Soon Hari Apple Soju

Soonhari Apple Soju 375mL takes the easy-drinking side of Korean soju and pushes it toward crisp orchard fruit. At 12% ABV, it is light, slightly sweet, and built around apple, honey, and pear rather than alcohol heat — the kind of bottle meant to be served cold and shared rather than slowly analyzed like a higher-proof spirit.

Process & Profile

Soonhari is produced in Korea as part of LOTTE Chilsung Beverage’s flavored-soju range, a lineup the brand describes as the original flavored soju concept. The Apple expression starts with alcohol distilled from grain and tapioca, then combines it with water, citric acid, apple flavors, actual apple juice, and sweeteners. It is bottled at 12% ABV in the traditional 375mL format and is labeled gluten-free in the U.S. market.

The goal here is not to reproduce the sharper, more neutral character of traditional soju. Apple is designed around softness and fruit: enough acidity to keep the sweetness lively, but at a low enough proof that the alcohol remains largely in the background.

On the nose, fresh apple and honeysuckle lead, giving the aroma a floral quality alongside the fruit.

On the palate, the apple comes across crisp and clean, followed by a gentle honeyed sweetness. The texture becomes slightly creamier through the middle, which keeps the fruit from tasting thin or overly tart.

The finish is smooth and relatively short, with a noticeable touch of pear behind the apple and a soft sweetness rather than alcoholic burn.

What makes Soonhari Apple work particularly well is its balance. Apple-flavored spirits can easily become candy-like, but Soonhari's official profile emphasizes crispness, floral character, and pear alongside the sweetness. At 12% ABV, it lands closer to a fruit-forward social drink than a conventional spirit, while still retaining the familiar 375mL Korean soju format.

Serve it very cold, straight from the bottle or poured into small soju glasses. It also works over ice or as the base of a light highball. Soonhari specifically recommends pairing the Apple expression with pork belly, where its sweetness and fruit help cut through the richness of the meat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Soonhari Apple Soju?
A Korean flavored soju combining a grain-and-tapioca-based spirit with apple juice and apple flavor for a light, sweet, fruit-forward style.

What are the specs?
375mL, 12% ABV, made with water, alcohol distilled from grain and tapioca, citric acid, apple flavors, apple juice, and sweeteners. It is labeled gluten-free.

What does it taste like?
Crisp apple and honeysuckle on the nose, followed by lightly sweet apple, honey, and a creamy texture, finishing with a subtle note of pear.

How should you enjoy it?
Serve it well chilled, over ice, or mixed into a simple highball. It pairs particularly well with pork belly and other rich Korean dishes.

Why is this release notable?
It is part of Soonhari's Korean flavored-soju lineup and delivers one of the range's cleaner fruit profiles: apple, honey, floral notes, and pear at an approachable 12% ABV.