Jinro soju most-sold spirit in the world for 16th year

Hite Jinro’s Jinro soju retained its title as the world’s top-selling spirit brand by volume for the 16th consecutive year, according to the company Tuesday.

According to the UK-based magazine Drinks International, Jinro soju was the No. 1 selling spirit brand in 2016 with 73.9 million 9-liter cases sold. 

This is more than double the amount sold by the runner-up, Indian whisky Officer’s Choice from Allied Blenders and Distillers, which sold 32.9 million cases.

Local rival Lotte Liquor’s Chum Churum brand came in third place globally with 30 million 9-liter cases sold. 

Hite Jinro said that the company’s Chamisul soju brand has sold over 27.2 billion bottles to date, the equivalent of 677.4 bottles per Korean adult. The company’s Jinro soju lineup includes Chamisul Original, Chamisul Fresh and Chamisul 16.9, as well as the premium soju Ilpoom Jinro and Jinro Gold.

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)