The Han Seoul Night Plum Soju

The Han Seoul Night Plum Soju is a double-distilled spirit made from maesil, the Korean plum, by The Han Company in South Korea. Unlike the sweet plum wines that dominate the category, this is a dry, composed distillate that captures the aromatic complexity of ripe maesil without any residual sugar. At 23% ABV, it occupies a middle ground between sessionable soju and serious spirits, treating the fruit as the foundation for an elegant, structured spirit rather than a dessert ingredient. The Han Company harvests maesil at full ripeness, when the fruit has transitioned from green to a deep reddish-gold and is loaded with natural sweetness, bright acidity, and layered aromatics. Most producers stop at plum wine, but The Han double-distills the fruit to concentrate its floral and stone fruit character, then cold-filters the spirit for a clean, smooth finish. The process strips away the sweetness while preserving the fragrance, so what remains is a spirit that smells intensely of plum but drinks dry and slightly austere on the palate. It's a production approach that requires patience and restraint, and it's uncommon in the plum spirits category. The nose is delicate and floral, with stone fruit and a faint honeyed quality that signals ripeness without sugar. The palate is clean and composed, with the fruit character present but not cloying, finishing dry and slightly mineral. Drink it chilled and straight to appreciate the clarity of the distillation, or let it anchor a cocktail that needs fragrance and structure without sweetness. It holds up beautifully alongside raw seafood, ceviche, and dishes with heat, where its clean, fruit-forward character cuts through fat and balances acidity. It's also a natural pairing for Korean banchan and anything pickled or fermented. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.