Abstract:[Background] High-temperature Daqu is the basis of brewing and fermentation of Maotai-flavor liquor, playing an important role in the whole brewing process. The ester-producing yeast in high-temperature Daqu is associated with the formation of flavor components in liquor. [Objective] To isolate and optimize the fermentation conditions of the ester-producing yeast in high-temperature Daqu. [Methods] We employed the YPD medium, the dilution-coating method, and morphological observation to screen the ester-producing yeast strains in high-temperature Daqu and determine the ester production. After the strain was identified based on molecular evidence, single factor tests and response surface methodology were employed to optimize the fermentation conditions (soluble starch, peptone, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate) of the strain for ester production. [Results] Five ester-producing yeast strains were obtained, in which strain EY3 showcased the highest ester production of 2.16 g/L. Strain EY3 was identified as Wickerhamomyces anomalus, and it demonstrated the highest ester production at 30 ℃, pH 5.0, ethanol concentration of 7%, and inoculation amount of 3%. The optimum carbon source, nitrogen source, and inorganic salt in the medium for ester production by this strain were soluble starch, peptone, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate, respectively. The fermentation conditions for maximum ester production were optimized as 11.4 g/L soluble starch, 3.0 g/L peptone, and 0.4 g/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate, under which the ester production reached (3.43±0.22) g/L. [Conclusion] We screened out a high-yielding ester yeast strain W. anomalus from high-temperature Daqu and optimized the fermentation conditions of this strain, which enriched the diversity of ester-producing yeast.