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Exploring Iconic Alcoholic Beverages from Around the Globe

Step into the enthralling world of alcoholic beverages through their origins, flavours and cultural significance. From Korea’s refreshingly crisp soju and America’s unapologetically bold bourbon to Italy’s deliciously mouth-puckering limoncello, discover these drinks that offer a glimpse into the cultures and traditions of their homelands.

1. Soju from South Korea

This unassuming distilled spirit is the best-selling liquor in the world. It’s also one of the fastest-growing. Clear, colourless, and crisp, soju hails from Korea as a traditional beverage originally made from rice before it was later transmuted into forms made from other grains and starches due to a rice shortage in the 1960s. Its name, soju, meaning “burnt liquor”, is a reference to its historical distillation process. While soju used to be reserved for the elite, it is considered a drink for the working-class today. It is now available in a myriad of flavours, including grape, apple, peach and more.

2. Tequila from Mexico

Mexico is the birthplace of tequila, where it’s made using the blue agave plant, also aptly named the tequila agave. Tracking down its explicit origins, it is revealed that the succulent plant is best harvested in the region of Tequila, where red volcanic soils allow it to thrive. Tequila is the national drink of Mexico and the second best-selling spirit in the United States as of 2021. It is known for its blue agave-derived sweetness, and a subtle earthy flavour from its ageing process. 

3. Sherry from Spain

Sherry is a type of fortified wine produced by fortifying aged wine with a distilled spirit, typically brandy. It is available in a wide variety of styles, spanning dry, sweet, pale and dark. Coming from Spain, sherry is known for its unique ageing process, which employs the staggered and gradual ageing of the solera system. Though recreated by other countries such as Cyprus, South Africa, and Australia, authentic sherries are differentiated with the words “Jerez DO” or “Jerez-Xérès-Sherry”, indicating that they are Jerez- or Spain-produced.

4. Vodka from Russia or Poland

Vodka is one of the most popular spirits in the world. The distilled drink showcases a light and delicate taste that contrasts beautifully against a colourful range of mixers, although it is traditionally served neat. While vodka was documented to have been around in 14th century Russia, others claim that it was invented as early as the 8th or 9th century in Poland or Russia. Vodka is made from fermenting grains or starches by the addition of yeast. 

5. Irish Whiskey from Ireland

Irish whiskey refers to, specifically, whiskey produced in Ireland — separating itself from its broader counterpart, whiskey, whose origins remain a point of contention divided between Scotland and Ireland. This sub-classification of whiskey also happens to be among the most popular spirits in the world, before it lost its title to the aforementioned soju. Compared to Scotch whiskey, Irish whiskey is described as having a smoother texture, being triple-distilled rather than twice-distilled. Its mash bill of unmalted and malted barley gives Irish whiskey its cereal-like flavour and overtones of fruitiness, rounded off with a hint of spice.

6. Sake from Japan

One of the most iconic Japanese alcoholic beverages is sake, or Japanese rice wine. Sake has been around for a long time, with the earliest documentation of it written in the Kojiki, the oldest book of Japanese history, which was compiled in 712 AD. Despite being known as Japanese rice wine, sake isn’t actually related to wine, beer or other spirits. Instead, it’s created using a process that employs brewing that allows starch to convert to sugar and alcohol simultaneously. However, sake is said to taste closer to wine, perhaps due to its sweetness from a higher sugar content over low acidity.  Those that use highly polished rice also tend to have a cleaner mouthfeel.

7. Bourbon Whiskey from United States

Bourbon whiskey, more simply known as bourbon, refers to a type of American whiskey where the mash bill is made mostly from corn. These mash bills are to be distilled under specific conditions, such as containing no additives and being stored in new charred oak barrels for ageing, at 80 proof or higher. Unlike other alcoholic beverages, bourbon whiskey can only be made in the United States. This was established after the US congress declared the drink as a “distinctive product of the United States” and barred brands from using “bourbon” to describe any whiskey-based products not made in the country. Bourbon whiskey tastes bold and sweet, with traces of vanilla, oak and caramel — a combo fans have likened to the true taste of America.

8. Baijiu from China

Baijiu is a spirit of Chinese origin. It’s famed for being a “diplomatic gift” — and a particularly boozy one at that — with an alcohol-by-volume (ABV) reaching 60% and beyond. Within this sweeping category of Chinese liquor there exists numerous varieties that stretch from those featuring a rice-like aroma to others that are compared to soy sauce and overripe fruit. Each baijiu creation uses its own unique fermentation starter, known as qu, to develop its distinctive taste. Baijiu is mainly consumed in its home base of China, where 98% of baijiu sales occur. However, baijiu sales plummeted after the government rolled out new anti-corruption laws, ceasing its reputation as a potential bribe amongst party officials. 

9. Pisco from Peru or Chile

It’s sweet, it’s sour, it’s bitter — it’s pisco. Exported from both Peru and Chile, pisco comes with a storied past in which Spanish settlers first brought grapes to South America to make wine. Today, the debate over the birthplace of pisco is a hotly contested topic between Peru and Chile, with both nations claiming the beverage as their national drink. One primary distinction between Peruvian and Chilean pisco is that the Peruvian variety emphasises not diluting the pisco, while the Chilean variety sometimes adds water to lower the alcohol content.

10. Limoncello from Italy

Italy’s famous lemon liqueur is distinguished for its bright and refreshing profile. Some might say it barely tastes like alcohol, given its overpowering lemon flavour and sweetness, effectively concealing its alcohol content, which averages between 24% to 32% ABV. As part of a long-established custom, limoncello was consumed as a digestif — a post-meal drink meant to aid digestion. Extracting the zest of lemons, limoncello involves steeping lemon peels in vodka or ethanol before it is combined with syrup. It is mainly produced in southern Italy, where its warm Mediterranean climate proves ideal for growing native lemon varieties. 

Conclusion

In this whirlwind tour, we have witnessed how each drink embodies the essence of its homeland, offering flavours that range from the bold sweetness of bourbon to the crisp clarity of soju. These beverages aren’t just drinks, but cultural artefacts that each possess a rich history and a strong sense of identity. Whether savoured neat, mixed, or as part of a celebration, these drinks continue to unite individuals, celebrating heritage and inspiring new generations of enthusiasts far and wide.

Say cheers to the diversity and richness of various liquors and more with one that’s proudly made in Singapore, but upholds the cultures and traditions of Korea. Chorong Chorong is an esteemed soju producer in Singapore, presenting flavours from the burst of sweet, succulent grapes to the tart and refreshing zing of grapefruit. Browse our range now — and make an order on Shopee today to have it shipped right to your doorstep!

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