Korean Cheongju

Sunhyangju

순향주

ABV 15%

Volume 375ml

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Open brewery shop Chuyeondang Chuyeondang See the brewery Gyeonggi Browse same-region drinks Soyeogang Compare a similar drink · Korean Cheongju · Gyeonggi · 42% Baengnyeonhyang Try another from this brewery · Korean Makgeolli · Gyeonggi · 10%

Description

Sunhyangju is a 15% ABV yakcheongju from Gyeonggi-do that won the Excellence Award at the 2020 Korea Traditional Liquor Quality Contest, and the award feels earned rather than ceremonial. The grain bill is spartan - rice, nuruk, water - but the fermentation coaxes out a fragrance of ripe Asian pear and dried jujube that elevates a simple recipe into something layered. On the palate, there is a gentle oiliness that coats the tongue without heaviness, followed by a mid-palate note of roasted chestnut and a finish that fades slowly with a hint of warm rice straw. The clarity is remarkable; hold it to light and it gleams pale gold. Pair it at 10-13°C with gwangeo-hoe (raw halibut), where the fish's firm texture mirrors the drink's restrained precision, or with doenjang-guk (soybean paste soup), whose fermented depth resonates with the nuruk backbone.