Seoul Soju Tasting Experience at Distillery
- Experience the unique Soju distillery tasting experience in Seoul
- Discover Samhae Soju with more than 1000+ Years of history
- Conducted by rice wine expert Sam, in Hongik University station
What to expect
Korean alcohol is a lot more than just a green bottle of soju, which is diluted ethanol with artificial sweetener. Broadly, Korean alcohols are divided into Tak-ju (unfiltered/Makgeolli), Cheong-ju (filtered) and So-ju (spirit). Here, we will focus on our specialty, soju, but we will also taste other types.
Samhae soju was a beloved choice of spirit among the noble class of Joseon dynasty(1392~1894) and this luxury soju had a cult following. The current master, Hyeonjong Kim, had learned and practiced for more than 10 years under master Taeksang Kim who had inherited and kept the recipe in the family. We will have a privilege to taste the history.
Good to know
For TAXI, this is the Korean address below. 서울특별시 마포구 성산동 103-5
For taxi, please spare more than expected time since there will be traffic in the afternoon.
Please come to the meeting spot at least 5 minutes before the tasting! I will pick you guys up 5 minutes before the tasting.
We are meeting AT THE SMALL TRIANGLE-SHAPED PARKING LOT next to the building. Please refer to the photo. I will send you the photo closer to the tasting.
It is 1.3 km (1 mile) walking distance from Hongik University station Exit 1. OR 5 minutes bus ride.
There is a pizza hut right across the street.
Reviews
Our guide, Sam, showed us the small distillery and explained everything in detail in very good English. He was patient, answered every question, and happily introduced us to the world of Soju. We were in a large group of over 12 people (we were only two). The tour was well-booked. Everyone was invited to a WhatsApp group, which provided information about the meeting point and schedule. The meeting point was a bit unclear. Tip: A photo of the exact spot would help. The organizer was friendly and open. He gave us several Sojus to taste and gave us a good introduction to Korean drinking culture. The distillery is small and charming, but unfortunately, you can't buy everything you taste. Nevertheless, it was absolutely worth it. Important tip: Don't come on an empty stomach! There will be a lot of drinking – definitely eat something beforehand. Overall, a recommended and entertaining experience for anyone who likes Korean Soju and the culture behind it.
My friend and I had a great time on this soju tasting. Sam was a wonderful guide to learning about soju and we learned about all the different stages, such as it starting as makgeolli (which is a personal favorite of mine), to each different distilling stage. We tried a number of sojus ranging from lower abv to 58%. We got to meet some interesting people and have some great conversations. My friend bought two bottles to bring home. Afterwards Sam had some wonderful recommendations for food and bars to check out. My friend and I went to a recommended cocktail bar in Yeonnam-dong that served a cocktail with the soju from the distillery tour. The drinks were amazing and having it all connect made the night even better!
It was a wonderful session. English speaking. Learnt a lot about soju as well as korean culture in general. Quite casual. A lot of laughter along the way, especially after the first few drinks. Highly recommended
Amazing experience in a tiny little soju distillery and teaching academy. Sam is a student of the academy himself and gave us a fantastic rundown of how soju is made and had us taste 6 of their exclusive soju and 2 cheongju (clear rice wines). They do sell their product there as well but he wasn't pushy at all and only mentioned briefly at the end.
Sam was a great guide that made us feel very welcome and was knowledgeable about the soju making process. The experience was relaxed and conversation flowed nicely in between tastings. I would highly recommend this experience.
highly recommend booking if you’re in Seoul, it is such a fun and knowledgeable experience. Sam is a fantastic host, he gave detailed instructions on where to meet and was very attentive when we had any questions throughout the tasting experience. The soju we tasted was unlike anything I’ve had before and we absolutely loved them. Along with the tasting you get to know about the process of making the soju as well as some of the history that comes along with it. The group experience is also a great dynamic, we got to meet some lovely people from all around the world! Would absolutely recommend if you’re looking for fun activities in Seoul!
Sam was a fantastic guide and we thoroughly enjoyed learning about the soju process, tasting the many types of soju and having some quality chats with him throughout our time on the tour. highly recommend
What a great experience! Sam was super knowledgeable and friendly. very intimate tasting and in depth explanations of the preparation of soju and its history. I would recommend 100% Also, needless to say, the soju was delicious and plentiful.
My husband and I had a great experience. Sam was great and answered all of our questions. Sam also recommended restaurants to go to in the area. It was interesting to learn about the history of soju as well as the distilling process. Highly recommend!
Our guide was very easy going and knowledgeable, had a lot of questions regarding soju making. We were able to taste a few variety of soju, do note you might be tipsy if your tolerance is not high. I would totally recommend here if you are interested. Please double check on the address and come early to avoid being late.
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