Our current journey to Korea opened my eyes to soju tradition, how a small shot of a low-alcohol spirit might develop into an integral a part of a meal, whether or not formal or not, costly or low-cost. (In equity, no meals that I had in Korea had been costly — even “fancy” ones.)
Luxurious soju is tough to search out each in Korea and within the U.S., the place very cheap bottlings dominate. (Korean soju could be bought for as little as $1 (equal) per 375ml bottle in a Seoul comfort retailer. Determine $4 to $6 within the U.S. at a liquor retailer.) However right here we’ve got one within the type of Yobo, which we’ve tasted earlier than beneath a barely completely different label and significantly completely different formulation, again when it was made utilizing Finger Lakes grapes. That’s modified lately — as has the title of the product. (Although not the abv.) The brand new model, Yobo Luxe, is created from a mix of three distillates — grape, wheat, and rice, principally from California as a substitute of New York. It nonetheless prices significantly greater than that inexperienced bottle of “Contemporary” that’s ubiquitous in Korea.
Yobo additionally lately launched 4 flavored sojus (once more, frequent in Korea) in partnership with Iron Chef star and High Chef winner Kristen Kish, all billed as “Soju Aperitif” merchandise. We really tasted these pre-launch years in the past at an occasion right here in Austin, the place Kish runs a restaurant referred to as Arlo Gray. In the end, we obtained two of these bottlings for this evaluate.
Let’s dive in to 3 of those and see what’s up.
Yobo Soju Luxe (2025) Evaluation
As with Yobo 2021, that is crisp, nearly with out an aroma in any respect. What’s there has an indescribably Asian nostril, melding components of contemporary blossoms with a slight hospital notice, vaguely evoking notes of disinfectant. That’s no slight, because it makes for a clear strategy to a clear spirit on the palate, layering on mild notes of white flowers, Asian pear, chicory, and finally some blueberry. None of that’s wholly anticipated, but it surely makes for a curious departure from extra conventional soju flavors, which are likely to run to sugar and fruit. A hospital notice — which was evident within the 2021 rendition — stays current on the end, although it’s in any other case a chic, if unremarkable, expression. 46 proof. B / $43
Yobo_Kish Shine Soju Aperitif Evaluation
Grain impartial spirits, infused with kumquat, rose, and ginger. Nice and floral, with notes of pear underlying the kumquat character, giving it extra of a persimmon taste. The rose is extra evident on the nostril — but it surely makes an intriguing return on the end, which is kind of perfumed. What I didn’t get a lot of in any respect is the ginger part; this might positively be amped up significantly to present the soju somewhat chunk. Followers of flavored Korean soju will discover this an appropriately elevated rendition of the type, with a extra genuine and sophisticated assortment of fruit flavors offering a mild enhancement over the in any other case flat, impartial taste of the straight stuff. Positively worthwhile. 42 proof. A- / $42
Yobo_Kish Bliss Soju Aperitif Evaluation
Grain impartial spirits, infused with bitter cherry, pink peppercorn, and licorice. Whereas Shine is kind of gentle, Bliss is a little bit of a punch within the face at first, providing an aggressive nostril that’s large with bitter cherry, reminding me instantly of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream. The peppercorn notes are understated and take time to evolve, however finally they develop into unavoidable, including a mild layer of raciness that pairs fantastically with the licorice notes on the soju. It’s a mixture that will by no means have occurred to me however which seems to be a bit magical, the cherry notes meandering from bitter fruit to floral blossoms because it all settles down by the point the end rolls round. As with Shine, that is about good in sipped pictures, with or with out meals. 42 proof. A / $42
Yobo_Kish Bliss Soju Aperitif
USD42
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