Korean Boilermaker: Heritage Versus Experiences with Tokki Soju
While the exact origins of the Boilermaker is unclear, it was almost certainly popularised during the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, where blue collared workers in the factories enjoyed a shot of whisky with a beer at the bar after a day of labour. The name likely takes after those who built and maintained locomotive engines, thus the moniker "boilermaker".
When our resident K-Bartenders first learnt of this Western-originated cocktail, the similarities to Korean culture and traditional drinking practice of “poktanju” - commonly known as the bomb shot - struck. The ritual entails dropping a shot glass filled with either soju or whiskey into a pint of beer, before sharing a clink with colleagues and friends.
In IDENTITY, we looked to explore how one’s experiences meet and transcend our geographical belonging and culture that result in cocktails that go beyond boundaries, standing on their own as a truly international cocktails. And aptly located in Tanjong Pagar, also known as Singapore’s little Korea, Jigger & Pony’s Korean Boilermaker showcases globalisation with the incorporation of Korean elements within the larger culture of bartending rather than merely substituting Korean ingredients into a drink.
Korean Boilermaker: Tokki Soju Black, Michter’s Rye Whiskey, hops, passion fruit, carbonated
Taking the playfulness of the somaek (soju bomb) and the essence of the classic Boilermaker, the Korean Boilermaker is a well-crafted hybrid. The base spirit is Tokki Soju Black, an artisanal spirit born in Brooklyn and handcrafted in Chungju. Distilled with only glutinous rice, water and nuruk - a traditional Korean fermentation started made with wheat and barley - the label was created by distiller Brandon Hill and Korean American CEO Douglas Park. Initially designed to plug a gap in the US market where only commercial soju was available at the time, Tokki Soju’s smooth, rich and pure flavours quickly found a following in the U.S and other parts of the world.
In reimagining the beer element, we infuse the soju with Citra hops (known for its complex flavours of citrus, tropical fruits, and bitterness) and passionfruit for a taste profile reminiscent of an IPA. With a vanilla-like sweetness from Tokki Soju Black, they combine perfectly for a Korean Boilermaker that is always close to the taste of ‘home’, no matter wherever it travels to in the world.
Carbonated for a fresh and textured palate, the Korean Boilermaker’s playful presentation with a block of ice on a customised stirrer invites you to "bomb" your drink by lifting up the ice for a splashing good time!