HwaGang Liquor recommended 'Seobongju,' a white liquor produced in China that is suitable for summer nights, on the 7th.
According to HwaGang Liquor, Seobongju is a traditional Chinese liquor aged in a unique container called 'juhae (酒海),' which has been passed down since the Tang Dynasty 1,400 years ago.
'Juhae' is created by artisans who repeatedly apply tofu to the inner walls of a jar made from woven tamarisk branches, and attach a cloth spread with glutinous rice paste and egg whites more than 200 times. After all the work is completed, the outer surface must be coated with rapeseed oil and beeswax to allow for the aging and storage of more than 8 tons (t) of liquor.
The brewing process is also complex. The Shanxi Seobongju Distillery produces it and refers to this as 'the 16999 process.' This includes ▲ a one-year production cycle ▲ six fermentation stages ▲ nine rounds of grain input ▲ nine distillation processes ▲ and an aging period of nine months from the initial filling stage to the extraction stage.
Specifically, sorghum (glutinous rice) and yeast are placed in a yellow soil fermentation pit called 'Gyoji' and fermented for about 30 days before distillation. The distillation residue is not discarded. Instead, it is mixed with new ingredients for re-fermentation, allowing specific microorganisms to age the liquor.
Repeating this process nine times results in the unique 'bonghyang' flavor of Seobongju. The main ingredient used to make the yeast for Seobongju is pea. The 'bonghyang' produced during the fermentation of the pea creates a fragrance reminiscent of honey and almonds. The alcohol content of Seobongju varies by product type, at 45 degrees, 52 degrees, and 55 degrees.
Seobongju was recognized as one of the four famed liquors at the 1st National Liquor Tasting Conference in China in 1952. It won a gold medal at the Paris International Food Fair in 1992.
Recently, Seobongju highball gained attention from younger generations at the 'Seoul International Liquor & Wine Expo' held in Coex, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. A representative from HwaGang Liquor noted, 'The liquor made using the 1,400-year-old juhae manufacturing method has created a new culture that resonates with the tastes of the younger generation.'