Our Story.

Carolyn, born in Los Angeles, CA, saw in Yobo the chance to create a modern American-made soju. Its first bottle was produced in the New York Finger Lakes in 2015, and since then the journey has been anything but simple.

Entrepreneur.
Beyond the liquid itself, she aimed to make a statement about her identity as a Korean American female entrepreneur. Defying the stereotypes of ‘traditional’ soju, Carolyn created America’s first craft soju, one produced in the New York Finger Lakes and made entirely from local grapes.

Unity.

More than a word we call each other, Yobo is a symbol for unity. In one home the word yobo unifies two people together in creating a home, raising good children, and becoming entrepreneurs. In other homes, the word can unify something completely different altogether. Regardless of path, perspective, or origin, we journey through life hand-in-hand with those who give us their trust and strength.

Korean + American.

The first bottle of Yobo was created in the New York Finger Lakes along Seneca Lake. While its origin is Korean, its identity is a fusion of Korean and American cultures, a balance between heritage and home, of homage and exploration, and of tradition and invention. As a brand, we celebrate that which makes each of us unique and diverse.

Origin Story.
Forbes
Travel + Leisure
Eating Well
Reader's Digest
ABC News - Good Morning America
American Distillers
Good Housekeeping
Uncrate
yobosoju
Yobo drinks’ summer tasting series is back! This summer’s tasting tour kicked off with a special pre-summer stop in Claymont, Delaware on May 6th. And the tour kicks off in earnest on June 17th in Las Vegas, Nevada. We’ll be pouring Yobo Soju Luxe and Hunni Sparkling Soju at every stop. And for the first time ever, we’ll also be sharing Hunni K. Town soju at select tastings. We’ll be adding more tastings, events, and details frequently over the next few months.
We are truly excited for the premier of @joyridemovie tonight at CAAMFest 2023! And we're truly proud to partner with @caamedia for tonight's opening gala! We hope to see you there. Cheers to a great night!
Today, we raise a virtual toast to @foodandwine in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. We couldn't be more excited to be a part of this year's Food & Wine Classic in Aspen from June 16th - June 18th! Our CEO, @john1noe, and the one and only @kristenlkish will be there and pouring Yobo_Kish. Stay tuned for more updates!
As we celebrate #aapiheritagemonth, we wanted to take just a moment to look back and take stock. Our journey started with a simple thought from our founder, @carokimm -- When you can’t find what you’re looking for, you need to create it. Since then... We've gone from 1 bottle made in the NY Finger Lakes in 2015 to a full line of premium Asian American spirits distributed in 33 states and Korea. 500 cases sold in 2020 became nearly 20,000 cases sold in 2022. Yobo Soju Luxe was rated the #1 soju globally by @tastingtable. We partnered with the one and only @kristenlkish to launch the world's first line of Asian American aperitifs. And, we're so very close to introducing the world to KTOWN soju. Our journey is far from over. We are proud of where we've been. We're excited for where we're going. And, it has been a privilege to share our journey.
A bit of insight into the inspiration for Yobo from our founder, @carokimm "I was inspired by all the Korean and Korean-inspired chefs and restaurants that were making waves in the U.S., particularly in New York. They used traditional flavors while maintaining their unique vision and execution. We wanted to add to the conversation of Korean-American culture by creating a modern, high-quality soju to match what these chefs were doing in the kitchen."