Soju vs Sake

[lardycake]

I recently got to try Korean Soju for the first time, it is quite similar to Sake.



It turns out I much prefer Soju...sorry Japan!

Which do you prefer?

 

[undrentide]

I think Soju and Sake are totally different - sake is brewed like wine, while Soju is distilled like vodka.
Soju seems to be the same thing as Shochu in Japan.
For me it is like comparing wine and whisky.

 

[thomas]

Undrentide-san is right, it appears that soju is distilled, so it's apples and oranges. And on top of that: "De gustibus non est disputandum".

I actually do like both, sake (karakuchi) and shochu (imo is my preference), in modest quantities.

 

[Wardie1993]

Sake, ive not had Soju but I have had Sake, so I prefer Sake

 

[nice gaijin]

Soju is absolutely horrendous, and gives the worst hangovers I've experienced even without drinking to excess. The most palatable soju I've had was the Hallasan soju from Jeju, which was smooth and similar to a midrange shouchuu, lacking most of the awful aftertaste that ultra cheap stuff has from all the formaldehyde or whatever embalming fluids they use. I've had bad sake and bad shouchuu, but even good soju doesn't much appeal to me.

interesting fact, jinro soju is the #1 highest selling liquor in the world, at something like 63 million crates for the year. Smirnoff Vodka is #2 at 1/2 or 1/3rd that much, and #3 is Lotte brand soju. And something like 97% of all soju sold in the world is sold in Korea.

 

[Damicci]

I haven't had bad experiences with soju. My grandfather in law used to drink it after dinner and I would drink with my mother in law as well. Just always made me sleepy. I do however prefer the taste of sake over soju but i have had my share of smooth tasting soju.
I had a soju once made from the little seeds that are on the skins of strawberries. was an interesting taste.

 

[nice gaijin]

Damicci, I think you may be thinking of Shouchuu, the distilled Japanese liquor. Soju is a korean drink (see image at the top of the thread)

 

[Tokyo Guy]

I think Soju and Sake are totally different - sake is brewed like wine, while Soju is distilled like vodka.
Soju seems to be the same thing as Shochu in Japan.
For me it is like comparing wine and whisky.

I believe sake is brewed like beer not pasteurized like wine.

 

[bentenmusume]

Actually, sake is brewed with a process often described as multiple parallel fermentation, which is distinct from both wine and beer.

Most sake is pasteurized, though some varieties are not and are known collectively as nama-zake ("fresh" or "raw" sake).

 

[thomas]

Also, most wine is unpasteurised.