Discover the Award-Winning ‘ChamCham’ Makgeolli: Traditional Korean Brew Takes Top Honors in 2026

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Chilgok-based brewery Chilbaekjujo announced on the 9th that ChamCham, its unpasteurized makgeolli, took home the grand prize in the traditional rice wine category at the 2026 Korea Liquor Awards.

ChamCham is a 500 mL (about 16.9 fl oz) unpasteurized makgeolli with a 7% ABV. Made using the traditional o-yangju infusion method, it ferments and ages for more than 60 days. The brewery follows a time-honored multiple-pouring technique—adding fresh mash several times—to build depth and complexity.

Its ingredients include Baekjinju rice and Korean melon, both grown locally in Chilgok.

Both ingredients are GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) certified, ensuring safety and traceability.

Chilbaekjujo has developed a farm-brewery model that sources raw materials directly from local farmers.

A Chilbaekjujo representative said, “We aimed to craft a faithful, traditional drink using GAP-certified ingredients and classic fermentation methods. We’ll continue introducing traditional liquors that highlight the value of regional agricultural products.”

This year marked the 13th Korea Liquor Awards. Launched by Chosun Biz in 2014, the competition seeks to discover standout domestic liquors and promote a responsible drinking culture.

A total of 260 companies entered 1,118 brands this year, making it the largest domestic tasting competition covering all beverage categories. Of those entries, 449 brands received grand prizes.