Hello Soju Steps Into the Spotlight With a Smooth, Spirit-Forward Flagship
- By: Meera Rathod & Julianne Elise Beffa
- October 27, 2025
A small-batch, copper-distilled soju made from Sacramento Valley rice lands in the U.S. with flavor, craft, and a nightlife-ready debut.
From LA to NYC, LOOP editors raised a glass to celebrate Hello Soju’s latest chapter in modern spirits. First stop, TAO in Los Angeles, where the brand’s Mid-Autumn event drew a crowd ready to toast to soju season, because with Hello Soju, “seasonal” just got an upgrade. The night was a perfect blend of sophistication and warmth, with soft ambient lighting bouncing off sleek interiors, light bites from TAO’s infamous kitchen pairing effortlessly with the crisp, citrus-tinged spirit, and laughter filling the air as guests mingled over signature cocktails. LOOP was there, savoring each sip and soaking in the atmosphere, which perfectly captured Hello Soju’s ethos of merging Korean heritage with modern nightlife sensibilities.
The star of the evening was Hello Soju’s first premium Flagship Spirit, a small-batch, copper-distilled take on Korea’s national drink, crafted for contemporary palates and American bar culture. Made from non-GMO sticky rice grown in Northern California’s Sacramento Valley, the spirit undergoes five to seven days of careful fermentation before a double pot distillation in copper stills, inspired by Korea’s most revered producers. Only the “hearts” cut is retained, resulting in a clean, full-bodied spirit with bright citrus notes, rice-driven depth, and subtle honey-melon undertones. At 33% ABV, it strikes the perfect balance, refined yet lively, neat or in cocktails.
The TAO launch was not just about tasting, it was a multi-sensory introduction to Hello Soju’s versatility. Guests navigated the lounge-style space, where bartenders crafted bespoke cocktails that highlighted the spirit’s rice-forward character. Citrus-scented highballs, delicate melon-infused mixes, and minimalist neat pours each told a story, while passed Korean-inspired hors d’œuvres provided the perfect palate partners, with savory bites that played off the spirit’s bright, nuanced flavors. Everywhere you looked, there was a subtle choreography, the glint of copper cocktail shakers, the faint aroma of fresh citrus and herbs, the gleam of black ombré bottles embossed with golden phoenixes. It was a celebration that felt alive, intimate, and yet unmistakably cosmopolitan.
From the West Coast, the celebration traveled east to New York City, landing at Ms. Yoo on the Lower East Side. The bi-level space, with its cozy nooks and softly glowing fixtures, felt like a private world set aside for connoisseurs and curious newcomers alike. Here, the narrative of Hello Soju deepened. Bartenders worked with precision, presenting cocktails that revealed the spirit’s layered profile, the initial brightness of citrus, the textured rice-driven mid-palate, and the lingering honeyed finish. Conversations swirled as freely as the drinks, from the small-batch origins to the innovative double-pot distillation, and guests debated which cocktail or neat pour best showcased the spirit’s elegance. The tasting was not rushed, it was a deliberate, lingering experience, encouraging guests to explore, sip, and savor.
Even the bottle tells a story. The 700ml vessel’s black ombré finish and gold phoenix emblem are more than design, they are symbols of rebirth, celebration, and transformation. Displayed on a bar, it commands attention, signaling that Hello Soju is as much about lifestyle and aesthetics as it is about flavor.
Beyond the taste and design, Hello Soju is a study in intentionality. It blends Korean tradition with California terroir, crafting a spirit that feels simultaneously familiar and new. From the sun-soaked vibes of LA to the intimate, candlelit corners of New York, Hello Soju proves that heritage, craftsmanship, and nightlife ingenuity can coexist in one bottle, and in one night of sipping, mingling, and celebration.
For LOOP, the journey from coast to coast was not just about sampling a new spirit, it was witnessing a new approach to soju culture. This is a drink for the modern drinker, the cocktail enthusiast, the curious and the adventurous, offering more than a sip, a story, a lifestyle, and a modern take on tradition, all poured into a single, beautifully crafted bottle.
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