Seoul: Soju Tasting at Historic Distillery & 7 Spirits

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1/11

Duration1h 30m

GroupUp to 14

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Taste Seven Spirits at Seoul's Hidden Soju Distillery

You enter a family-run distillery closed to public tours, taste seven Korean spirits ranging from 18 to 50% ABV made on-site, and hear the Joseon dynasty history behind Samhae soju from the master distiller himself. Small groups mean you're not rushed; the space is wheelchair accessible and reachable by public transport.

1h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Soju and Korean alcohol tasting

Enter private distillery
Learn stories about Korean alcohol
Taste 7 types of rice wines and spirits
Enjoy premium soju with 45% alcohol
Socialize with fellow tasters

The Experience

You've just landed in Seoul, or maybe you've got a free afternoon between meetings. Either way, you walk into a distillery that doesn't advertise, doesn't have a website, and doesn't let tourists in — except for this. The master distiller, Hyeonjong Kim, learned the craft for over ten years under his predecessor, and he's kept the family recipe alive through decades when production had to stop entirely during Korea's lean years. That history is in the glass.

The tasting moves through at least seven different Korean alcohols, starting with lighter rice wines and moving into the premium soju — some bottles hitting 45% ABV or higher. You'll taste tak-ju (unfiltered rice wine), cheong-ju (the filtered clear kind), and the specialty: soju made the way the Joseon nobility drank it, back when Samhae was a luxury only the ruling class could afford. The master walks you through the stories — why certain spirits had to be abandoned during famines, how the recipe survived, what makes this distillery's approach different from the industrial green bottles you see everywhere. It's not a lecture; it's more like sitting with someone who actually knows what he's made.

Groups stay small, capped at fourteen people, so there's room to ask questions and linger over a pour if something catches your attention. The distillery itself is accessible by public transport, and the space is wheelchair accessible throughout. If you're traveling with a group and want to shape the tasting around what you're interested in — maybe you want to focus on the premium spirits, or you're curious about fermentation techniques — you can message ahead and arrange something custom.

What’s included

Entry to the private distillery, tasting of at least seven different Korean alcohols (tak-ju, cheong-ju, and soju ranging from 18 to 50% ABV), and stories about the Joseon dynasty history and family recipe from the master distiller himself.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Sam LEE

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to understand Korean spirits beyond the green bottle, and who value learning from someone who's actually made the stuff for decades. The small group size and private setting mean you're not on a conveyor belt — you're in a working distillery with time to ask questions.