棗集(ji)(ji)(ji)鎮是我(wo)國(guo)著(zhu)名(ming)的(de)傳(chuan)統酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)鄉,是道(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)鼻(bi)祖(zu)老(lao)(lao)子(zi)(zi)的(de)誕(dan)生(sheng)地(di)。其釀酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)歷史久遠,上可追溯(su)至春(chun)秋,盛于(yu)隋(sui)唐,產出的(de)酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)被宋(song)真(zhen)宗趙恒欽定為“宮(gong)(gong)廷貢(gong)酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)”,有“天(tian)賜(si)名(ming)酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu),地(di)賜(si)名(ming)泉(quan)”“棗集(ji)(ji)(ji)美(mei)酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu),名(ming)不(bu)(bu)虛傳(chuan)”之美(mei)句流傳(chuan)。公(gong)元前518年,儒學祖(zu)師孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)問禮拜謁(ye)于(yu)道(dao)教(jiao)(jiao)祖(zu)師——老(lao)(lao)子(zi)(zi),老(lao)(lao)子(zi)(zi)奉上棗集(ji)(ji)(ji)釀造的(de)美(mei)酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)招(zhao)待孔(kong)子(zi)(zi),孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)飲后遂留下“惟酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)無量不(bu)(bu)及亂”的(de)千(qian)古名(ming)言。宋(song)真(zhen)宗趙恒于(yu)在中(zhong)祥符七年來鹿(lu)邑 拜老(lao)(lao)子(zi)(zi),夜(ye)宿老(lao)(lao)君臺前“明道(dao)宮(gong)(gong)”飲用(yong)棗集(ji)(ji)(ji)酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)后才思(si)大發,命筆寫下“先天(tian)太后贊碑”立于(yu)太清(qing)宮(gong)(gong)門前,并下詔地(di)方每年進貢(gong)兩萬斤棗集(ji)(ji)(ji)酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)作為宮(gong)(gong)廷之用(yong)。
河南人都知(zhi)道(dao):“鹿邑產(chan)美酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu),好(hao)酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)出棗(zao)(zao)集。”在鹿邑,人們(men)則常說(shuo):“棗(zao)(zao)集美酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)似瓊(qiong)(qiong)漿(jiang),喝上一(yi)盅三日(ri)香。”這(zhe)句話一(yi)點也不夸(kua)張。棗(zao)(zao)集酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)不但象瓊(qiong)(qiong)漿(jiang)玉(yu)露,酣(han)醇(chun)味美,而且(qie)還(huan)窖香芳濃,綿甜(tian)純正。同時,棗(zao)(zao)集人不僅擅釀(niang)酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu),還(huan)擅品酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)、愛喝酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)、長酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)令。但是,人們(men)只知(zhi)道(dao)棗(zao)(zao)集酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)好(hao)喝,棗(zao)(zao)集人善造(zao)酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)、愛喝酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)、能喝酒(jiu)(jiu)(jiu),并(bing)不知(zhi)道(dao)其(qi)中的原由,這(zhe)說(shuo)起(qi)來(lai)還(huan)有一(yi)段(duan)傳奇(qi)故事(shi)哩(li)。