The 2023 Gwangju Liquor Tourism Festa 

By Olivia Laurel 

Located at the Kim Daejung Convention Center (김대중컨벤션센터) in the west of Gwangju, this three-day event from October 27–29 pulled out all the stops to bring the best-quality alcohol available to the public. There were over 120 companies represented in displaying a wide variety of beverages including traditional makgeolli, wines, handmade beers, soju, and hard liquor. 

Because of the numerous selections, I ended up going on two of the three days to see everything. Every booth had its own advertisements and tasting areas, and I noticed that some booths had much longer lines than others. But all in all, it was an enlightening experience to try so many different types of alcohol.  

Several of the booths offered many varieties of alcohol within the same companies. When it came to trying the makgeolli, I was most impressed with what the Moonlight Brewery from Gwangju had to offer. Their Dalmak blend had a fresh, crisp flavor across the board. They used a mixture of vanilla, green apple, and melon to achieve this lovely combination. They have also created a soju called the Wolgwangu that had similar notes of vanilla along with a grain aroma.   

When exploring through the wine territory, I was surprised to find that there were not any wineries within the Jeolla provinces. I spoke with a wine representative for Korea, and he mentioned that the southern climate is not suitable for the best growth of the grapes. All the wineries in Korea are in the central and northern parts of the country.  

I really enjoyed tasting the wines from the Mirasil Wolf Winery located in North Chungcheong Province (충청북도). Owned by a friendly retired couple, they decided to learn the art of winemaking and made a successful business out of it. They had a few varieties of fruit wines infused with blueberries, apricots, and apples which are locally sourced. My absolute favorite from their collection was called the Century Gold White Wine. The grape flavor was very straightforward and clean, and not overpowered by the alcohol. This wine would pair perfectly with a medium-rare steak. 

I was even able to get into the holiday season because there was one booth that everyone seemed to gravitate to which served up mulled wine. Gluhwein Korea is based out of Seoul and has perfected the art of mixing the best spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom to create a beautifully blended drink. It is best when served warm, and it instantly reminded me of Christmas – a celebration in a cup! Glühwein originated in Germany, and it is commonly enjoyed throughout the Christmas season. 

As I wandered over to the land of beer, I could see there were several booths offering imported beers in their selections. Many of the European countries were represented. The Wychwood Brewery from Whitney, England, had a choice of craft beers called Hobgoblin that came in either a smooth dark English ale or a citrusy golden English ale depending on your preference. 

There was a brewery from Anyang near Seoul that especially caught my interest. They were called Art Monster, and their story began when a famous journalist made the comment that Korean beer was not as delicious as other beers around the world. That sparked the motivation for the company to become the best craft beer they could be! Established in 2017, they have risen to fame, receiving many awards across Asia. They have a collection of six microbrews to choose from, and my favorite one to try was called Itaewon Freedom. It was very smooth while giving off notes of wheat, banana, and cloves. 

And lastly, the event would not be complete without a giant array of liquor to try out. Whether you are a whiskey lover, gin lover, or soju lover, you could find your favorite choice there. Busker Korea had four different types of Irish whiskey that ranged from fruity to spicy finishes. Guja Gin Seoul was voted to be the best sipping gin, and as a gin lover, I wholeheartedly agreed! With nine varieties made in their distillery, you have plenty of options depending on your mood. I also loved the Rainbow liquor, which is local to Gwangju, and they offered one signature flavor that consists of the perfect concoction of fruit and sweetness together. This liquor is bought with a set of glasses to enjoy over ice.  

Along with the alcohol booths, there were some food options as well. Many people flocked to the charcuterie spreads with premium hams and sausages, as well as traditional snacky foods like rice cakes and nuts.   

Overall, this was such a great chance to explore the world of alcohol all under one roof. Many people turned out for this event, which made it a huge success. I could see many people enjoying their time, and I believe it opened their minds to see lots of new ways to enjoy alcohol with family and friends.  

The Author 

Olivia Laurel is an English professor at Gwangju University and has been residing in South Korea since 2009. When she is not teaching, she enjoys creating art and has participated in several different art shows across the country. Her favorite medium to work with is painting with mixed media designs.