KOREAN NAME: 제주 오메기 맑은술 REVIEW: I may be biased about Jeju Omegi Malgeunsul (JOM): I didn’t love the bottle but I have very fond memories of visiting their charming brewery (a post on that some time soon, I hope!) which probably colors my take. What you need to understand about JOM is that it is…
KOREAN NAME: 중원 청명주 REVIEW: With the in-laws visiting the US again, I had another excuse to have them mule over some sool. I didn’t have time to do much research so I jumped at the first cheongju/yakju that I didn’t recognize. The bottle looked fancy and it came as a set! Then I saw the…
KOREAN NAME: 맑은 문희주 REVIEW: Have I been sool-deprived? There’s no question about it. The summer heat arrived before I could get to all my brewing equipment together and, being in the US, there is a conspicuous lack of makgeolli houses to visit or breweries that will deliver hand-crafted bottles of cheongju to my doorstep. But, what…
KOREAN NAME: 이상헌 약주 THOUGHTS: Way back at the 2016 14th Wines & Spirits Expo, I had one of those rare festival finds—a new bottle that made me take notice. Leegasoobul had all the hallmarks of a brewery just taking those fledgling steps toward something bigger. It’s hard to quantify what that is exactly but there was…
KOREAN NAME: 청진주 약주 REVIEW: If you attended the 3rd Jarasum Makgeolli Festival earlier this year, you may have noticed that under the same tent where the makgeolli-making classes were held, tucked behind the tables showcasing all the different bottles present at the festival, was a small corner for Cheongjinju, a yakju from the exquisitely named…
KOREAN NAME: 아황 약주 REVIEW: So far, the site has reviewed two bottles from Miin Brewery. Miin Takju, while not bad, is fairly forgettable apart from being a bit on the dry side. Miinju doesn’t stand out much either, but of the three, it’s probably the most balanced—the bottle to reach for if you’re looking for something for…
KOREAN NAME: 두루 석탄주 REVIEW: As I mentioned in my review for Duru Samseon Takju, the one and only time I have encountered Duru Brewery was at the 15th Seoul International Wines & Spirits Expo earlier this year. It’s a shame because Duru has something special and I’m guessing most people have never heard of them. It…
KOREAN NAME: 술아 순곡주 (겨울) REVIEW: From an outsider’s perspective, Soolawon does everything possible to set their brews apart from other premium sool producers. Yes, they make makgeolli and cheongju and they also attend the big events but that’s about where the comparisons stop. Soolawon, from website to product, takes great care to craft a refined, stylish,…
KOREAN NAME: 두루 삼선 탁주 REVIEW: I first came across Duru Brewery at the 15th Seoul International Wines & Spirits Expo. One sip of their sool and I knew I had found my new brewery of the con. Based in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, Duru Brewery is in good company; two Takjoo Journals favorites—Midam Brewery and Ye-sul Brewery—also…
KOREAN NAME: 미인주 REVIEW: Miinju is the cheongju—or yakju, if you prefer—from Miin Takju. But that is really where the connection stops as Miinju is far above its takju counterpart. In many ways, it checks all the boxes for a smooth drinking cheongju. It’s boozy but not intense; flavorful but not weird or overbearing; and a pleasant…
takjoo journals 