Andong Jinmaek Soju Achieves Five Consecutive Wins at San Francisco World Spirits Competition

'Poet's Rock' and 'Jinmaek Soju Original' Win Double Gold
Praised at Michelin-Starred Restaurants

Korean premium traditional soju "Andong Jinmaek Soju" has achieved a remarkable feat by winning awards for five consecutive years at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), the world's most prestigious liquor competition.

Jinmaek Soju was first released in 2019 at the brewery "Milgwano Nilda" (CEO Kim Sunyoung) located in Maenggae Village, Imha-myeon, Andong City, Gyeongbuk.

Jinmaek Soju, which won the grand prize when it was first submitted in 2021, once again received the highest score of 97 points this year for both "Jinmaek Soju Original (40%)" and its oak-aged product "Poet's Rock," earning the "Double Gold" award.

The SFWSC is the largest liquor competition in the United States, where more than 40 judges rigorously evaluate the quality of spirits through blind tastings. The "Double Gold" is the highest honor, awarded only when all judges unanimously rate the entry as Gold or above.

This latest achievement by Jinmaek Soju is significant as it once again proves the global competitiveness of Korean traditional soju. In particular, "Poet's Rock" is a premium product targeting the global market and is currently recognized for its taste and quality, being served as a food pairing spirit at Michelin-starred restaurants in cities such as New York and London.

Jinmaek Soju was first released in 2019 at the brewery "Milgwa Nonilda," located in Maenggae Village, Imha-myeon, Andong City, Gyeongbuk. It is a premium soju made by directly cultivating organic wheat and using traditional atmospheric distillation and long-term low-temperature aging methods, boasting a unique flavor profile rich in wheat blossom aroma.

Kim Sunyoung, CEO, stated, "Jinmaek Soju is not just an alcoholic beverage, but a modern restoration of Korea's first wheat soju, which was recorded in the mid-16th century. We will continue to strive to elevate the prestige of Korean distilled spirits and to stand shoulder to shoulder with whiskey, gin, and baijiu in the global market."

Meanwhile, Jinmaek Soju's continued international accolades are not only raising the profile of traditional Korean spirits domestically but are also demonstrating the real potential for global expansion of "K-Soju" led by small-scale breweries.

Jinmak Soju was first released in 2019 at the brewery 'Milgwa Nonilda' located in Maenggae Village, Imha-myeon, Andong City, Gyeongbuk.