Jinro Soju

An acquaintance stationed in South Korea introduced me to shochu years ago, mentioning how new recruits were made to drink a lot of it and would then be unable to stand. This spirit is akin to a lightly filtered vodka. It offers very little flavor by itself, just a slight sweetness reminiscent of sake. Consumed straight, it has minimal burn, and it vanishes completely when mixed with any fruit juice. I discovered that South Koreans also combine it with beer for their version of a Boilermaker. It would work well in lower-proof cocktails or to add a bit of zest to beer, but I'm not sure I'd keep it stocked long-term, as I can only see myself using it on rare occasions. I think it's worth trying if you're adventurous, but for me, it's a specialized drink. Enjoy.

Despite its lower alcohol content, I'm quite fond of this. It's very smooth, with citrus being the most prominent flavor I detect. At times, it almost resembles a diluted gin without the juniper. It's a generally easy-drinking spirit with many uses in cocktails.

Many thanks to a friend and another friend!