Distillers in high spirits after heady Q1

Sales and profits of China's spirit makers are likely to soar in the first quarter, and industry analysts expect such rapid growth to sustain as higher-end products are becoming popular on the back of the consumption upgrade in the country.

For instance, Luzhou, Sichuan province-based Luzhou Laojiao Group, a Chinese liquor producer, expects first-quarter profit to come in between 1.2 billion yuan ($191 million) and 1.28 billion yuan, which would be 50 to 60 percent up year-on-year.

The company, which distilling the country's first "thick fragrance" spirit, said total sales revenue is likely to increase more than 25 percent year-on-year, mainly driven by growth in sales of high-end products.