Kweihua-brand Moutai makes a surprising appearance! Helping an elder organize old items, I unexpectedly found a rare treasure from the 1970s that returned from Japan - a story of high-priced buyback of a mellow and fragrant drink.

Key takeaway from this article (case study): While helping an elder organize their old home, they unexpectedly discovered two bottles of 1970s Japanese export "Sunflower Brand" Moutai hidden under the bed?

In Hong Kong, a city with a fast pace of life, many precious old items are often hidden deep within inconspicuous old tenement buildings or public housing estates. As appraisers at "Chunxiang Wine Merchants," we meet various clients every day and listen to the stories behind each bottle of old liquor. Today, I want to share a real buyback case involving a "1970s Japanese export Sunflower Brand Moutai." This was not just a successful high-value transaction, but also a heartwarming experience of rediscovering family memories.

Origin: An Unexpected Discovery While Organizing Grandfather's Old Home

In mid-last month, Mr. Cheung from Kowloon contacted us via WhatsApp. Mr. Cheung explained that his grandfather, who is over eighty years old, decided to move into a serviced apartment with an elevator and care staff due to knee degeneration. While helping his grandfather clean out his old home and declutter, Mr. Cheung found two bottles of unusually packaged baijiu in an old wooden box under the bed.

"I don't usually drink much, I only recognized 'Kweichow Moutai Wine' written on it, but strangely, the label didn't feature the common Feitian, but rather a sunflower. There was also a lot of Japanese text on the back. I wasn't sure if it was fake, so I wanted to ask for your help to take a look," Mr. Cheung said in his message.

Upon receiving Mr. Cheung's photos (as shown above), our appraisal team's eyes immediately lit up—this was no fake liquor, but the famous "Sunflower Brand" export Moutai, a highly renowned item in the baijiu collecting world, and an extremely historically valuable version imported by Ezaki Trading Co., Ltd. of Japan!

Appraisal and Discussion: Deciphering the Historical Mark of "Sunflower"

We arranged a free on-site appraisal service for the same day. After seeing the actual bottles, we carefully inspected the bottle seals, red ribbons, label details, and bottle weight.

We explained the extraordinary history of these two bottles to Mr. Cheung in detail: During the special historical period from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s, the "Feitian" trademark, originally used for exports, was temporarily suspended. It was replaced by this "Sunflower" emblem, symbolizing vitality. It wasn't until 1975 that the "Feitian" trademark was fully restored. Therefore, the production cycle of "Sunflower Brand" Moutai was extremely short, and very few bottles still exist today.

Looking at the back label of these two bottles, it clearly shows "Capacity 545ml," "Alcohol content 55% Vol," and "Importer Ezaki Trading Co., Ltd., 29 Doyama-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka." This proves that they were part of a batch specifically exported to Japan by the China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Import and Export Corporation. Due to Japanese measurement standards at the time, most Moutai exported to Japan adopted the special specification of 545ml, which is an even rarer highlight in today's collector's market.

After hearing our explanation, Mr. Cheung and his grandfather were very surprised. His grandfather recalled that these were gifts from a Japanese business partner in the early 1970s, when he was still in the dried seafood trade. Decades later, he had long forgotten about these two bottles.

Sincere Offer, Satisfactory Transaction

After a comprehensive evaluation, both bottles had intact seals and clear red ribbons. Although the edges of the labels showed natural slight yellowing, the overall condition was above average, and the evaporation rate (loss of liquor) was extremely low. We immediately made a highly competitive offer to Mr. Cheung.

Mr. Cheung had originally intended to dispose of them as ordinary clutter, but unexpectedly, they turned out to be a windfall. He happily stated that the generous proceeds from the sale could be used to purchase a better medical wheelchair for his grandfather and subsidize the daily expenses of the serviced apartment. Both parties were pleased to complete the cash transaction on the spot.

📊 In-depth Product Value Analysis: Sunflower Brand Moutai (Japanese Export Version)

To help everyone better understand the value of such old liquors, we have compiled the following information for reference:

Evaluation Item	Details
Brand and Trademark	Kweichow Moutai Wine (Sunflower Brand - Sunflower Facing the Sun pattern)
Estimated Production Year	Approximately between 1969 and 1975
Special Specification	545ml / 55% Vol (Exclusive specification for Ezaki Trading Co., Ltd. of Japan)
Market Rarity	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Extremely high. Short production cycle, high consumption, very few intact bottles remaining)
Collector's Value Rating	9.5 / 10 (A special product from a historical transitional period, possessing extremely high cultural relic and tasting value)
Recent Appreciation Trend	Shows a steady upward trend. Old Moutai frequently sets new records in the auction market, especially export versions with specific historical backgrounds, which are highly sought after by collectors in Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities.

💡 Frequently Asked Questions About Old Liquor Buyback of (FAQ)

Q1: How do I tell if my old Moutai or imported spirits are valuable? A: The value of old liquor primarily depends on four factors: authenticity, vintage, condition (completeness of packaging), and fill level (evaporation). Early "Three Revolution," "Local State-Owned," or "Sunflower Brand" like the one mentioned above, if well-preserved, can be very valuable. If you are unsure, the quickest way is to send us photos for a free preliminary appraisal.

Q2: Between export versions of Moutai with Japanese or English text and domestic versions, which is more valuable? A: Both have their merits. Domestic versions (like the Five-Star Brand) have a wide audience in mainland China; while export versions (like Feitian, Sunflower) often attract the attention of specific collectors at international auctions due to strict export standards and excellent liquor quality at the time, coupled with special capacities and labels for specific countries (e. g., Japan, France), giving them unique premium potential.

Q3: If the label is yellowed, slightly damaged, or the seal on the cap is slightly cracked, will it affect the buyback price? A: It will have some impact. The collecting world values "condition," but it's normal for decades-old liquor to show natural signs of aging. As long as there is no severe artificial damage and no significant leakage, we will still buy it at the highest market standard. Remember, do not attempt to clean or tear off damaged labels; it's best to keep them as they are!