舌尖上的美食 第5期:鶴慶乾酒 Heqing Royal Liquor
Heqing Royal Liquor
鶴慶乾酒
There is a fairly legendary mystery denoting the origin of Heqing (A county in Northwestern part of Yunnan province) Royal Wine. It is said that when Emperor Qianlong inspected the southern areas of the Yangtze River, during one feast, his Majesty was presented with the locally produced Liquor of West Dragon Pond (A pond in Heqing County), which was refreshing with a flavor of natural herbs. After a taste, his Majesty, who has enjoyed the world’s most delicious liquors and wines, praised: “What splendid liquor! Even an alcohol master could not have produced such a heavenly drink.” Under his order it became a tribute which was delivered to him on a regular basis. The wine thus adopted the name of Royal Liquor, which means that it was specifically attributed to Emperor Qianlong.
鶴慶乾酒的來歷，在民間還有一段頗具傳奇色彩和神祕意韻的故事，這酒據說是乾隆老兒下江南那陣子，在一次晚宴上，品了鶴慶出產的西龍潭酒後，覺得味道醇厚中，有一股子清冽冽的感覺；回甜中，有一種山野的清香。那品遍了天下美味瓊漿的乾隆老兒，品了一口後，居然嘖嘖稱讚道：“這真是天下少有的美酒啊！杜康在世，也未必能釀出這般美酒。”於是就將這種酒，御封爲每年進貢朝庭的貢品，定期按時呈貢。這酒名也就取成了乾酒，言下之意，這酒的專利擁有者，就他乾隆老兒了。
