening and were fully enjoyed by guests before the event concluded.
