Guruma Brewery said on the 21st that Yujaga09 won the grand prize in the Korean rice wine makgeolli, general liquor institutional sector at the Korea Wine & Spirits Awards for the second straight year. In 2026, it also won "Best of 2026" in the Korean rice wine institutional sector, proving its competitiveness once again.
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards, now in its 13th year, is a leading domestic liquor competition. ChosunBiz has hosted it annually since 2014 under the goal of "discovering good domestic liquors to promote them widely and supporting the formation of a sound drinking culture."
Guruma Brewery is a traditional liquor brewery rarely seen in the city. It opened in 2019 in Mapo, Seoul, based on a small-scale liquor license. The award-winning yuzu makgeolli "Yujaga09" uses Cheorwon's Odae rice and Namhae yuzu as sub-ingredients to enhance its flavor. Compared with typical yuzu makgeolli, it has a richer aroma and better balance of acidity, making it popular as an aperitif. Guruma Brewery produces only a limited quantity each month (200 bottles).
With this award as a springboard, Guruma Brewery plans to continue researching and developing products that present a new flow in Korean traditional liquor in Mapo, where many young people live and visit. Guruma Brewery currently operates in the same space as the omakase bar "Park Yeon Restaurant." At the store, visitors can pair Guruma Brewery's liquors with food.