The world’s best soju is being made in Doraville, Georgia, shaped by Southern rice and the immigrant traditions of Buford Highway
Minhwa Spirits recently earned Best in Class for Soju at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It is the highest honor in the most respected spirits competition in the United States. For us, the win is about more than a medal. It represents the story of two Asian American founders who grew up in Doraville and learned the value of culture, food, and community along Buford Highway.
Co-founders Ming Han Chung, who came to Georgia at age two, and James Kim, who was born and raised here, both grew up surrounded by the restaurants, small markets, and immigrant businesses that shaped the area. Buford Highway taught us that tradition is kept alive through food and drink. It also taught us that community can take root anywhere. Those lessons became the foundation of our distillery.
Southern rice with Korean soul
Our award winning soju begins with rice grown in the American South. This rice is the heart of our spirits. It connects our craft to the region where we were raised. Korean tradition places rice at the center of fermentation, flavor, and ceremony. Using Southern grown grain to create a traditional Korean spirit reflects our identity as Korean Americans. It honors both our heritage and our home.
We combine this rice with traditional nuruk, time, patience, and a refusal to take shortcuts. There are no preservatives and no additives. Everything is grain to glass. This commitment to detail and authenticity is what helped our soju rise to the top among entries from Korea and around the world.
A Doraville story in every bottle
Minhwa Spirits exists because Doraville shaped us. Growing up near Buford Highway meant growing up around families who relied on craft, food, and tradition to build new lives in the South. Those restaurants and neighborhoods influenced the flavors we chase and the values we hold. Creating the world’s best soju here feels like a tribute to all the immigrant communities who made this area what it is.
Visit the Minhwa Spirits tasting room
Our tasting room in Doraville has become a gathering place for visitors from across the city. Eater Atlanta described it as a place that feels like your cool friend’s house, highlighting its role in the evolving culinary scene. It is where guests can experience our full lineup, learn about our fermentation process, and see how Korean tradition and Southern culture meet in the glass.
Proud to represent the South
We are honored to represent the South on a global stage. This win shows what is possible when heritage, craftsmanship, and community come together. The world’s best soju is not only made in America. It is made in Doraville, Georgia, by two kids who grew up along Buford Highway and wanted to preserve the traditions we inherited.
We invite everyone to visit our tasting room, meet the team, and experience the spirit that put Doraville on the map.
About Minhwa Spirits
Minhwa Spirits is a Korean American craft distillery located in Doraville, Georgia. We specialize in traditional rice based soju and Korean fermentation techniques made grain to glass with no additives. Founded by Ming Han Chung and James Kim, Minhwa Spirits is the most awarded American made soju in recent years and the winner of Best in Class for Soju at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
