We were delighted by the original makgeolli, so branched out to some of the flavoured ones with the Kook Soon Dang Makgeolli White Grape. Rather than grape flavouring added to makgeolli after it’s matured, flavoured makgeolli is made by fermenting the fruit (here, white grapes) with steamed rice, yeast and nuruk.
The beverage was an opaque cloudy off-white colour with a sweet grape aroma with a mild carbonation. Served chilled, the drink had a slight viscosity that lends a creamy mouthfeel as bright notes of fresh grapes came through with a fresh and natural sweetness before the rice wine flavour typical of makgeolli emerged towards the end of the body. The gentle carbonation cleansed the palate in the finish to leave a clean aftertaste without a hint of bitterness. There was no added sugar to the drink, yet its sweetness was balanced.
Overall, this flavoured makgeolli may be the perfect entry point for those unfamiliar with the signature flavour of rice wines. Here, the ‘rice-y’ flavour was relegated into the background, present but well masked, making the overall experience much like drinking a creamy grape-flavoured soft drink.
This Kook Soon Dang Makgeolli White Grape contained 750 mL. It was produced in South Korea and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2022.