Description
Hwayo 53 Premium Soju 750ml is the strongest expression in Hwayo’s range, a distilled Korean soju bottled at 53% ABV. It is made in Yeoju, South Korea, from 100% Korean rice and water, using a single, low-temperature distillation, and is then aged in traditional earthenware pots before bottling.
Buy Hwayo 53 Premium Soju Online in NZ
Hwayo was set up to revive Korea’s traditional distilled rice soju, a style that is very different from the diluted green-bottle soju most people know. Yeoju, in Gyeonggi Province, has long been known for the quality of its rice, and the company also has roots in Korean ceramics, which is reflected in its use of onggi, the breathable earthenware jars traditionally used for fermenting and storing food in Korea.
Soju has been distilled in Korea since the 13th century, traditionally from rice. In 1965 the government banned the use of rice for making alcohol because of food shortages, and most producers switched to diluted soju made from other starches. The ban was lifted in 1999, and since then producers such as Hwayo have revived the older distilled rice style.
Distilling at low temperature under reduced pressure helps keep delicate aromas from the rice that higher-temperature distillation can lose. Bottling at 53% keeps the spirit close to its full strength, so it has more body and a longer finish than Hwayo’s lighter versions, and it rewards slow sipping.
Serve it neat in a small glass at room temperature, or add a little cold water or a single ice cube to open it up. It suits rich, savoury food such as grilled pork belly, braised short ribs, sashimi or salted, fermented side dishes.
- Distilled soju from 100% Korean rice and water
- Single, low-temperature distillation, aged in earthenware pots
- Bottled at 53% ABV
Expect a nose of cooked rice, pear and a light floral note. The palate is full and warming, with gentle sweetness from the rice, a little earthiness and a long, dry finish.
A considered bottle for experienced spirit drinkers, and a meaningful gift for anyone interested in traditional Korean distilling.
