Traditional liquor brewery WRY Brewery said on the 30th that its products "WRY Makgeolli" and "WRY Guahaju" were each named grand prize winners at the "2026 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards," earning two crowns. WRY Makgeolli won the grand prize for the second straight year following last year.
Now in its 13th year, the Korea Wine & Spirits Awards is Korea's representative liquor competition. With the goal of "discovering good domestic liquors to promote them widely and supporting the formation of a sound drinking culture," ChosunBiz has hosted it annually since 2014.
This year's event drew 260 companies submitting a total of 1,118 brands. It is the largest among domestic competitions that cover all types of liquor. Of these, 449 brands won the grand prize.
WRY Brewery is a traditional liquor brewery in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. It produces traditional liquor through a fermentation method based on water (Water), rice (Rice), and traditional nuruk (Yeast). The brand name "WRY (Woori)" borrows the first letters of the main materials and supplies and captures the moment when "we" is formed through liquor.
WRY Makgeolli's strengths are its deep flavor, balanced acidity, and clean finish. It reinterprets the essence of traditional makgeolli with a modern sensibility while preserving its core. WRY Guahaju is also regarded as a highly refined product made with traditional production techniques.
In particular, WRY Brewery is accelerating its push into the global market for traditional liquor. By operating pop-up stores (temporary shops) in major cities such as Paris, France, and Singapore, it has expanded contact points with local consumers, and starting this year, it plans to begin full-fledged exports.
An WRY Brewery official said, "We want traditional liquor to take root as a culture that anyone can enjoy," adding, "We will reinterpret Korean tradition in a modern way and grow into a brand loved both at home and abroad."