Good Day Lychee

Good Day Lychee is a lychee-flavored bottling from Esplanda in Massachusetts, filed under both wine and soju. The listing gives no ABV, grape, base spirit or vintage, so what follows describes the style and what it typically drinks like. It is not a measured profile of this bottle. Lychee-flavored soju-style drinks usually run light-bodied, clear and gently sweet. Expect a floral, perfumed nose with rose petal and white grape notes, and a palate of fresh lychee and pear. Tannin and oak are normally absent, and acidity is soft rather than sharp. The finish is usually short and clean, with a faint perfumed sweetness. Chill it well, around 4 to 7°C (40 to 45°F), because cold temperature keeps the sweetness in check and the floral aroma lifted. Decanting does nothing for a drink like this. Serve it straight from the fridge or over a few ice cubes if you want it more diluted. A small white-wine glass or tulip-shaped stemless glass concentrates the lychee aroma better than a wide tumbler. A traditional soju shot glass suits it if you're sipping it Korean-style alongside food. For pairings, the fruity sweetness works against heat and salt. Try it with Korean fried chicken, spicy pork bulgogi, Thai or Sichuan dishes with chili, grilled shrimp, or salty snacks like seaweed crisps. It also goes well with fresh fruit, a light cheesecake or a sorbet if you want it with dessert. For mixing, it blends easily with sparkling water, grapefruit or lime juice, or as a lychee-forward substitute in a spritz or highball. This is a drink-now bottle. Flavored, lightly sweet styles like this are made to be consumed fresh and do not gain complexity with age. Once opened, keep it refrigerated and tightly closed, and finish it within a few days to a couple of weeks for the brightest fruit character.