Mieumnet Distillery Agricultural Company Corp. said that the distilled soju "Paju25" was selected for "Best of 2026," the top award in the soju category at the 2026 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards.
According to Mieumnet Distillery on the 22nd, "Paju25" is a distilled soju made with 100% rice grown in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. It features a subtle tropical fruit aroma, and uses house-made nuruk for long-term fermentation at low temperatures below 15 C. It is completed through at least two rounds of atmospheric pot distillation and aging for more than six months. It is evaluated as a product that blends modern brewing technology with Joseon-era traditional soju-making methods.
Paju Soju is a brand that aims to popularize distilled soju by pursuing low alcohol content and reasonable prices. The lineup currently includes "Paju25 (alcohol by volume 25%, 375 ml)," "Paju (alcohol by volume 19%, 375 ml)," and "Paju25 Miyako Blue Edition (alcohol by volume 25%, 500 ml)." Recently, it also unveiled "Paju26 (alcohol by volume 26%, 375 ml)," developed in collaboration with Paju's professional football club, expanding its product lineup.
Mieumnet Distillery is a newcomer founded in 2022 through the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' preliminary startup package, and has developed aroma-focused spirits based on traditional methods. This award is an achievement earned about five years after its founding, and it is being noted as proof of its technical prowess.
Song Chung-seong, head of Mieumnet Distillery, said, "Paju Soju, which pursues the popularization of traditional distilled soju, is competing with major companies' products at restaurants, bars, and supermarkets. We wanted our quality to be judged by the same standards at prestigious competitions," adding, "We hope this award will lead to an increase in distilled soju that represents each region and activate quality competition."