What is soju?

Unlike other spirits, there are no rules that define what soju can and can not be! Traditionally, soju is a Korean liquor which translates to “burned liquor,” a name derived from the flame-powered distillation technology of the 13th century C.E. Soju ranges from 15-50% ABV and is usually unaged.

What sets NAMU apart from all the “green bottle” soju brands I see in stores?

We at NAMU pride ourselves on producing the most flavorful premium-quality soju possible which means we produce everything ourselves in-house in small batches. We select the best glutenous rice to craft our rice wine, aka makgeolli (막걸리), and we never use artificial ingredients or sweeteners of any kind. Our flavored soju contain only real fruit sourced from farms throughout New England as a further homage to our region’s natural bounty.

“Green bottle” soju is not the same. In Korea, most green bottle brands don’t even make their own alcohol but rather purchase it from a single ethanol plant. This ethanol is also not fermented from flavorful rice but instead from relatively flavorless starches like tapioca and potato. This ethanol is then artificially sweetened and/or flavored and usually diluted to low concentrations around 15-20% ABV.

How should I drink soju?

Any way you want! Traditionally, soju is consumed neat and always in group settings, but there’s no wrong way to enjoy soju. We recommend trying NAMU soju neat to savor the caramel and floral notes that only rice-based soju can provide. Then try mixing soju into your favorite cocktails as a replacement for rum or vodka. Cheers, and 짠!