GS25 runs out of Won Soju Spirit, and blames the brew

Models display Won Soju Spirit, a type of distilled soju sold by Jay Park’s Won Spirits. [GS RETAIL]

GS25 flubbed the debut of Won Soju Spirit by not ordering enough. It's now caught short and rationing deliveries to individual franchises.

The company purchased 200,000 bottles of the brew and starting selling the product on July 12. By Tuesday, it was all gone.

Won Spirits, which makes the soju, is owned by Jay Park, a rapper and a record producer.

Won Soju Spirit is a distilled soju and the second product introduced by Won Spirits. Unlike the company's first product, called Won Soju, it isn't aged in onggi, traditional Korean earthenware.

Individual GS25 convenience stores are unable to order more from GS Retail until July 25.

At first, each branch was limited a dozen bottles per week. That was cut to six on Monday. On Tuesday, GS Retail took away the punch bowl.

The company blamed the soju, saying that because of the way it's made, it takes more time to make.

Sales of Won Soju Spirit was the highest for all alcoholic beverages at GS25 between July 12 and 18. Oriental Brewery's Cass beer or HiteJinro's Chamisul soju are normally the biggest sellers in the alcoholic beverages category.

Won Soju Spirit was top dog, that is, until it ran out.

Among GS25s, 15,482 ordered the Won Soju Spirit while it was available. During that period, 15,380 ordered of Cass beer and 15,204 ordered Chamisul soju.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]