If you are heading to Korea, apart from insane barbecues (dude, there’s so much variety) and catchy, colorful K-Pop, there’s one more thing you should try. It’s called Soju and it’s the national alcohol of Korea. Just like anything else in the country, Soju is unique and special. Here’s why.
Soju is moderately strong and affordable: Soju’s alcohol content varies from anything between 10 to 45%. So, ABV-wise it isn’t a beer. The most commonly available variety is however at 20% ABV. It’s super cheap, a pint only costs you around 150 bucks. Do we need more reasons to try it?
Soju drinking is an art: You can’t be an uncultured swine while drinking Soju. There are a few traditions you can’t break. An empty glass means you are ready for another round, you can’t ever pour your own drink and if someone older than you is serving, you have to hold your glass with both hands. We’ve got to learn about respectful drinking from Koreans.
The elite soju: Andong is the king of Soju and Koreans think of it as a special gifting item. With almost 45% alcohol content, this drink can absolutely knock you out. Andong is brewed without any chemicals to stay true to the 700-year-old brewing technique.
The most sold liquor in the world: Based on the data drawn from Chosun, Soju is the most popular alcoholic drink in the world. We consume more than 85 million cases of Soju every year. That’s a lot. Jinro, a famous Soju label is the most sold alcohol brand in the world.
Soju is ridiculously versatile: Koreans make a drink called Somaek by mixing beer and Soju. It’s one of their go-to cocktails. Similarly, fruit-flavored Soju is catching on. But, here’s the deal, the fruit flavours make the Soju a lot more delectable and smooth, so there are higher chances of you blacking out.
