Jinro Grapefruit Soju

Jinro Grapefruit Soju is a flavored soju: a clear, lightly sweetened Korean-style spirit with grapefruit as the dominant flavor. The label lists the United States, Massachusetts, as its origin. It isn't a grape wine, so the usual wine terms for tannin and oak don't apply. Soju is a neutral, clear spirit with no tannin and no oak, and it has no vintage or aging window. Styles like this usually come in well below standard spirit strength, so check the bottle for the exact ABV. Expect a nose of fresh grapefruit peel and juice, with the sweet-bitter edge that defines the fruit. On the palate, flavored sojus of this type are typically light-bodied and soft, with a touch of sugar to round off the citrus pith. Acidity is gentle rather than sharp, and the finish is short and clean, with a faint bitter-citrus note and very little alcohol heat. The base spirit is meant to stay in the background, so the fruit leads from first sip to last. Chilled is the right way to serve it. Refrigerate the bottle for a few hours, or pour over ice if you want it more diluted and mellow. Decanting does nothing for a spirit like this. A small shot glass is the traditional Korean choice for sipping it neat. A tall glass with ice works better for a longer, lighter pour. A splash of club soda or tonic stretches it into a simple highball, and a wedge of fresh grapefruit or lime sharpens the citrus. The best food matches are salty, fatty or spicy dishes, which the sweetness and cold citrus help cut through. Korean fried chicken, grilled pork belly, spicy stir-fried squid, kimchi pancakes and tteokbokki are all natural fits. Fried seafood and salty snacks also work well. Since it contains no tannin and does not age, it is a drink-now bottle. Keep it cool and finish it within a reasonable time after opening, ideally refrigerated, so the citrus flavor stays bright.