A place designed to raise the capital's spirits

Capital Spirits offers more than 40 different kinds of baijiu.[Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

After sampling the different varieties of baijiu - the bar offers more than 40 different kinds - Dang says he gained an appreciation for the drink. "We convert over 90 percent of the people who come here," he says.

"The whole thing is about removing the mental hurdles and opening up people's minds."

"And hopefully their wallets," jokes William Isler, 33, of Florida, another of the bar's co-owners and the man behind many of its drink recipes.

When Isler told friends that he was starting a baijiu bar, many people "thought it was crazy", he says. "We were prepared to lose money for the first few months."

He says the reception has been "incredibly positive", among both Chinese and foreigners. "It turns out the Chinese crowd also likes the presentation."

For people new to baijiu, Capital Spirits offers "flights", a sampler of four different kinds of the liquor. Each is served in 10-milliliter shot glasses. I try the intro flight. "Find one you like and then go from there," Isler says.

As I sip away, several people walk into the bar, and one of them stops to take a closer look at the snake-infused baijiu. "Want to try it?" Heger, the bartender, asks.

"I'm scared of snakes," the man says.

"Don't worry. They're not going to come out," Heger says.

The man shakes his head. "No, not today," he says.

Most of Capitals Spirits' customers are men, but drinks such as the baijiu sour have helped introduce some women to the liquor. "I actually quite like it," says Anna Pipilis, 27, of Greece. "It has a very distinguished, weird taste."