This whiskey craze has even caught the attention of Shilla Hotel in Seoul, as they recently unveiled a novel product – the “Bingsuki” set, which ingeniously blends Honeycomb Apogato Bingsu with whiskey. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – The surge in whiskey’s popularity, leading to a surge in “home drinking,” is also translating into a growing trend in holiday gift sets. Whiskey sales, which constituted only half of wine gift sets just five years ago, have now escalated to a remarkable 90% this year.
This whiskey craze has even caught the attention of Shilla Hotel in Seoul, as they recently unveiled a novel product – the “Bingsuki” set, which ingeniously blends Honeycomb Apogato Bingsu with whiskey. The Honeycomb Apogato Bingsu is characterized by finely shaved milk ice crowned with luscious Jiri-produced honeycomb honey.
As per data disclosed by E-mart on Monday, a leading discount retailer, Chuseok whiskey gift sets witnessed a robust year-on-year sales growth rate: 16.3 percent in 2020, 39.5 percent in 2021, and 17.8 percent in 2022.
In response to this burgeoning trend, E-Mart is adding to customer perks by introducing whiskey as a pre-sale item for the first time this year, augmenting their selection with an array of thoughtfully curated sets. These include high-end collector’s items with notable value and more budget-friendly options suitable for crafting highballs.
Starting September 19, E-Mart will also roll out a variety of popular whiskey sets, including the likes of Valentine and Royal Salute, as part of their Chuseok gift set offerings.
The popularity of whiskey, which has led to the popularization of “home drinking,” is also extending to holiday gift sets. (Yonhap)
The convenience store industry is no exception to this whiskey wave. GS25, for instance, unveiled a lineup of 800 Chuseok gift sets at the end of last month, featuring sought-after products that were previously rare in Korea, such as the Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Milton 1949, a 72-year-old single malt whisky, limited to a mere 180 bottles. This product carries a staggering price tag of up to 100 million won.
In addition to these premium offerings, GS25 is also catering to a broader audience with 620 cost-effective products ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 won. As a retail store deeply connected with consumers, GS25′s product offerings are a reflection of the evolving tastes and preferences of their clientele.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
