Difference Between Sake and Soju (2024)

Sake vs Soju

What is Soju?

Soju is a colorless distilled drink with the Korean origin. This clear beverage is usually consumed neat. The alcohol content varies from 16.8% – 53% alcohol. Most of the soju brands are made in South Korea and made from wheat, barley or rice in content. But sometimes modern producers may replace rice with other starch filled products such as tapioca, potatoes and sweet potatoes.

What is Sake?

Sake is a Japanese drink and referred as a Japanese rice wine. Sake is made through fermenting rice after removing the bran. While wine contains alcohol content (ethanol) produced during the process of fermenting sugar such as fruits (grapes), sake is produced by a brewing process more like beer. During this process starch is converted into sugars then it will ferment into alcohol.

The word “sake” means “liquor” in Japanese and it is pronounced shu. Sake is the national beverage and it is often served in special ceremonies.

What are the differences between Sake and Soju?

Sake and Soju are beverages that are native to Japan and South Korea. Sake, which is commonly known as “rice wine,” is a brewed beverage that has been distilled from rice. It is made like wine or beer and is fermented and aged. Soju is mainly a Korean drink that is considered to be just like Vodka or whiskey.

Soju has a unique production method which is quite different from Sake. The production of Soju has two stages. The first stage is the conversion of starch to sugar, and the next stage is the conversion from sugar to alcohol. After this, the mixture is then aged, usually for ten long years.

There is difference in the production of Soju and Sake. While Sake is brewed, Soju is distilled. One can also see a difference in the environment in which the two beverages are made. While Soju has a better production in warm climates, Sake has a better production in cool climates.

When Sake is just made from rice, Soju is made from rice, barley, and sweet potatoes. As the two beverages are made from different things, they come with different aromas. A Sake beverage generally has a mild and soft aroma when compared to Soju which has a distinct aroma of the base materials used. Unlike Sake, Soju is clear in color.

One can also see that there is considerable differences in the alcohol content. Soju has a higher alcohol content than Sake. When Sake has about 15 to 17 per cent alcohol, Soju has about 15 to 46 per cent of alcohol in it.
As said earlier, Sake is more related to wine. On the other hand, Soju has a likeness to whisky or Vodka.

Summary:

1.Sake (Japanese Origin), which is commonly known as “rice wine,” is made like wine or beer and is fermented and aged. Soju is mainly a Korean drink that is considered to be just like Vodka or whiskey.
2. Soju has a higher alcohol content than Sake. When Sake has about 15 to 17 per cent alcohol, Soju has about 15 to 46 per cent of alcohol in it.
3.When Sake is just made from rice, Soju is made from rice, barley, and sweet potatoes.
4. A Sake beverage generally has a mild and soft aroma when compared to Soju which has a distinct aroma of the base materials used.
5.While Sake is brewed, Soju is distilled.