Gang Chu Apple Soju

Gang Chu Apple Soju is an apple-flavored soju made in Massachusetts, which makes it a domestic take on a style usually associated with Korea. Soju is a clear, neutral spirit, so the flavor here comes from the apple. Flavored sojus like this usually taste of crisp green or red apple, with a light sweetness and little of the harsh edge you get from a strong spirit. The details supplied for this bottle don't include an ABV, tasting notes or a sweetness level, so check the label for strength. Expect a light body, a soft and slightly sticky texture, low acidity, no tannin and no oak. The finish is typically short and clean, with a faint candied-apple note. Serve it cold. Chill the bottle in the refrigerator or give it 30 to 40 minutes in the freezer, and it should pour smooth and a little viscous. Serving it at room temperature tends to make this style taste sweeter and more syrupy. It doesn't need decanting. The usual way to drink soju is neat, in small shot glasses poured for the table. If you want a longer drink, a tall glass over ice works well. Topped with club soda or a lemon-lime soda, the apple flavor stretches into an easy highball. It also works with sparkling water and a squeeze of lime, or as the base for a simple apple spritz. For food, soju has a long tradition with salty, rich and spicy dishes, and the apple sweetness suits that. Try it with Korean fried chicken, grilled pork belly or bulgogi, or with spicy stews and kimchi pancakes, where the cold sweetness cools the heat. It also goes with salty snacks such as roasted nuts and seaweed chips, and with fried dumplings. This is a drink-now bottle. Soju doesn't improve with cellaring, so there's no reason to hold it for aging. Keep it cold or in the freezer and finish it within a reasonable time once opened, with the cap on tight.