🥃 Jinro

Jinro is a Korean soju brand made by HiteJinro, and for many drinkers outside Korea it is the green bottle they know as soju. It is considered the oldest of the Korean sojus: according to JoongAng Daily, it dates from 1924. The label shows a toad, which is why the original was once nicknamed "toad soju", and the maker released its 2019 retro version at 16.9% ABV.

History. According to JoongAng Daily, the Jinro company was founded in Seoul in 1924 and began exporting in 1968. Hite bought Jinro in 2005, and in 2011 the merged company became HiteJinro. In 1998 Jinro launched Chamisul. According to JoongAng Daily, the company later focused on it, while the original Jinro sold modestly for a long time under the name Jinro Gold.

What soju is. In 1965 Korea banned the use of rice for soju because of shortages; producers switched to sweet potato and tapioca and diluted the spirit with water. In 1995 the rules allowed additives, including oligosaccharide. So most modern soju is diluted spirit rather than distilled mash.

The range. JoongAng Daily describes the retro version, released in April 2019 in a glass bottle styled after the 1970s and 80s, as 16.9% ABV; by the same article, it is weaker than Chamisul Original (20.1% ABV) and nearly the same as Chamisul Fresh (17%). There are also fruit versions, for example plum and green grape.

Why this matters to you. Soju is weaker than vodka, but it is not harmless: strength differs between versions and brands, so check the label. The name "Jinro" refers to a brand, not to the whole drink. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.