Meet Minhwa Spirits | Award winning grain to glass distillery specializing in traditional Korean spirits

We had the good fortune of connecting with Minhwa Spirits and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Minhwa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
We’ve always been drawn to entrepreneurship and we’ve had many discussions about venturing out on our own for a while. We’re a little (a lot) older than we were when we met in middle school and with families of our own now we were both contemplative about our work and any type of legacies we might leave.

When the idea of a distillery was bounced around, we did our research and diligence into the idea and eventually got drawn into the idea of creating a true Asian American grain to glass distillery in the US that showcased a higher quality Korean spirit than what was available in the market. We felt a certain draw to show the world what traditional soju can and should be. In this way we’re trying to create a company and legacy that perhaps our children can grow into but also honoring the traditional world of Korean spirits.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At the onset of our business journey, we discussed a couple different options of how to structure our company and what we’d feel comfortable with. We decided to commit fully to the idea of becoming a true distillery and opted to purchase our own equipment and control the entire process from start to finish. We chose this approach because we wanted to ensure we could quality check every step of the process to put out the best representation of Korean spirits we could make and not be beholden to a manufacturer. Because of this commitment we’re one of the only true grain to glass distilleries in the world making Korean spirits in house. We are also one of the few Korean alcohol makers to be using the traditional ingredients of rice and nuruk to make our alcohol.

Conversely, because we chose this route, the road to getting up and running was an extremely long and difficult process of permits and approvals with multiple governing bodies to even start making our first batch. In the end, we felt it was worth it because it gives us the freedom to explore new products quickly and gives us a sense of pride in the products we make knowing that we took them from raw grains to bottled spirits.

At Minhwa Spirits, we are dedicated to celebrating not only tradition but also the vibrant culture that Asian Americans contribute to the United States. Our tasting room is designed to be a community hub where individuals from all walks of life can gather, enjoy delicious food, and enrich their understanding of each other. This commitment involves investing additional effort and resources to uplift the community as we grow. This focus is particularly significant given that Georgia has experienced the highest growth rate in its Asian population nationwide over the past two decades!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
James’ perfect itinerary would undoubtedly start with the first meal at any Waffle House in the city. An All Star Special is the perfect way to start a day. Throughout the week, we’d eat at many of the amazing restaurants along Buford Highway. Since Korean BBQ is my favorite meal, we’d also go to one of the places in the Duluth area for grilled meat over charcoal.

I’ll say that October has the best weather in Atlanta in my opinion so by then we’d go watch the Braves in the playoffs (of course) and get a spicy Korean Pork sandwich from Heirloom BBQ with a side of fries before the game.

There’s also not many things better than watching a football game at my alma mater GA Tech with the Midtown skyline in the background. But before heading there, I’d take them to one of my favorite places in the city, the Botanical Garden and a walk around Piedmont Park. I’m a fan of Momonoki down the street.

To thank me for my generous hospitality, my friend would no doubt offer to buy me dinner and I would gladly accept a meal at Bacchanalia as a token of appreciation.

Ming would definitely attend at least one game featuring United, the Braves, the Falcons, or GaTech. The South has a passion for sports like nowhere else! Dine along Buford Highway, Pleasant Hill, Clarkston/Decatur, and West Midtown to experience the incredible diversity of Atlanta’s culinary scene. It’s surprising how underground Atlanta’s vibrant food culture is. Visit an event at the Goat Farm to witness the eclectic and talented art community thriving here. Explore the Beltline (including Ponce City Market, Piedmont, and Krog Street) to get a glimpse of what the future of the city could look like.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
James would love to give a shout out to all the Asian entrepreneurs in all forms that have come before us and those continuing to push new boundaries. Especially my parents immigrating to the US and building a life for our family from the ground up. I’m continuously impressed by the forward thinking chefs advancing Korean cuisine as well. From local chefs in Atlanta to the those running Michelin starred restaurants around the world.

Ming would like to send a heartfelt thank you to my family and friends for their unwavering support. To everyone who has shared our story and enjoyed one of our products, your support is incredibly humbling!

Website: www.minhwaspirits.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minhwaspirits/

Twitter: https://www.threads.net/@minhwaspirits