With Chuseok coming up, I wanted to send gifts to some people I know, so I asked Baekkyeong Distillery what kinds of liquor they had, and they went and sent me samples. How generous of them..

They arrived in a case like this

The lineup

There’s quite a variety.

The sojus

To my palate the 53% was the tastiest, but its defining trait is a very strong aroma. I think some people will love that distinctive nuruk (fermentation starter) scent and some won’t. I like it myself.. The 46% was nicely balanced and easy to drink (the aroma is a bit milder too), while the 28% was a little weak for my taste.

Yukgok

Subtle, light, yet dry. Yukgok and the other oyangju (five-stage brewed rice wines) take a great deal of care to make, and that premium feel definitely comes through.

Hyangon

Well balanced, with a pleasant sweetness. For someone with more mainstream tastes, I think Hyangon would come across as the tastiest of the bunch.

Hyangmi Jugok

A bit drier than Hyangon, with a more natural aroma. If you’re the foodie type, I think this Hyangmi Jugok would hit the spot.

Baekkyeong 15

Well balanced with a crisp taste. There’s a tartness behind the sweetness, and the finish is heavy yet chewy.

Baekkyeong 15 Black

A very clean taste, with a strong sour note.

Baekkyeong 15 White

Light, sweet and clean.

Baekkyeong 15 Gold

It felt like drinking lychee juice. Light and refreshing, and not all that sweet either. I thought this one might be the best value for money.

Drinking my way through all these bottles made me realize that Korean traditional liquor is really quite good too. I hope it keeps developing from here.

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