SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Leading the Pack We take a look at the world’s top-selling spirit brand.
The Team EDITORIAL CARL S. CUNANAN Editor-in-Chief
CHRIS VAN HOVEN Supplement Editor
KEVIN C. LIMJOCO Founding editor/ President/ Editorial Director
Editor’s Note When you try to imagine what the top spirit brands in the world are, you’d probably think of your favorite whisky brand, or other popular vodka, gin, tequila or rum brands. In truth, there’s one particular brand that holds the title for the best-selling spirit brand in the world – Jinro Soju. And it’s a title they’ve held since 2003. HiteJinro is Korea's top beer and soju maker, with exports to around 80 countries around the world. Founded in 1924, HiteJinro has earned numerous awards and accolades in International Spirits Competitions for its taste and quality, thanks in part to their experience of nearly a century of spirit-making artistry and the passion for crafting a spirit from Korea’s finest natural resources: choice grains and spring water. In the Philippines, HiteJinro offers a wide selection of soju products, with seven different brand offerings. Jinro’s popularity doesn’t just make them a staple of Korean culture, but is leading Chris Van Hoven Supplement Editor the pack in becoming a global phenomenon as well.
ADVERTISING MAYETTE L. ASIS Vice President for Advertising Sales
RIA A. FERNANDEZ Special Projects & Events Specialist
LESLIE G. MAXILOM Advertising Manager
MARY JANE SALAZAR Traffic Manager
DESIGN CHARIE BIADEN Design Director
MARK DAVID SEE Senior Designer
MARY ANN MARCELO Junior Designer
PAMELA KARLA BIADO Designer
How To Drink Jinro Soju A part of Jinro soju’s popularity is how much it is enjoyed when used in a cocktail. Its impeccably balanced flavor makes it an ideal mix for fruit juices, yogurt, milk products, and even beer. Soju is equally enjoyable served on its own, cold and neat. However, it’s important not to serve it too cold, because this numbs the flavor. Ideally, soju should be served at a temperature of 8-10 degrees Celsius. When you remove soju directly from the refrigerator, it will have a temperature of 4-5 degrees Celsius. Let it sit for a few moments, and by the time it’s ready to be served, the temperature of the serving glass would have warmed a bit to a perfect 8-10 degrees Celsius, ready to be enjoyed! Other ways to enjoy Soju is by mixing them with other ingredients to alter the taste to your preference. One popular mix is called SoTonic (soju + tonic water). Adding tonic water to Soju controls the concentration of alcohol, and adds a bit of zest because of its carbonated nature. Another popular mixture is SoMac (soju + beer). Adding soju to your favorite beer doesn’t just add some kick to your drink, but it also adds some sweetness and flavoring to it as well, making it much more enjoyable!
BEST PAIRED WITH: Korean Fried Chicken and Sisig
Jinro Chamisul Fresh Volume: 360 ml Alcoholic: ALC 17.8% by volume
Chamisul Fresh is Jinro’s top spirits brand not only in Korea but also around the world. It utilizes a 7-step refinement process using active bamboo charcoal. During this process, any toxic substance that could potentially cause negative aftereffects such as hangovers is removed, leaving a fresh and clean finish to the final product. Chamisul Fresh uses clean vegetable additives such as Finnish fruit sugar, known as “healthy sugar”, and Tomatin, a protein sweetener extracted from the black seeds of the Katemfe growth in West Africa.
BEST PAIRED WITH: Gimbap and Lechon Kawali
Jinro Chamisul Original Volume: 360 ml Alcoholic: ALC 20.1% by volume If you’re looking for an all-natural flavor that pairs well with any dish and any occasion, then Jinro’s Chamisul Original flavor is what you’re looking for. Chamisul Original goes through an elaborate filtration process and is filtered 4 times through bamboo charcoal to remove hangover-causing compounds. Chamisul Original has a higher ABV (Alcohol by Volume) content than regular soju, making it a favorite drink among those who enjoy a more authentic flavor.
BEST PAIRED WITH: Pajeon and Chicken Adobo
Jinro Green Grape
Volume: 360 ml Alcoholic: ALC 13% by volume
Grapes have always been a favorite fruit flavor among various beverages. With the growing popularity of fruitflavored soju, HiteJinro introduced a unique Green Grape flavor that pairs well with most dishes. Its fresh and clean taste combined with its easy-todrink 13% alcohol content makes it an extremely popular choice by many.
BEST PAIRED WITH: Dalgkalgugsu and Calamares
Jinro Grapefruit Volume: 360 ml Alcoholic: ALC 13% by volume Grapefruit is a sweet, tarty fruit that can add a zesty spark to a wide variety of dishes. Jinro’s Grapefruit Soju has an easy-to-drink 13% alcohol content and a fresh and healthy flavor making it an ideal companion to fish, chicken, or pork dishes. There’s no wonder it remains one of Jinro’s most popular flavors.
BEST PAIRED WITH: Kimchi Fried Rice and Grilled Chicken
Jinro Strawberry Volume: 360 ml Alcoholic: ALC 13% by volume
Everyone loves the flavor of strawberry, and we see it being used in a wide variety of sweets and drinks. As one of the newest additions to its brands, Jinro’s Strawberry Soju adds the delightfully playful and sweet flavors of strawberry to its soju. Its low alcohol content of 13% also makes it a wonderful drink to enjoy at parties or gatherings, where it can be paired with your favorite Korean barbecue, or even on its own.
BEST PAIRED WITH: Mul-naengmyeon and Grilled Milkfish
Jinro Plum
Volume: 360 ml Alcoholic: ALC 13% by volume
As one of its most in-demand fruit-flavors, Jinro’s Plum Soju is an extremely popular drink around the world, and one of its best-sellers. Available only for the export market, Jinro Plum Soju contains the sweet and clean taste of plum fruit juice, backed by HiteJinro’s 95 years of expertise in distilled liquor.
BEST PAIRED WITH: Kimchi Cabbage and Crispy Pata
Jinro 24
Volume: 750 ml Alcoholic: ALC 24% by volume
Sometimes, we just need to end a long day with a drink that delivers an extra kick. With an alcohol content that’s strong enough to give a boost to your favorite cocktails, but also mild enough for an extended drinking experience, Jinro 24 is the soju you’re looking for. Its name comes from its added alcohol content at 24%, with a flavor that achieves a delicate balance between a smooth and clean finish. Its natural composition can be readily enjoyed on its own or blended perfectly with fresh fruit juices and other mixers.
INGREDIENTS
PURIFICATION
PURIFICATION
FERMENTATION
BLENDING
ADDITION
PRODUCTS
How Jinro Soju is Made Unlike other alcoholic beverages, enjoying Jinro Soju won’t leave you feeling terrible the next day. This is because it undergoes multiple levels of filtration to remove toxic substances that contribute to hangovers and headaches. The purification method utilizes “natural bamboo activated charcoal” in the filtering process, ensuring that there’s enough alcohol content to give a kick while keeping it mild enough to be enjoyed for extended periods of time. Fresh, natural mineral water is first distilled twice, bringing out its minerals. Spirit is then added and diluted, with the mixture further distilled by natural bamboo activated charcoal. After adding ingredients and blending, the final product undergoes another distilling process and bottled, resulting in the soju everyone can enjoy.
DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE
DRIVE SAFELY.
You’ve worked hard to finally land that promotion you’ve always wanted and with it, your dream car. What better way to celebrate than over a couple of cold ones, right? Wrong. Under RA10586, non-professional drivers caught for the first time with over 0.05% blood alcohol content – the equivalent of just two drinks – face a P20,000 fine, one-year license suspension and three months in jail. Remember, no promotion in the world includes a three-month paid leave. Think before you drink.