Soju Notes

I've meant to update this for a few weeks, but now I am finally getting around to more reporting on all things soju (the South Korean drink that is roughly akin to Japanese sake, but not quite the same).

I began my adventures into soju with Soon Hari's Apple Mango back in early May (read here). It was fantastic stuff, and I imagined that other flavors would be similarly great. How wrong was I?

So a couple of days later I tried two other flavors from Soon Hari. The Apple Soju had a sugar-substitute tang that overpowered the flavor, and ultimately ruined the experience. And the Citrus Soju was fine, but not great. Throw in another Apple Mango at the end, and I learned the hard way that I cannot handle 3 bottles of soju. To be fair I had 3 beers afterward, but either way, A) the other flavors were not good, and B) the next day was not pleasant (haha).

My next experience with soju was on August 2nd, when I brought a couple of bottles of Soon Hari's Yogurt Soju to my sister's house (I was cooking her and my bro-in-law dinner). I also brought a bottle of Banzai Bunny's Super Fresh flavor to compare and contrast. The Yogurt flavor was okay, but it didn't pair well with the boneless pork (soy sauce marinade), ramen, tomatoes & pea pods. Perhaps on its own it would be more enjoyable, but we all switched it out for beer (me) and wine (them) after a couple of shots. And as for the Banzai Bunny, I'd actually tried it the night before, but it turned out to be pure 16% alcohol, with no discernable flavor. It had a mildly pleasing aftertaste, but it's not for me.

In summary: except for the Apple Mango from Soon Hari, I really do not care for soju. It was fun diving into a new thing, but I think it's safe to say that the soju experiment is over, unless I ever travel to South Korea, and taste it from the source...

Sake

I've never had sake (a Japanese alcohol made from rice), but because it has been so prevalent in many of the Japanese shows I've been watching on Netflix this calendar year, I decided to try some. Back at the beginning of the month I'd bought a 200 ml (roughly 6.75 oz) Chika Sake Cup from Hakutsuru, and tonight I finally opened it up.

I have to say, so far I am not a fan. To be sure, it's not a top shelf brand, but it smells very boozy, tastes very boozy, and I can feel the slightest sip slide down my throat and thorax like fire. The only plus was a pleasant aftertaste, which I can't quite place (a mild honey perhaps). I won't give up on the type of drink as a whole, but this particular brand, despite the cute and reusable glass container, isn't for me. I do like the cup though, with its three cute images.

Glassware

After the taste-tests of various flavors of soju, out of a small repurposed three-dollar spice bottle, I decided to upgrade my experience by buying a 4-pack of actual traditional soju glasses (brand name Jinro). They came wrapped in fantastic block print paper, and the image printed on them is very cool. Going forward I'll be able to respect the custom, with the flavors I truly enjoy.

Soju - SoonHari Apple Mango

So tonight I had my first bottle of soju, a type of alcohol from South Korea distilled from tapioca and rice. I decided on the apple mango flavor from SoonHari, and it was the perfect choice. I don't keep shot glasses in my house because I only drink beer at home, so I used a small glass spice jar I snagged for $3 at Target. The Apple Mango compared to the Peach Tree schnapps I drank far too often back in college, but a lighter, smoother version. The five shots of 12% alcohol went down nicely, with no bitterness or boozy aftertaste. I enjoyed it very much, and despite downing the entire 375 ml (12.68 oz) in under an hour, I was only a bit buzzed. Such a great experience! I can't wait to try some other flavors...

BEER - Pacific Coast Time

I was drawing and playing online games this evening, and I decided to have a couple of beers. I had picked up a 4-pack of cans a few days ago, of Pacific Coast Time, a West Coast DIPA. 

Hailing from the Mighty Squirrel Brewing Company out of Waltham, MA, this double IPA is wonderfully pine-y, with subtle grapefruit undertones. And it has just the right bitterness. It pours very clear from the can, with very little head. None of that silly foam to take up space in a glass! And check out the artwork (often the reason I opt for one beer over another of similar profile) - a wave of hops. Very cool. And lastly, the beer definitely lives up to its name. It reminds me of many of the beers I've had with my brother over in Northern California. Highly recommended.

And for all of us Red Sox fans, they have a second location next to Fenway Park. Check it out!