Wonsoju Spirit Launches Distilled Liquor Party

Let's All Shout Together!

Wonsoju. The impact of these three syllables on the liquor market has been tremendous.

As a drink launched by Jay Park, an icon representing Korean hip-hop and rightfully called the sexiest, it received great expectations immediately after its release, and it became a product so hard to find that it is called the ‘Pok?mon bread for adults.’ Online sales are said to resume from September, and driving this popularity is none other than Wonsoju Spirit.

Compared to the original Wonsoju, Wonsoju Spirit has a higher alcohol content and a lower price, based on the taste of distilled soju raw material that has not undergone the usual two-week earthenware fermentation. Since July, this product has been sold only at convenience stores and has become so popular that each store limits customers to two bottles per purchase.

However, Wonsoju is not the only distilled soju on the market. Established brands like ‘Hwayo’ and ‘Ilpum Jinro’ exist, and various companies are releasing their own products, growing the market. Since the price is not burdensome and it can create a sophisticated atmosphere like whiskey or wine, it is also good for entertaining guests. Accordingly, we anonymously evaluated four popular products including Wonsoju Spirit: ‘Tokki Soju,’ ‘Myeongrang Skull,’ and ‘Seoul’s Night.’ Self-proclaimed and recognized ‘aesthetes’ who enjoy drinking gathered in one place. They had no prior information about the ingredients of the soju. Please note that these opinions reflect personal preferences.

Wonsoju Spirit

Wonsoju Spirit is a 100% rice soju made from Wonju rice Totomi, a specialty product of Wonju, Gangwon Province, cultivated around the Seomgang River in the upper Namhan River basin.

C: After the first glass, I thought ‘No wonder it’s popular.’ It cleanly brings out the alcohol taste people expect from soju while minimizing aroma and other flavors. It seems to pair easily with any food, so it would be good as a drinking companion.

A: It feels like a lager in beer terms. Even without considering it as ‘Jay Park’s liquor,’ the price-to-alcohol ratio is satisfying.

Tokki Soju White

Tokki Soju White is generally priced slightly higher than other competing products, but its unique story as an authentically Korean-style soju made in the U.S. is attractive. The bottle cap is also unique, not a simple twist-off but a cork like a wine bottle.

A: At 23 degrees, it doesn’t feel overly strong when drinking. It gives a similar sensation to drinking whiskey.

B: I can sense fruity and alcohol aromas. There is bitterness. The throat feel is like drinking whiskey. After drinking, the alcohol sensation hits the throat sharply.

Seoul’s Night

Seoul’s Night is refined through low-temperature secondary distillation and cold filtration technology, distilled with yellow plum to capture a rich fruit aroma. It is a Seoul gin distilled together with juniper berries to balance the plum flavor.

B: A strong sweet aroma comes first, followed by alcohol scent. The taste also starts sweet and then the alcohol flavor slowly rises. Personally, the alcohol feels like it stings the eyes. The first glass had a very captivating charm, but the more I drink, the more it feels greasy.

C: The alcohol is very strong, but the sweetness is also intense. It might be too much to drink straight, so opinions may vary. I like sweet drinks, but unlike beers like apple cider with strong sweetness, this sweetness is not to my taste.

Myeongrang Skull

Myeongrang Skull is a collaboration product between food startup Oktokki Project, famous for ‘Yokai Ramen’ and ‘Going Merry,’ and Seoul’s Night. It has a lower alcohol content of 17 degrees and is made at an affordable price.

A: Maybe because I was already tipsy? Compared to the previous drinks, it goes down easier. But perhaps because of that, the taste doesn’t leave a strong impression.

B: It has a similar aroma to Seoul’s Night but with a stronger alcohol scent. The taste is similar to Seoul’s Night but with a much more bitter alcohol flavor. After drinking, the lingering sensation in the mouth is strong, somewhat like the charm of junk food.

Having tried these four types of liquor, since they are generally high-alcohol soju, I felt that pairing them with side dishes would bring out their true flavors. Next time, we plan to include established brands like Hwayo and Ilpum Jinro for a bigger drinking session. Stay tuned.

Photo by Seo Jeongjun

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.