Is soju stronger than sake?

About the same in the green bottles: soju sits around 16 to 20%, sake around 15%. Traditional soju can be much stronger.

Some is. Cheaper or sturdier sakes are often warmed, while fragrant premium ones like ginjo are usually served chilled.

Sake vs soju: what's the difference?

Sake is Japanese brewed rice wine at about 15%, soft and gently fruity, while soju is a Korean distilled spirit, usually 16 to 20% in the green bottles, clean and slightly sweet.

Sake

Easy

Boozy

Tart

Sweet

Not bitter

Bracing

Smooth and gentle, with rice, melon and flowers.

What does Sake taste like?

Soju

Easy

Boozy

Tart

Sweet

Not bitter

Bracing

Clean and lightly sweet, like a softer vodka; flavored ones taste of candy fruit.

What does Soju taste like?

The real difference

Sake is brewed from polished rice, more like beer than a spirit, and it isn't distilled. Soju is distilled, traditionally from rice and now often from starches like sweet potato or tapioca, then watered down. Sake tastes of rice, melon and flowers; mass-market soju tastes clean and faintly sweet.

Side by side

SakeSoju

FromJapanKorea

Made byBrewing riceDistilling rice or other starches

TastesRice, fruit, flowers, softClean, slightly sweet

ServedChilled, room temp or warmIce cold, in shots, or in soju cocktails

Which to order

Order sake if you want something to sip slowly with sushi or izakaya food.
Order soju if you want shots for the table at Korean barbecue.

Quick questions

Is soju stronger than sake?: About the same in the green bottles: soju sits around 16 to 20%, sake around 15%. Traditional soju can be much stronger.
Is sake served hot?: Some is. Cheaper or sturdier sakes are often warmed, while fragrant premium ones like ginjo are usually served chilled.