Why We Named It "Minhwa" (And Yes, It’s About That Derpy Tiger)
If you’ve watched the KPop Demon Hunters movie recently, you know exactly who Derpy and Sussy are.
You have Derpy, the massive blue tiger who looks like he has absolutely no thoughts behind his eyes, and Sussy, the suspicious little magpie who seems to be running the show. They are fan favorites for a reason, they’re hilarious, weird, and lovable.
But here’s the cool part: the animators didn’t just invent those designs out of nowhere. They pulled them straight from traditional Korean history. Specifically, from Minhwa.
And that brings us to why we put that name on our bottle.
Minhwa: The Original "Art for the People"
Literally translated, Minhwa means "people's art" (Min = people, Hwa = painting).
Back in the Joseon Dynasty, the elites had their serious, perfect ink landscapes. But the common people? They had Minhwa. It was art made by anonymous artists for regular folks. It wasn't about being perfect or prestigious; it was about warding off bad luck, celebrating life, and decorating humble homes.
The most famous style of Minhwa is Hojak-do (Tiger and Magpie). In these paintings, the tiger isn’t a scary predator. He’s depicted as foolish, friendly, and frankly, a little bit derpy. The magpie is usually yelling at him, mocking the "authority" he represents.
It’s satire. It’s funny. It’s the people poking fun at the elites.
Two Guys, One Grandpa, and a Bucket of Rice
When we started this soju journey, we realized we had way more in common with those anonymous folk artists than with the fancy "masters" of the alcohol world.
We aren’t third-generation master distillers from a 500-year-old dynasty. We don’t have a lab coat or a sterile factory. We’re just two guys who wanted to make something drinkable that connected us to our roots.
We started with zero knowledge. What we did have was James’ grandfather.
Grandpa wasn’t a scientist, but he was a legend in the kitchen. He passed down his traditional recipes for makgeolli, the cloudy, fermented rice wine that is the absolute soul of Korean drinking culture. (Fun fact: Makgeolli is the precursor to soju. You brew the makgeolli first, and when you distill that, you get the crystal-clear fire that is soju).
So, in the most literal sense, our spirit is Minhwa. It’s a "folk spirit."
It’s a recipe from a regular home, passed down through generations, made by two guys just trying to do right by the ingredients. It’s unpretentious. It’s accessible.
We Are The Derpy Tiger
We love the energy of the Minhwa tiger (and yes, the movie version too).
The Minhwa tiger isn’t trying to intimidate you from the top shelf of a VIP bar. It’s goofy. It’s approachable. It’s the kind of vibe you want when you’re actually hanging out with your friends.
That’s what we want our soju to be. We aren’t trying to be the "elite" drink that you’re scared to open. We’re the people’s drink. We’re the derpy tiger.
So, pour a glass, toast to James’ grandpa, and enjoy a little piece of art made by the people, for the people.
Geonbae! 건배!
