Samcheok Miro's 'Miroju' won the grand award at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards.
The Korea Wine & Spirits Awards is Korea's representative liquor competition, which is in its 12th year this year. It has been held annually since 2014 by ChosunBiz, with the goal of 'discovering and widely promoting good local alcoholic beverages, and supporting the formation of a sound liquor culture.'
This year's event featured 236 companies that submitted a total of 1,008 brands. It is the largest among domestic liquor competitions that handle a broad range of alcoholic beverages. Among them, 431 brands received the grand award.
According to Samcheok Miro, 'Miroju' is a liquor made based on the brewing method used by the elders of the Miro area in the past and the manufacturing method of Baeksuhwandongju recorded in ancient texts.
The fermentation starter is made using glutinous rice and steamed mung beans to produce Baeksuhwandonggok.
A representative of Samcheok Miro noted, 'The process of fermenting the starter to the completion of the liquor takes a long time, but it provides a deep and rich taste. When taking the first sip, a subtle fruity aroma fills the mouth, harmonizing the soft sweetness unique to glutinous rice with the aroma of mung bean starter.'
'Miro' does not simply mean a place name, but is derived from the Chinese character '미로 (未老),' meaning 'not yet old.' It embodies traditions and values that do not change over time.
A representative of Samcheok Miro said, 'There used to be a brewery in Miro-myeon a long time ago, but it gradually disappeared with the changes over time. We're building a brewery in Miro-myeon to continue that tradition and are making liquor under the name 'Miro.'
Samcheok Miro expressed its ambition to increase production, expand its factory, and develop Miro into a representative liquor of Gangwon Province, and ultimately a famous liquor sought after worldwide.