Korean craft beer company Gorilla Brewing and Korean soju (distilled alcoholic beverage) company Tokki Soju are collaborating to launch a new soju product named ‘Haechi Soju’.
Haechi is a legendary creature with horns on its head and covered with scales. It is said that Haechi has the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, and when it encounters corrupt officials, it stabs them with its horns and eats them.
Haechi Soju is a traditional soju made with yeast and glutinous rice, unlike most distilled soju on the market, which uses Japanese modified koji (grain or bean that has been inoculated with fungus). It comes in two flavors (22%-44% ABV) and is sold by various vendors such as Wine and More, Shinsegae Department Store, 2 You Bar and online liquor stores.
The three founders of Hatch Soju (Paul Edwards, Bran Hill, and Douglas Park) used their expertise and experience in liquor manufacturing to create a “pure” soju with no impurities.
Paul Edwards, from the UK, co-founded Gorilla Brewing and craft beer company Galmegi Brewing.
Bran Hill is the founder and master distiller of Tokki Soju and has over 20 years of experience in brewing and distilling.
Douglas Park has served as CEO of Tokki Soju for the past five years, during which time the company has achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 90%.
“We developed Haechi Soju to provide traditional soju based on rice and yeast at a reasonable price without compromising quality,” said Douglas Park, founder of Haechi Soju. “We will continue to compete with global competitors while avoiding gimmicks and exaggerated marketing.”
This article was originally published on Dec. 18, 2023.
