Agricultural company Wangju Co., Ltd. said on the 21st that its flagship product "Wangju Golden 55" won the grand prize in the soju category at the 2026 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards.
Wangju Golden 55 is a distilled soju brewed by Nam Sang-ran, Korea Food Master No. 13, using rice from Nonsan. It is twice distilled and aged in oak barrels, giving it an amber color, with a rich, deep sweetness from the rice. Despite its high alcohol content of 55 proof, the taste and aroma are balanced.
Its flavor shines when sipped straight in small amounts, served on the rocks like whiskey, or made into a highball (soda water). Recommended pairings include fatty dishes such as meat, seafood, jeon (savory pancakes), and fried foods.
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards is Korea's representative alcoholic beverage competition, now in its 13th year. With the goal of "discovering good domestic liquors, widely promoting them, and supporting the formation of a sound drinking culture," ChosunBiz has hosted it annually since 2014.
This year's event drew entries of 1,118 brands from 260 companies. It is the largest among domestic competitions that cover all categories of alcoholic beverages. Of these, 449 brands received the grand prize.