Kooksoondang Launches Limited-Edition Fresh Makgeolli Made with This Year’s Rice Harvest
‘2026 First Brew Made with Newly Harvested Rice’ Limited to 21,000 Bottles
Kooksoondang will release a limited run of 21,000 bottles of ‘2026 First Brew Made with Newly Harvested Rice,’ a fresh makgeolli made with rice harvested this year.
The company has introduced the product every year without interruption since 2009, marking its 18th consecutive year. Cumulative production is expected to reach approximately 320,000 bottles this year.
The makgeolli is made with newly harvested ‘Eosajinmi’ rice grown in Hoengseong, Gangwon Province. The company uses approximately 3.4 metric tons of local rice, supporting regional rice consumption. The brewing process employs a raw-rice fermentation method, in which uncooked rice is ground into flour and fermented without steaming. The product has an alcohol content of 7% ABV and comes in 750ml glass bottles to help preserve its fresh flavor.
The product will be available at major retail outlets, including E-Mart, Lotte Mart, Hyundai Department Store, Lotte Department Store and GS The Fresh, as well as at Kooksoondang’s Hoengseong Brewery, Park Bong-dam and Baekseju Village.
A Kooksoondang representative said, “Because it is available only in autumn, when newly harvested rice comes into season, the product has developed a following of enthusiasts who look forward to its release each year. We continue to launch it annually for that reason, and every bottle sells out.”
