The "Best of 2026," which earned the highest scores in each institutional sector at the 2026 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards, was announced on the 24th.
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards is Korea's leading liquor evaluation event, now in its 13th year. With the goal of "discovering quality domestic liquors, promoting them widely, and supporting the formation of a sound drinking culture," ChosunBiz has hosted it annually since 2014.
This year's event set a record high, with 260 companies submitting a total of 1,118 brands. Of these, 449 brands, or 40%, received the grand prize. Among the grand prize winners, 24 brands that earned the highest scores by category were selected for the top honor, "Best of 2026."
Guruma Brewery's "Yuja Ga09," which won Best of 2026 in the Korean rice wine institutional sector, is a makgeolli that highlights the pure flavor of yuja, using Odae rice from Cheorwon as the base and adding Namhae native yuja and acacia honey.
In the Korean unrefined rice wine institutional sector, Hanyeongseok's Fermentation Lab's "Dohan Cheongmyeongju 15" won the top honor, a premium traditional liquor that balances clear acidity with fresh fruit aromas and subtle floral notes.
In the distilled liquor institutional sector, the top honor went to Yesan Apple Wine's "Chusa 40." It is an apple spirit distilled from Yesan apples and aged in oak barrels in the same manner as French calvados.
In the Korean wine institutional sector, Geumyong Nongsan's "Mir Ato Shine Muscat Sparkling" received the top honor. It is a sparkling wine with the characteristic soft, subtle exotic fruit aroma and well-balanced sweetness of Shine Muscat.
Hitejinro's "Chamisul Fresh" received this year's top honor in the diluted soju institutional sector.
In the distilled soju institutional sector, the top honors went to "Paju25" from Mieumnet Distillery Agricultural Corporation Co. and "Oak Valley" from I'Park Resort.
In the sake institutional sector, "Raifuku Junmai Daiginjo Aiyama" from Raifuku Sake Brewing won Best of 2026. Using the rare sake rice "Aiyama," it is a junmai daiginjo carefully brewed to a 40% polishing ratio. It features bright fruit aromas and Aiyama's signature soft, refined sweetness.
In the Japanese shochu institutional sector, Nihonshu Korea's "Kozuru Pink Gold" received the top honor. It is a sweet potato shochu made with champagne yeast that imparts a fruity aroma.
In the general beer institutional sector, Oriental Brewery's "Budweiser" received the top honor, and in the imported beer institutional sector, Diageo Korea's "Guinness Draught" received the top honor. In the craft institutional sector, Kevin Jang Distillery's "Cheongdam Beer" won, and in the nonalcoholic/other institutional sector, Daily Brewing's "Zero Sugar Craft Non-Alcohol Saenghwal Pale Ale" won.
In the whisky institutional sector, Apex Brands' "Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon Whiskey" took the top spot. In the spirits institutional sector, Diageo Korea's "Don Julio 1942" received the top honor.
In the baijiu institutional sector, J&F International Trading's "Liangjiudasha Yangyang Manga" received the top honor.
In the wine institutional sector, Yeonil Liquor Import & Sales' "Franc Beau-Séjour" received the top honor given to the highest-rated wine among Old World red wines.