Everything There Is To Know About Soju?

Soju is a Korean distilled spirit made traditionally from rice. It can be made from sweet potato, barley, tapioca, or wheat, or any combination of the above. Because of its neutral flavour, the clear alcoholic beverage is sometimes referred to as Korean vodka. Though it has long been a favourite drink in Korea and is an excellent complement to Korean cuisine, Soju is gaining popularity in the West. There is a traditional way to drink it, and you can enjoy it straight or in cocktails.

Sake vs Soju

Traditional Korean Soju and Japanese sake share a common ingredient: rice. While sake is still made from rice and has a more neutral flavour, Soju may be made from other starches, which affects the taste. Soju is typically sweeter than sake, which is typically dry. The main distinction between the two is how they are produced: Sake is fermented and brewed like beer, whereas Soju is distilled like vodka. Sake is typically lower in alcohol content than Soju.

What Is the Composition of Soju?

In the 1300s, Soju was first distilled in Korea. Historians believe the Mongols introduced the Persian method of distilling arak to Korea. Until the Japanese occupation in the early 1900s, it was one of the most popular spirits in Korea. Soju production was halted at the time, and sake and beer became more popular.

Soju translates to "burned liquor," referring to how the alcohol is distilled at a high temperature. It is a clear distilled liquor made from rice, as are many Korean drinks. Following Korea's liberation from Japan and the Korean War years in the 1950s, soju production was jeopardized by a rice shortage in the 1960s. Because the government made rice for Soju illegal, distilleries began to substitute sweet potatoes, wheat, barley, and tapioca. The ban was lifted in the 1990s, and some soju is now distilled from rice again. Soju is frequently made with a combination of starches.

Most bottles of Soju will contain between 16 and 45 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV, 32 to 90 proof). Many older people prefer stronger bottles of Soju, but younger drinkers prefer the milder flavour of the lower alcohol content varieties.

What Is the Taste of Soju?

Soju has a pleasant, unobtrusive flavour. People frequently say it tastes like vodka, but most commercial Soju sold today has a sweeter, less aggressive flavour than vodka. The flavour is typically astringent so that you may detect a bitterness beneath the Soju's subtle sweetness. Sweet potato soju will be sweeter than other starch-based Soju.

Flavours

Soju, like vodka, is now available in a variety of flavours. It primarily appeals to younger drinkers and can taste like spiked fruit juice, even coming in juice-like boxes. Flavoured Soju is available in various flavours, including apple, blueberry, citrus, grape, grapefruit, peach, pineapple, and pomegranate.

Where to Buy Soju

In Korea and other Asian countries, Soju is widely available. Soju can also be found in some liquor stores that specialize in international spirits. Soju is frequently found in restaurants and stores that do not have a full liquor license, including Asian food markets because it has a lower proof and is frequently mislabeled (erroneously) as a rice wine.

Soju Drinking Recommendations

Soju is typically consumed neat, chilled, and sipped in small glasses. Soju is traditionally consumed socially with food and snacks.

Soju drinking is associated with social rules in Korean culture. Everyone at the table pours someone else a glass, usually beginning with the oldest member of the group (never for oneself). The person pouring and the person receiving use two hands on the vessels. You're expected to take the straight shot without looking at the person who served you, and it's acceptable to sip the Soju after the first round. If you see someone shaking or swirling the bottle, this is an old custom that dates back to when Soju had sediment that needed to be reincorporated. Any soju is rarely left in the bottle after it's been opened, and it's notorious for causing some nasty hangovers. Gonbae is Korean for "cheers!" and is frequently heard when drinking Soju. Go ahead and get the best Soju from Geonbae, the best alcohol supplier in Singapore.

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