All three expressions in CJ Foods' premium Korean distilled spirits line, jari, took home medals at both the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) and the 2026 International Spirits Challenge (ISC) — a clean sweep that arrives just weeks before the brand's planned U.S. debut this fall.
The entered products — jari Moonbaesool 24, jari Moonbaesool 41, and jari Gamuchi 24 — competed blind against international spirits at two competitions widely ranked alongside the San Francisco World Spirits Competition as the world's most authoritative. At the IWSC, jari Moonbaesool 24 scored 94 points and earned Silver, while jari Moonbaesool 41 scored 91 points for Silver and jari Gamuchi 24 took Bronze. The ISC results were even stronger: jari Moonbaesool 24 claimed Gold, and both jari Moonbaesool 41 and jari Gamuchi 24 received Silver medals.
What the Medals Signal
For U.S. beverage directors and importers watching the rise of K-food culture, these results carry real weight. IWSC and ISC panels judge through blind tasting by expert panels, meaning the scores reflect product quality alone, not brand recognition. Judges cited jari's delicate fruit aromas, smooth mouthfeel, and well-balanced flavor profiles — descriptors that position these spirits alongside premium aged Asian whisky and baijiu expressions already finding their way onto craft cocktail menus nationwide.
The jari lineup is rooted in Korean traditional distillation. Moonbaesool 24 and Gamuchi 24 were developed in collaboration with Moonbaesool Brewery and Danong Bio, and both expressions are matured in traditional onggi earthenware vessels — a production detail that differentiates them sharply from the mass-market soju familiar to most U.S. consumers. The brand name references the Korean word for a gathering place where people share food and drink, a positioning that aligns directly with the growing operator interest in Korean food and beverage pairing experiences.
U.S. Launch Context
CJ Foods, the food business unit of CJ CheilJedang and the company behind the globally distributed bibigo brand, launched jari Moonbaesool 24 and jari Gamuchi 24 in Korea in July 2026. The U.S. rollout this fall will lean into K-food pairing as a core narrative — a smart move given the sustained momentum of Korean cuisine across restaurant and foodservice channels in North America.
"We are delighted that jari's quality and craftsmanship have been recognized at globally renowned spirits competitions," said Sungjin Oh, K-Spirits Team Lead at CJ Foods. "Going forward, we will continue to promote the appeal of Korean distilled spirits through collaborations with Korea's outstanding distilleries, while enabling consumers around the world to experience Korean food culture in richer and more diverse ways through jari."
For operators building beverage programs around global spirits or seeking premium food-and-drink pairing concepts, jari's award pedigree and premium positioning make it a credible addition to the conversation as K-culture continues to influence foodservice trends. Food & Beverage Magazine has tracked the rapid expansion of Korean-inspired beverages across both on-premise and retail channels as consumer appetite for authentic, heritage-driven products deepens.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
