For most travelers, “drinking soju in Korea” conjures a row of green bottles at the convenience store. Chamisul (참이슬), Cheoeum Cheoreom (처음처럼) — that kind of diluted soju, around ₩1,700 a bottle, the kind you can knock back by the straw. But Korean soju has another world entirely: Andong Soju (안동소주).
This isn’t factory alcohol thinned with water and flavoring. It’s glutinous rice and wheat, fermented solid-state with nuruk (a fermentation starter), then distilled drop by drop. And it isn’t just any liquor — it’s Korea’s only surviving Daoist ceremonial liquor, once reserved for state rites. Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee toasted with it, and former president Roh Moo-hyun chose it for the dinner at the 2005 APEC summit. The tradition has run for 700 years.
Even so, you won’t spot it at most convenience stores. This guide is for travelers who want to buy Andong Soju — or are deciding which bottle to bring home — covering its history, where to find it, and a glass-by-glass tasting of 일직주 (Iljik Soju) 45. Prices and ABV reflect August 2026 retail, so double-check before you go.
The short answer
- Andong Soju is a 700-year-old distilled soju (glutinous rice, solid-state fermented → distilled) — a completely different animal from diluted soju like Chamisul.
- The main line is Andong Soju 45 (₩16,000) and the premium Iljik Soju 45 (₩50,000). There's also Myeongpum Andong Soju (an Igangju revival) and sub-40% lower-ABV versions.
- Tasting notes: a deep nuruk aroma, a quick burst of grain sweetness, smoother than you'd expect. Best served ice-cold and neat in a shot glass, ideally with lightly salted meat or a savory pancake.
What Is Andong Soju, Exactly? A Distilled Spirit, Not Chamisul
Korean soju (소주) actually splits into two camps.
Nearly nine in ten bottles on the market are diluted soju — the green bottles. Fermented alcohol is watered down, then sweetened and flavored. Chamisul, Cheoeum Cheoreom, Joeun Day — all of them. Mass-produced in factories, cheap, and fast to ship.
Andong Soju belongs to the distilled soju school. Glutinous rice and wheat are fermented solid-state with nuruk, then the mash goes into a 소줏고리 (soju still) to be heated and distilled drop by drop. All by hand, in tiny quantities. It’s akin to a single-pot Scotch whisky still or Japanese shochu — only older and more rustic.
Simply put:
- Diluted: alcohol + water + flavoring. Uniform, cheap, industrial.
- Distilled: grain fermented with nuruk → distilled. Handmade, small-batch, layered in flavor.
If green-bottle soju tastes to you like an artificial-sweet rush with no grain behind it, Andong Soju’s nuruk and rice character may be the thing that flips your impression of Korean soju.
Why Andong? A 700-Year Distilling Tradition
Andong Soju survived for three reasons.
① Seoul has no distilling tradition. In the Joseon era, Seoul did have state-run breweries (관청 양조장), but they only made cloudy takju and medicinal yakju — never distilled spirits. Distilling was a regional specialty, and Andong was its strongest home.
② A 700-year Daoist ceremonial liquor. Andong Soju’s root — “traditional liquor” — reaches back to the Goryeo dynasty (13th–14th century), and it is Korea’s only surviving Daoist ceremonial liquor. By the late Joseon period, the era of the 소줏고리 (soju still) turned it into a distilled spirit. In the 1960s–70s, grain-management laws banned home brewing and nearly wiped out distilling culture, but Andong held on.
③ The birth of the name “Andong Soju.” The key figure was the late Jo Ok-hwa (조옥화), master and designated holder of the Andong Soju National Intangible Cultural Heritage skill. She spent her life restoring the distilling tradition, and in 1987 it was designated National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 12 — giving shape to the brand name “안동소주 (Andong Soju).” Today the Andong Soju Distillery (안동소주 양조장), operating as 안동소주 명인 (the “Andong Soju master”), carries the lineage on through techniques passed down within the family.
Those four characters, “安東燒酒,” map directly onto the Korean 안동소주 — there’s no other name for it.
The Full 2026 Andong Soju Lineup, Plus Iljik Soju — Budget to Premium
The Andong Soju family isn’t huge, but the ABV spans a wide range, from 27% up to 45%. Here it is by price. (Prices are August 2026 typical retail and may vary by channel.)
🍶 Andong Soju brands, 2026
| # | Brand | Volume | ABV | Price (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andong Soju 45 (안동소주 45도) | 300ml | 45% | ₩16,000 |
| 2 | Iljik Soju 45 (일직주 45도) | 500ml | 45% | ₩50,000 |
| 3 | Myeongpum Andong Soju (명품안동소주, an Igangju revival) | 500ml | 45% | ₩70,000 |
| 4 | Andong Soju 40 (안동소주 40도) | 300ml | 40% | ₩13,000 |
| 5 | Andong Soju 36 (안동소주 36도) | 300ml | 36% | ₩12,000 |
| 6 | Andong Soju 27 (안동소주 27도) | 300ml | 27% | ₩10,000 |
| 7 | Iljik Soju 27 (일직주 27도) | 500ml | 27% | ₩20,000 |
| 8 | Andong Soju 16.9 (안동소주 16.9도) | 300ml | 16.9% | ₩6,000 |
There’s also a limited-edition 250ml black-and-gold box made with FILA (around ₩6,000), available at convenience stores — a great gift.
The main line is Andong Soju 45 (₩16,000) and Iljik Soju 45 (₩50,000). Andong Soju 45 is the standard, while Iljik Soju 45 is the premium tier. Both are pure distilled soju — glutinous rice solid-state fermented, then distilled — but Iljik puts more care into aging and blending.
Myeongpum Andong Soju (45%, ₩70,000) has a quirk: it revives the Joseon-era Igangju (이강주), scenting the spirit with pear and ginger. It’s not on the classic Andong soju track — more of an “aromatized distilled soju.”
The lower-ABV versions (under 40%) are blended for drinkers who shy away from strong liquor. You’ll sometimes spot small bottles at duty-free shops or convenience stores. If it’s your first time and you’re not sure about strong spirits, 27% or 36% is a safe place to start.
Iljik Soju 45 (일직주), Opened and Tasted — Flavor, Aroma, and How to Drink It
The name 일직주 comes from Iljik-myeon, a township under Andong (안동시 일직면). The water and climate there are said to suit distilling especially well, so the Andong Soju distillery gave its premium line the place name.
Appearance: 500ml, a clear, slender bottle. Heavier than the standard — substantial enough for gifting. The liquid is completely colorless.
Aroma: bring the glass close and the first thing that hits is the grain sweetness rising off steamed rice cake (찐 쌀떡). Then the nutty nuruk, a deep, almost medicinal (but not quite) undertone, and a faint floral note — Andong Soju’s signature “volatile grain sweetness” comes through especially clearly in Iljik Soju.
Taste: first sip — honestly, no burn. 45% ABV, yet none of that cheap-distillate scorch. Very low sweetness, round and smooth on the palate, and then quickly — “wow, it clears clean.” The grain sweetness spreads gently across the middle of the tongue, and the alcohol lift vanishes fast. But the “depth of the nuruk” lingers at the back of the throat for a long time.
How to drink it: chill it hard in the freezer (it won’t freeze — it’s 45%), then sip neat from a shot glass. That’s the best way. Room-temperature neat also works well. Skip the water and ice — the aroma fades too much. On the rocks, the melt just dilutes the nuruk while the sweetness lingers, throwing off the balance.
What to pair: lightly salted meats, Korean savory pancakes with soy sauce, and eureum mandu (dumpling-like, but not quite) all shine. The spirit itself isn’t salty, but a touch of salt pulls out the grain sweetness — a lovely contrast. Sweets (fruit, chocolate), on the other hand, don’t work at all: the spirit’s faint sweetness gets buried, leaving only “alcohol,” so skip them.
Where to Buy Andong Soju
- The Andong Soju Distillery (안동소주 양조장) shop: in Andong, full lineup on hand. They pour tastings too, so you can try before you pick.
- Traditional liquor shops in Seoul and Gyeonggi: like Sulsaem (술샘, a Korean traditional liquor store) or the 안동소주 Seoul promotion hall.
- Department-store food halls and duty-free shops: the most likely spots for limited editions or low-ABV small bottles.
- Online: Smart Store (Naver) and Coupang generally carry it, but some sellers price above retail — watch out.
Andong Soju as a Gift — Which Bottle to Choose?
- For a fellow drinker or someone senior: Iljik Soju 45 (₩50,000). The most refined, the easiest to present.
- Practical, for yourself: Andong Soju 45 (₩16,000). Solid quality for everyday drinking.
- Just a taste: Andong Soju 27 or 36 (₩10,000–12,000). Gentler ABV.
- For photos and talking points: the FILA limited edition (around ₩6,000). Sharp design, instant conversation.
Sources and Notes
The history, distilling method, brand lineup, and prices here are based on the official Andong Soju Distillery (안동소주 양조장) website, compiled in August 2026. The Iljik Soju (일직주) tasting notes are sensory impressions from actually opening a bottle; your palate may differ. Brand prices are August 2026 typical retail and may vary by channel.
Sources
- Andong Soju Distillery website — andongsoju.co.kr
- National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 12 “안동소주” designation record — Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea
- Product info for Andong Soju 45, Iljik Soju 45, and Myeongpum Andong Soju — Andong Soju website
- FILA limited edition — Andong Soju website news / convenience-store retail info