Shinpyeong Brewery White Lotus Makgeolli

Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea | 7% ABV Few makgeolli producers carry the weight of history that Shinpyeong does. Founded in 1933, the brewery in Dangjin is among the oldest in Korea, a multi-generational family operation currently led by Kim Yong-se, a designated Korean liquor brewing grandmaster, alongside his son Kim Dong-gyo. Their brews have been served at official Cheong Wa Dae state dinners since 2009, and the White Lotus took first place at the 2014 Korea Liquors Contest. The accolades are real, but the product speaks for itself. The White Lotus is brewed with locally grown rice and lotus leaves, processed in a way that draws parallels to green tea production: the leaves are dried with heat before joining the fermentation, contributing their delicate character to the finished brew. The result is a makgeolli of quiet elegance, naturally cloudy from the unfiltered yeast, with a gentle effervescence and a flavor profile that stays soft throughout. Floral aromas from the white lotus come first, followed by a subtle nuttiness and a clean, refreshing finish.