Jongno whisky bar Glenmorangie flight and perilla ice cream: Hanuk

Where Hanuk is and what the basement bar feels like

Hanuk is a bar in a basement space at 18 Samil-daero 19-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, serving Korean-style traditional liquor and whisky together. It's a 1–2 minute walk from Jongak Station Exit 12, so it's really easy to find.

From the moment you step down from the ground floor, the calm low lighting and the interior that reworks hanok (traditional Korean house) structure in a modern, upscale way grab your attention right away! The seating is spacious and settled, making it a great spot for a Jongno date course or for enjoying a relaxed solo drink.

The mix of quiet Korean charm and modern sensibility means a lot of foreign tourists come here too, and I thought there's no better place to bring a foreign friend and introduce them to great Korean bar culture.

With no cover charge, every guest gets a welcome drink and snack as standard, which made the whole experience feel that much better.

A Korean-style bar I fell for last time because of the signature cocktail — and came back to. Full of Korean charm, a great cocktail bar to bring a foreign friend to: the Glenmorangie Tour.

The welcome sujeonggwa and yakgwa served first

Once you're seated at Hanuk, the first thing they bring out is a fragrant sujeonggwa (cinnamon punch) and a sweet, chewy yakgwa (honey cookie) as a pre-drink starter. It looked gorgeous, and the thoughtful touch really showed off the Korean-based bar concept — a lovely surprise right from the start!

What we ordered: the Glenmorangie Tour, 54,000 won

Glenmorangie Tour, ₩54,000. Today I ordered the Glenmorangie Tour, which lets you carefully compare and taste four of Glenmorangie's signature whiskies, each finished with a different wine cask technique.

Perilla oil ice cream from Hanuk's receipt review event

If you take part in the review event, they give you this perilla oil ice cream too — pair it with the sweet potato chips that come alongside and it's so good, definitely check it out!! Whisky and ice cream together — need I say more, it's so tasty.

Tasting the four Glenmorangie whiskies side by side

Glenmorangie Lasanta

The first glass, Glenmorangie Lasanta, is finished in sherry casks, and the gorgeous, bright fruit aroma with a soft, sweet flavor that wraps around your mouth was really impressive.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban

The heavy yet bittersweet dark chocolate aroma unique to port wine casks spread gently, leaving a long, deep finish!

The bartender said it pairs well with chocolate and brought some out for us.

And they also brought out this gangjeong (Korean rice puff snack) platter — Hanuk really packs its snacks full of Korean character too, which makes this a very charming cocktail bar near Jongak Station with a clear concept all its own.

Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or

True to its upscale dessert wine cask, it gave off a sweet honey flavor and a sugary aroma, making it easy and refreshing to savor without any heaviness!

Glenmorangie Signet

A deep, rich espresso aroma along with nutty roasted coffee bean notes filled my mouth with real weight, giving it the standout finish and aura you'd expect from the signature line!

Final verdict: who will enjoy Hanuk most?

After being impressed by the cocktails on my last visit, today's Glenmorangie Tour and the Korean-style welcome food made everything click — I'm really glad I came back to Hanuk. It's a cozy, Korean-feeling space, so introduce it to a foreign friend, or if you love upscale whisky or cocktails near Jongak Station, definitely stop by.

• A Korean-atmosphere whisky bar near Jongno/Jongak that's great for introducing to a foreign friend
• For whisky enthusiasts who want to compare Glenmorangie's various cask-finish lineup as a course
• For anyone who wants a calm, tidy space to have a deep, comfortable conversation with someone special