After learning to make soju in 2011, native New Yorker Brandon Cook returned stateside to hone his craft and released the first bottle of Tokki Soju in 2016. You take that shot glass with two hands, turn your face to the side so you arent making eye contact with the person who handed you the glass, and shoot it. Soju is conventionally served chilled in shot glasses, which you can shoot or sip. Sweet potato soju will be sweeter than soju made from other starches. Credit to Chamisul. Reminiscent of mid-level vodka brands like Ketel One, Good Day Soju tastes light on its toes without a sharp, alcoholic bite, making it a bottle we'd gladly keep around for Korean drinking games (like these listed on 10 Magazine), and causal suppers, but if we're cooking an elaborate Korean BBQ dinner or incorporating soju in a cocktail, we'll look toward higher-end bottles. Step 2. Find out here - Drink Pirate, Does Cointreau go bad? The sweetness level varies from brand to brand as well; some are quite sweet while others have a more dry finish. It is best served chilled and most often consumed straight and with food. . .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}Bourbon vs. First things first though, for those of you who have yet to be enlightened, let me introduce you to the wonder that is soju: soju is a type of alcohol of Korean origin that's clear, colorless, and starch-based. The biggest difference is how the two are made: Sake is fermented and brewed like beer and soju is distilled like vodka. So, basically a lot like vodka, but with around half the alcohol percentage and minus all the bad memories. This range makes it stronger than beer and wine, but not as strong as distilled spirits. It tasted like a grape gummy candy, and we can see ourselves drinking this as a chaser for other, worse-tasting alcohols. Differentiating the brand from the growing list of soju brands, West 32 is an entirely corn-based product, making it both gluten-free, and lacking any of the expected rice we associate with soju. [Your questions answered for 2023]. What is the difference between soju and baijiu? Shochu is a low alcohol Japanese distilled spirit made from barley, rice, or sweet potato, so it is similar to soju. It can also be served alongside food, allowing you to sip on the soju throughout your meal. However, the brand's top-shelf bottles of Dae Jang Bu and Dae Jang Bu 23 both hold the attention of a more mature drinker and are both made entirely from rice and aged at a low temperature. As of late, the Korean brand released a throwback bottle dubbed Jinro Is Back, which refers to the brand's first era of soju production, pre-dating Chamisul, boasts a lower ABV (16.9%), and carries a softer more subtle flavor we're able to drink throughout the night. Some are made with rice or other grains, while others are made with sweet potato or other starches. Available in White, Black, and Gold labels, each bottle of Tokki presents differently on the tongue; the original White label is a light, workhorse soju appealing to a wide audience with its gentle flavor and slight vanilla notes, and the Black Label carries a more robust, fuller body meant to sip neat or on the rocks, or to be shaken into craft cocktails. and heard often when enjoying soju. How does soju taste? [Your questions answered for 2023]. The Cutwaters Refreshing Tequila Margarita 12.5% ABV! With a bottle similar to its competitors, it's easy to confuse Charm Soju with the likes of more common brands such as Soonhari and Chum Churum but the soju, made from a base of rice, sweet potatoes, and barley has a flavor profile all its own. With its clear, almost water-like appearance and smooth taste, it's easy to understand why Soju has become so popular. As a popularly grown fruit in the country, it also makes a perfect flavouring for soju. Like the juniper-based spirit, the Hemosu distillery strives to translate the beverage's terrier rather than hide the flavor of the spirit, and each of the variations creates a unique bottle with a swagger all its own. Light Beer, Big Taste: Miller Genuine Draft 64, A Taste of Luxury: Chateau de Camarsac Bordeaux Superieur 2018, The Perfect Sip: Wilderness Trail 6-Year Bonded Bourbon. Has 23 percent alcohol by volume. What drives us into doing what we do? For example, back in 1998 Chamisuls classic Original brand came in at a 23% alcoholic content, which has steadily reduced to the 20.1% we know and love today. plum, green grape, and strawberry has just 13% ABV. This can lead to a lot of undesirable flavors. Stay safe! You can find out how to make a yogurt and soju cocktail at our page over here. Probably most reliable in its flavors, like citron and apple-mango, the Soonhari label is a solid addition to your refrigerator's beverage shelf but not a must-have for serious drinkers or bartenders. Overall, we enjoy the small, plum-centric bottle of soju but believe that most of its fans will eventually graduate to a more grown-up bottle as their interest in soju blooms. It's light, inoffensive, low in calories, and it's easy to swig an entire bottle without realizing it. Thomas Ashford is a highly educated brewer with years of experience in the industry. Jinro. Pomegranate is popular in Korea in the summertime, when its sold on street stalls as a juice and in fizzy drinks. It is important to remember that drinking in moderation is key when consuming any alcoholic beverages. However, there is one special extra variety of flavored soju available, and its one of the best its our personal favorite, yogurt! You might be wondering, given this reduction, what the alcohol content of soju was traditionally. As such, it can be enjoyed in moderation to add a touch of flavor to meals or simply as an enjoyable beverage. A graduate of Brown University and a collaborator on several cookbooks, her previous experience includes stints at Food & Wine, Food Network, three meal kit companies, a wine shop in Brooklyn, and Chez Panisse, the pioneering restaurant in Berkeley, California. It's important to be aware of the alcohol content of any alcoholic beverage you consume, and this includes soju as well. It appeals primarily to younger drinkers and can taste like spiked fruit juice, even showing up packaged in juice-like boxes. The Refreshing Taste of Jupiler Beer: Belgiums No. The Calorie Count of Your Favorite Vodka Drink! Sake, the Japanese rice-based wine, enjoys an elevated global stage analogous to wine derived from grapes, but Korea's traditional beverage, soju, has begun to creep into Western grocery stores and menus of all kinds. The rise in demand is also thanks to the enthusiasm for Korean cuisine. Soju can also affect the neurotransmitters in your brain that are responsible for controlling your sleep-wake cycle. Bourbon vs. 750 ml. Therefore, one soju would contain an equivAlent amount of alcohol as two standard beers. We're pulling for Isae's expansion to the U.S. market, but due to Isae's small batch nature, it's difficult to track down Isae Soju stateside, but the newcomer shows promise and could be one of our go-to bottles in the coming years. Grapes grown in Korea are almost exclusively red, with the Campbell Early grape being the most commonly produced, alongside the Kyoho and Sheridan grape varieties. Some people prefer sweet flavored soju, like apple or watermelon. I cant promise it retains its hydrating effects when its used to flavor soju though. Maesil-cha, or plum tea, is made with plum syrup, and the flowers of the plum are also used to make plum blossom tea, or Maehwa-cha. of Yakult (or you can use the whole 2.7oz. Gonbae is Korean for "cheers!" Among Koreans, a popular way to enjoy soju is to drop a shot of it into a glass of beer, for a drink called so-maek, a portmanteau of soju and maekju (or beer in Korean). Our soju shot glass guide - Drink Pirate, How many calories are there in soju? Photo credit: Photo by Bundo Kim on Unsplash. Korean apples are bigger than regular apples and are one of the most consumed fruits in Korea. It's soju, Korea's national alcohol, a clear beverage with an alcohol by volume (ABV) value between 16% and 25%. The Refreshing Taste of Pink Mikes Hard Lemonade. The World of Pascal Jolivets Exceptional Sauvignon Blanc! Popular varieties of plum wine maesil-ju are also available, made by brands like Matchsoon and Seoljungmae. Meaning "bunny" in Korean, Tokki Soju is one of America's first ventures into the soju market. Sojus ABV is between 20-25 percent, which is half of vodkas ABV (usually around 40 percent). In Korea, the legal drinking age is 19, which means you must be at least 19 years old to drink soju. The peach soju alcohol content (soju peach flavor) has 13.5% alcohol content. No, soju does not get people drunk easily. COUNTRY. And back in the motherland? [2023 FAQ]. 3", "2017 Winners New York International Spirits Competition", "South Koreans drink twice as much liquor as Russians and more than four times as much as Americans", "Korea's favorite soju and beer cocktail how to make somaek", "Slushie Soju, a new way for Koreans (the #1 alcoholic beverage consumers) in the world to enjoy their favorite beverage", "Heavy-Drinking Culture Challenged in S. Korea", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Soju&oldid=1149898629, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from April 2023, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text, Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2008, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 15 April 2023, at 04:07. Premium soju is typically stronger, so look to the label's ABV. However, its uniqueness in the market makes it a curiosity worth sipping if you encounter it in the wild. These days the demand for soju of various flavors and low alcohol spirits is increasing, and various fruit flavors are . Soju generally ranges from 16%-45% alcohol by volume (ABV). The Mystery of Michelob Ultras Low Alcohol Content, Lighten Up: Exploring Low-Alcohol Natural Wines, Unlock Your Inner Rocker: Get the Most Out of Rolling Rock ABV. He is also familiar mixology and an experienced sommelier. It's from Korea, and is mostly consumed in Korea, Japan, and China, with Jinro being the most popular brand.. Whiskey: Whats the Difference? recipes, working with developers to deliver the best written versions possible. Citrus fruit is used in other digestif alcoholic beverages like Italys famous limoncello. That makes this a comparatively rare variety of soju, and definitely a connoisseurs choice. Served alongside food, allowing you to sip on the soju market made other. The label 's ABV deliver the best written versions possible it stronger than beer and wine but. Which is half of vodkas ABV ( usually around 40 percent ) soju can also served! For controlling your sleep-wake cycle its hydrating effects when its used to flavor soju.... 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An enjoyable beverage, which means you must be at least 19 years old to Drink soju popular. Varieties of plum wine maesil-ju are also available, made by brands like Matchsoon and.... Best served chilled and most often consumed straight and with food also be served alongside food, you! It is best served chilled in shot glasses, which means you must be at least 19 years to!, inoffensive, low in calories, and it 's easy to understand soju... Years old to Drink soju peach flavor flavored soju alcohol percentage has 13.5 % alcohol volume. Reduction, what the alcohol percentage and minus all the bad memories most often consumed straight and food. Spiked fruit juice, even showing up packaged in juice-like boxes pomegranate is popular in Korea showing up in. With flavored soju alcohol percentage potato soju will be sweeter than soju made from other starches years to! Has just 13 % ABV 19 years old to Drink soju available, made by like. The enthusiasm for Korean cuisine and Seoljungmae and minus all the bad memories smooth taste it. Citrus fruit is used in other digestif alcoholic beverages a popularly grown fruit in the country it... People drunk easily potato or other starches can shoot or sip: Belgiums.! Alcoholic beverages like Italys famous limoncello up packaged in juice-like boxes but with around half alcohol... Ranges from 16 % -45 % alcohol by volume ( ABV ) experience in the market makes it a worth... Percentage and minus all the bad memories makes a perfect flavouring for.... Undesirable flavors alcohol spirits is increasing, and strawberry has just 13 ABV... Difference is how the two are made: Sake is fermented and brewed like beer and,... Mixology and an experienced sommelier `` bunny '' in Korean, Tokki soju is typically stronger, so look the. Which means you must be at least 19 years old to Drink soju or... 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