Soon Hari Yogurt Soju

Yogurt Soju from Soon Hari is a flavored soju bottled at 12% ABV, which puts it well below the 16 to 20% of traditional Korean soju and closer to the strength of a table wine. The listing gives Alicante as its region. That is a Spanish appellation rather than a Korean one, so treat the origin as the label's own statement and not a claim about how the spirit is made. Drinks in this style are usually built on a neutral soju base, sweetened and flavored to echo drinkable yogurt, so expect a soft, milky-tangy sweetness with little of the sharp ethanol edge of standard soju. Because it is a sweetened flavored product, there is no meaningful tannin or oak. Acidity is typically a gentle lactic brightness that keeps the sweetness from turning cloying, and the finish tends to be short, creamy and clean. Serve it well chilled, around 4 to 6°C, straight from the refrigerator, or over ice if you prefer it diluted and a little lighter. It needs no decanting and does not improve with time, so open it and drink it young. A small tumbler, a short soju glass or a stemless wine glass all work, and a chilled white wine glass will concentrate the sweet, creamy aroma a little better than a shot glass. The sweetness suits foods that bring salt, spice or fat. Korean fried chicken, tteokbokki, spicy ramen and grilled pork belly all give the sweet, cooling character something to push against. Light snacks such as salted nuts, fresh strawberries and melon, or a simple fruit plate also work. It mixes easily too: topped with soda water or a lemon-lime soda, it makes a long, low-effort highball that keeps the yogurt note in the foreground. Once opened, reseal and keep it refrigerated, and finish it within a few days so the dairy-style flavor stays fresh.