The “2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards”, which examines the current state of the South Korean liquor industry and anticipates its future, selected 431 products as award winners among 1,008 brands submitted by 236 companies.
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards EXPO, now in its 12th year, is the representative liquor evaluation event of South Korea. Hosted annually by ChosunBiz since 2014, it aims to “discover and widely promote good domestic liquor and support the formation of a healthy liquor culture.” This year, it has expanded into a three-day event.
At the awards ceremony held on the 9th at Hangnyeoul station SETEC, the award-winning products were announced. The liquors awarded this year showed a distinctly different atmosphere in each institutional sector compared to previous years. This clearly demonstrated that liquor has established itself as “a culture to enjoy” rather than simply “a beverage to drink.”
◇ The popularity of Korean rice wine over 10% ABV... “Expanding the boundaries of makgeolli”
In the Korean rice wine sector, the categories of makgeolli exhibited notable sophistication and premiumization.
Beompyo Brewery’s “Beompyo Makgeolli (7% ABV)” is a high-quality makgeolli made using Icheon rice, filtered three times. This makgeolli was awarded the best of 2025, corresponding to the best liquor in the entire Korean rice wine sector.
Typically, makgeolli ranges from 5 to 6% ABV. This year, many awards went to makgeolli exceeding 10% ABV, moving away from the existing 6% ABV makgeolli. Notable examples of high-alcohol makgeolli include “Naroo Makgeolli 11.5 (11.5% ABV)” from Hangang Brewery, “Yuja Gadeuk09 (9% ABV)” from Daraengi Farm, “Kyungtakju 12 (12% ABV)” from J1, and “Hard Portion (14.3% ABV)” from PalPal Yangjojang.
In a case aimed at targeting young consumers, there was also “Oh My Gat Sparkling Spring Flower” from Songdohyang, adding a pop of carbonation to traditional makgeolli.
◇ A diverse era of Korean soju from 17 to 53% ABV
In the soju sector, LOTTE Chilsung Beverage’s “Searo” and HiteJinro’s “Jinro” and “Chamisul Fresh’” along with Daesun Brewery’s “Daesun159′” received the awards in the diluted soju category.
“KHEE Soju 22” from KHEE Korea and “Yeongilman Soju” from ChungseulK were each awarded in the distilled soju sector. The diluted soju awardees predominantly include products below 17% ABV, reflecting a preference for smoother, low-alcohol beverages.
As the previously homogenized soju market gradually diversifies, various soju with alcohol levels ranging from below 26% ABV to over 31% ABV are also making their names in the award winners.
Notably, high-alcohol products like “Mahan48″ from Smart Brewery have increased recognition beyond just certain enthusiasts, gaining wider consumer awareness. Producers of Andong soju, such as “JinMaek Poet’s Rock” from Millfun, continue to show strength, with a variety of products that clearly highlight regional characteristics and raw material features like “Wolyeong Andong Soju” from Heogok Brewery and “Cultural Heritage and Food Masterpiece Cho Ok-hwa Andong Soju 45%” from Traditional Liquor Andong Soju.
◇ Beer competes with personality and experimentation... “Using ancient grains and honey as unique ingredients”
In the domestic beer market, the craft beer sector, which had struggled for some time, has made significant strides. In the general beer sector, HiteJinro’s “Kelly” and OB’s “Cass Fresh” won awards.
In the craft beer sector, various products with unique personalities, led by Beber Brewery’s “Beber Weizen”, have been selected.
Products with strong unique identities, such as “Modulor Rustic Farmhouse Ale” from Seoul Brewery and “Queenbee Imperial Stout” from BlueWhale Brewhouse, performed well. The Modulor Rustic Farmhouse Ale is made with ancient grain emmer wheat. The Queenbee Imperial Stout is a high-alcohol beer containing rich honey at 14% ABV.
◇ Whiskey optimized for the domestic consumer palate
In the whiskey sector, Pernod Ricard Korea’s “Royal Salute 21 Years” won the award in the blended Scotch super premium sector, proving the continued popularity of high-proof premium whiskey.
“Benromach 10 Years” from Ayoung FBC won the award for the third consecutive time, thanks to steady demand for single malt whiskeys that suit individual tastes. The Singleton Dufftown 15 Years, imported by Diageo Korea, also won for the third time.
At the same time, low-proof whiskeys below 40% ABV and American bourbon whiskeys also stood out at this year’s awards. Golden Blue’s “Golden Blue the Diamond’” a 36.5% ABV whiskey, leads the domestic low-proof whiskey market with a record of five awards. Other award winners include well-known bourbon whiskey brands “Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond”, “Evan Williams Single Barrel’” and “Larceny Small Batch” showcased by Shinsegae.
◇ The Korean palate embraces global flavors... “Reflecting heightened consumer standards”
In the spirits sector, Diageo Korea’s “Don Julio 1942″ scored the award in the tequila category. The same company’s “Tanqueray No. Ten″ set a record with five awards in the gin sector, reflecting the popularity of mixology. Mixology is the practice of mixing high-proof spirits with soda or other beverages.
RTD (Ready to Drink) highball products that can be enjoyed conveniently, like “Real Fresh Tangerine Slice Cocktail Highball” from Brewguru and “Sso Kaoliang Highball” from Sso & You, also received praise for improving quality amid fierce competition.
In the sake sector, Big Boy Liquor’s “Takaki no Ippon Junmai Daiginjo” and Zennihon Liquor’s “Gekkeikan Junmai Daiginjo” were awarded, indicating that Korean consumers’ appreciation for premium sake has increased.
At the same time, popular sakes like ‘Hanjansuru?’ from Nihonshu Korea and “Kuru Kuru Sake” from NARA CELLAR received high scores from experts, demonstrating that Japanese liquor has secured a stable position in the domestic market.
In the baijiu sector, KFJ Korea’s “Ziyue Orange (Guochao Edition)” and HwaGang Liquor’s “Red Premium” received awards. These have been cited as examples of the rapidly growing high-end Chinese baijiu market domestically.
◇ The wine market without borders... “Moldovan origin competes on quality”
In the wine sector, “Roche Mazet Merlot” from Les Vins scored its fifth award in the red wine old world category, solidifying its position in the mid-range wine market. Wines like HiteJinro’s “Marques de Riscal Reserva” (four awards) and Les Vins’s “Lornano Chianti Classico Riserva Le Bandite” (four awards), which pair well with everyday Korean dishes, have also received consistent quality recognition.
HwaGang Liquor’s “Academia Purcari Fetească Neagră” set a record of five awards, despite being a Moldovan wine that might be somewhat unfamiliar to general consumers. As the quality improves, wines from lesser-known countries have also established themselves in the sluggish wine market.
In the new world, wines from Australia, Chile, and Argentina, such as Zennihon Liquor’s “Mayacaba” (four awards) and “Icono” (three awards), and Vino Paradise’s “In Situ Signature Cabernet Petit Verdot” (three awards), received high scores. Chilean wines with well-known recognition, such as Keumyang International’s “1865 Master Blend” and Ayoung FBC’s “Errazuriz Estate Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon”, also verified their quality.
Notably, WINE2U Korea’s “McManis Petite Sirah” (three awards) and “1881 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon” (two awards) highlighted the sustained market viability of Californian wines in South Korea.
In the white wine sector, wines that offered a delicate and clean sensation, considering pairing with food, predominantly received awards. Notable examples include Dianella’s “Dianella Sereno e Nuvole Vermentino” and Shinsegae L&F’s “Alamos Torrontes.”
This year, New Zealand wines showed stronger performances than in previous years. Tiger International’s “Woolpack Sauvignon Blanc” NARA CELLAR’s “Veramonte Reserva Sauvignon Blanc,” and Keumyang International’s “Rapaura Springs Rohe Blind River Sauvignon Blanc” are New Zealand white wines that emit clear and clean acidity with tropical fruit aromas.
In the sparkling wine sector, products showcasing complex flavors and depth beyond simple fizz have garnered attention. The historically rich champagne “Andre Clouet Champagne Silver Brut,” distributed by Shinsegae L&F, was recognized for simultaneously achieving satisfaction and quality relative to its price. Other champagne brands such as Kooksoondang “Champagne Ernest Rapeneau Millesime” and Ayoung FBC’s “Paul Dangin Cuvee 47 Gold” also won awards.
In the Korean wine sector, Joheun Winery’s “Yeongcheon Wine Joheun Red Sweet” (two awards) continued its winning streak from last year. Country Winery’s “Country Campbell Sweet” (three awards) and Mami Winery’s “Eomisil Cheongsoo Sweet” (two awards), which are characterized by sweetness, also succeeded in making it to the awards podium repeatedly.