The main reason for a headache after drinking alcohol is that the liquor is of poor quality. It is likely that what you drank is blended liquor. Chinese liquor is not only categorized into pure grain liquor and blended liquor, but there are also differences in the quality of pure grain liquor. Although it is now possible to distinguish between pure grain liquor and blended liquor based on the ingredient list and implementation standards, many liquor enthusiasts still have only a superficial understanding of the quality differences among pure grain liquors. Chinese liquor is classified into “superior grade, excellent grade, first grade, and second grade”.
In addition to the grade classification, the aroma type of Chinese liquor is also closely related to whether a headache occurs after drinking. Maotai – flavored liquor, represented by Moutai, uses high – temperature Daqu and a process of multiple 蒸煮 (steaming) and fermentation. It is rich in phenolic compounds, and moderate consumption is relatively less likely to cause a headache. Luzhou – flavored liquor has a rich cellar aroma, with ethyl caproate as the main aroma. After a long period of fermentation and aging, high – quality Luzhou – flavored liquor has fully volatilized harmful substances, providing a relatively comfortable drinking experience. However, if the Luzhou – flavored liquor has rough craftsmanship and poor quality, it may lead to a headache.