547190 Sat Aug 09 19:30:28 -0700 2008 6 31 Home Cooking 0 3944038 Is there a big difference? My little Asian market carries only the cooking wine (licensing?) -- and the supers don't carry either (altho they do carry sake). Trying to save a trip to the City for this dish. And if I sub w/ sherry - dry, medium or what and really okay? Thanks! Sat Aug 09 19:30:30 -0700 2008 10877 Sarah 1 3944294 There isn't that big of a difference between the regular and cooking version of shaoxing wine (or 紹興酒). If you can't get your hands on either, I would try either a dry sherry or even sake as alternatives. Sat Aug 09 23:13:35 -0700 2008 3944038 11583 ipsedixit 1 3944491 I think there is a difference. The best Shao Xing I've found is Pagoda Brand that is 16% alcohol with no added salt. It is only sold in liquor stores here in Chinatown. Up until a couple of years ago a much cheaper brand that contained very little alcohol and added salt was sold in the food stores. And yes, a dry sherry is a good substitute if you can't get your hands on the good stuff. Sun Aug 10 06:30:43 -0700 2008 3944038 148845 scoopG 2 3956726 I wish I had seen this before I bought my first bottle of shaoxing this weekend. How much does the Pagoda brand sell for? I went with the midrange bottle at the market which was a surprise at $1.99. Thu Aug 14 09:20:28 -0700 2008 3944491 68363 JungMann 3 3956763 Pagoda brand sells for about $10-$12 per 24.5 ounce bottle. There is a liquor store on Walker Street, between Lafayette and Canal that has it. Thu Aug 14 09:38:01 -0700 2008 3956726 148845 scoopG 1 3944862 The search for real Shao xing is akin to the Holy grail. I had some ceremonial sips years back in Asia and the taste is forever imprinted upon this gosling's brain. The REAL Shaoxing is hard to acquire outside of major Chinatown metros, while the 1.5% salt "cooking wine" is in all asian markets. It's a matter of liquor licensing (16% alcohol). I've been using the salted version for years, with fine results, but yet the memories of those real aromas always leave a lingering question and a longing.... All web searches lead to wholesale importers, not retail outlets. Thanks scoopG for the brand name Pagoda: it narrowed the search, but still found only wholesalers. If someone finds an online retail source to order one bottle, please post it. Sake and sherry will work as subs, but they just ain't the same. The congeners in Shaoxing are richly developed. If any Coastal Chinatown Chowhound wants to consider a mercy shipment swapped for a mailed money order, please email me via my profile. Sun Aug 10 10:14:20 -0700 2008 3944038 17562 FoodFuser 1 3955574 Thanks to all for your input. If I can't find the Pagoda brand, I'll just buy whatever is sold at a "big" asian market -- I don't think any recipe can demand more. Wed Aug 13 20:42:32 -0700 2008 3944038 10877 Sarah