If you have no idea what Soju is, you’re not alone.  Soju is a Korean version of vodka, distilled from various grains and botanicals. It has been served in Korea since about 1300 AD, and believe it or not, Soju is the most popular distilled alcohol in the world. Soju is 24% alcohol, stronger than beer at 5%, or wine at 13%, but packs a weaker punch than vodka at 40%. In Korea Soju is inexpensive.  Soju straight up is easy to drink, mild and fairly neutral. Few serious drinkers would confuse a shot of Soju with its hard liquor counterpart, but one can taste and feel Soju after a few drinks. 

  

      In 2004, Jinro, the worlds largest producer of Soju, and Liquid Distribution, a Los Angeles based distribution group, partnered to give the worlds most consumed spirit, a new market.  Soju, Asia’s most popular distilled spirit can now be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates a good cocktail or other mixed drink traditionally made with vodka.  Until now, Soju could only be purchased in Korean establishments and was consumed either straight from the bottle or chilled and served straght up.  Because of Soju’s distinctly similar flavor to vodka, and the rising popularity of vodka based martinis and other mixed drinks, Liquid Distribution and Jinro America have developed a marketing plan to bring Soju cocktails to restaurants in California that, until recently, could only serve beer and wine.

  

      In 1998, after some lobbying by the Korean Restaurant Owners Assoc, a bill was passed allowing the sale of Soju by establishments previously licensed to sell only beer and wine in California. The Korean community successfully made the argument that they should be allowed to serve Soju, a traditional drink, when eating traditional spicy meals to enhance the meal’s flavor.  It didn’t take long before non Asian establishments with beer and wine licenses discovered Soju and began using it as a vodka substitute for popular American cocktails and martinis like mojitos, margaritas, cosmopolitans and bloody mary’s.  Soju cocktails provide beer and wine restaurants an opportunity to compete with restaurants that have full bars and it has substantially increased their profits and improved their bottom line.

        With the help of Liquid Distribution, restaurants all across California are experiencing the financial rewards enjoyed by selling Jinro Soju cocktails. Liquid Distribution is not simply a distributor of soju but a one-stop-shop for all bar supply needs. Our clients are supplied with the highest quality products and service at competitive prices.

Consist-a-Mix

Liquid Distribution offers restaurants a special system for pouring perfectly measured cocktails without having to hire a bartender or build a bar. This system is called the Consist-a-Mix pouring system. It was designed to alleviate common concerns most restaurants seem to have with pouring cocktails. The biggest of those is the lack of space and time it takes to make cocktails. The Consist-a-Mix pouring system takes no more space than five wine bottles and takes nearly the same time as serving a soda.

Customized P.O.S. material

Liquid Distribution offers to supply every restaurant with all point-of-sale material needed to sell soju cocktails effectively. Unique table stands with each restaurants logo and cocktail menu are a great way to introduce patrons to soju cocktails and saves time for the servers who otherwise would have explain what soju is.

Full line of bar products and mixers

Liquid Distribution offers a full line of cocktail mixing products from Rose’s, Mr. and Mrs. T’s, Monin, La Paz, and Pure Mixing products.
 

        Since 1924, Jinro Ltd. has grown into one of the world's largest alcoholic beverage manufacturers with the full product portfolio including soju, whisky, ginseng liquor, and plum liquor and so on. Its flagship brand, Jinro soju is responsible for approximately over 50% of all Korean white spirits consumption, validating its position as the best selling spirit worldwide.

Superior quality is obtained through Jinro's strict quality standards, applied to a sophisticated manufacturing process of three distilleries throughout South Korea. Naturally, Jinro's overseas sales volume has dramatically grown at annual rates of about 30% since its first export in 1968. Jinro partners with distributors who have the responsibility to sell the world's largest selling spirits brand throughout more than 80 countries and territories. With over 64 million cases sold worldwide in 2002, it outsells Stolichnaya, Bacardi, Smirnoff, and Johnnie Walker. Jinro Soju consistently has been the top-performing brand in world spirit sales.

Soju has its origins 5,000 years ago among the Sumerians, an ancient group from southern Mesopotamia, who were the first to distill any kind of liquor. It is among them that beer, wine, whiskey and vodka originated. The distillation method they developed spread worldwide and was introduced to Koreans in the 13th century.

Since its inception, due to its high-quality and unique distillation process, Soju spread fast among the noble class in Korea, making it a cherished and luxurious product. Today, Jinro Soju is produced from the best grains and the purest water from the finest spring regions of Korea. Jinro Soju is appreciated for its smooth flavor and likeness in quality to the world’s finest vodkas.

Have a sip of Soju!
Marketplace, October 07, 2005, by Alex Cohen

Cool Korean cocktail: try soju, Asia's answer to vodka - Things to Do in Northern California - RoHan Lounge - Restaurant Review
Sunset, March, 2004, by Amy McConnell

Soju exemption spurs cocktail sales by beer-and-wine licensees on both coasts
Nation's Restaurant News, Sept 26, 2005, by Alan J. Liddle

Korean liquor soju becoming a Bay Area favorite
Oakland Tribune, Jun 30, 2004, by Melissa Kaman, CONTRIBUTOR

International spirits: hottest drinks in town
Cheers, Nov-Dec, 2004, by Jack Robertiello

Soju - Wikipedia

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