On the 9th, the winners of the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards EXPO in the institutional sector of Korean alcohol, “Best of 2025,” were announced.
The 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards EXPO is the 12th edition of the country's representative liquor evaluation event. It has been held annually since 2014 by ChosunBiz with the goal of discovering and promoting quality domestic liquor and supporting the development of a healthy drinking culture. Until last year, it was conducted as the Korea Wine & Spirits Awards, but has expanded to an expo this year.
◇ Soft Korean rice wine made with rice from Icheon, Beompyo Makgeolli
Beompyo Makgeolli, produced by Beompyo Brewery Agricultural Company, won “Best of 2025″ in the Korean rice wine institutional sector and has been awarded at the Korea Wine & Spirits Awards EXPO more than twice this year.
Beompyo Brewery was founded by representatives and executives who were born and raised in the Icheon area. They create makgeolli, a traditional Korean rice wine, using rice as the main ingredient sourced from the local NongHyup. The company adheres to the principle of solely using Icheon rice to ensure stable quality for consumers and aims to promote the excellence and tradition of Icheon rice as well as to raise awareness of Korea in the world.
Beompyo Makgeolli, made from water, nuruk, and Icheon rice, is characterized by having no carbonation and achieving a guaranteed shelf life of 60 days through stable fermentation techniques. There is almost no flavor change over time. The beverage has received positive feedback for its smooth texture after being filtered three times.
◇ A sweet and sour liquor made from magnolia petals picked in spring, Oh My Gat Sparkling Spring Flower
In the Korean unrefined rice wine institutional sector, Oh My Gat Sparkling Spring Flower from Songdohyang Co., Ltd. was recognized as a winner.
Oh My Gat Sparkling Spring Flower is a premium sparkling rice wine made by fermenting magnolia petals collected in spring and infusing carbonation for a refreshing taste. It can be compared to a sweet and sour beverage similar to Moscato d'Asti in terms of its refreshing qualities.
It features a rich tropical fruit aroma and a subtle magnolia flower scent. Delicate bubbles linger on the tongue, providing a bitter yet clean aftertaste.
A representative from Songdohyang said, “It is best enjoyed in a champagne glass, and once the carbonation settles, you can chill it and enjoy it like ice wine.” It pairs well with creamy dishes and also serves as an excellent dessert wine or aperitif.
Oh My Gat Sparkling Spring Flower is one of the project brands created in collaboration with Chef Joseph Lidgerwood of the Michelin 1-star restaurant Evett, which has received the accolade for five consecutive years since 2020. It is produced in the Songdohyang Brewery, known for its local specialty liquor brand Samyangchoon, while the label features ‘Gat’—a traditional hat worn by scholars who enjoy the elegant arts—hand-painted by Chef Joseph.
◇ Korean cider “Oak Spirit” meets oak aging
In the distilled liquor institutional sector, “Oak Spirit” from Vision Red Agricultural Company was awarded. Oak Spirit is an apple brandy distilled from domestic apples and matured in oak, known for its sweet vanilla aroma. It has been praised for its substantial body and clean finish, especially receiving positive feedback from consumers who found whisky to be too harsh.
It can be enjoyed in diverse ways. Adding ice enhances the refreshing and bright fruit flavors. When mixed in a highball with carbonated water, the fruity sweetness and crispness can be enjoyed effortlessly, even at high alcohol content.
Vision Red was founded in 2018 with the aim of promoting Korean-style original cider. They produce cider, apple wine, and distilled liquor using locally sourced clean apples. Among these, Oak Spirit is a calvados-style distilled liquor that merges traditional Korean elements with a modern sensibility.
◇ Wine made from a grape farm continuing for three generations, Wolryubong, recognized as a two-time winner
The winner in the Korean wine sector was Wolryubong from Eau de Lune Agricultural Company Wolryubong was also recognized as an award winner at the Korea Wine & Spirits Awards EXPO last year, making it a winner more than twice.
Eau de Lune means “drop of the moon” to convey the taste as if entering paradise. They produce Eau de Lune wine in collaboration with a grape farm that has been growing grapes for three generations in Yeongdong, Chungbuk.
Wolryubong is a wine conceptualized with the idea that “a man mad about wine makes it while a woman who paints designs the label.” This wine is in the rosé style.