If you're looking for a new liquor adventure, leave the passport in the drawer, but grab your car keys! You're headed to the liquor store to pick up a bottle of soju. Soju cocktails are undoubtedly going to be your next favorite. With the softest whisper of sweetness and a base similar to vodka, you're going to fall in love with the Korean spirit soju.
What Is Soju and What Does It Taste Like?
Much like vodka, soju doesn't present any bold flavors at the front. Clear and colorless, distillers traditionally use rice, wheat, or barley when making it. However, today some use potatoes -- even sweet potatoes!
The different ingredients are the biggest source of the resulting soju flavors. Because of that, each soju can taste a little different, but generally, soju is crisp and clean and ever-so-slightly sweet with a gentle bite, with subtle undertones of whatever starch the distillers used. Above all, soju is a neutral spirit that's tasty both on its and in cocktails.
A Great Pear
Soju and pears make for a great pair. We'll show ourselves out. But first, we're going to enjoy this cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce soju
- 1 ounce pear vodka
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Rosemary sprig, pear slice, and lime slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, soju, pear vodka, and lime juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with a rosemary sprig, pear slice, and lime slice.
Soju Negroni
With soju instead of gin, the Campari becomes more of a star in this riff. But the sweetness of the soju and the starchy flavors keep the cocktail balanced.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces soju
- 1½ ounces sweet vermouth
- 1½ ounces Campari
- Ice
- Apple wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, soju, sweet vermouth, and Campari.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with an apple wedge.
Soju Citrus Swizzle
Prosecco bubbles are the perfect foil to the earthy, starch flavors of the soju in this fizzy cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce soju
- 1 ounce lychee syrup
- 1 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- 2 ounces prosecco
- Rosemary sprig and lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, soju, lychee syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass.
- Add prosecco.
- Garnish with a rosemary sprig and lemon wedge.
The Bee's Garden
Bumble your way through life's garden with this honey and soju cocktail in your hand.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces soju
- ¾ ounce limoncello
- ½ ounce honey syrup
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a coupe or Nick and Nora glass.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, soju, limoncello, honey syrup, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into the chilled glass.
- Garnish with a cherry pierced with a cocktail skewer.
Fuzzy Feelings
Allow the fuzzy peach flavors to fill your soul in this summer soju cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces soju
- 4 ounces white cran-peach juice
- Ice
- Vanilla club soda to top off
- Peach slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, soju, and white cran-peach juice.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with vanilla club soda.
- Garnish with a peach slice.
Soju in Springtime
Close your eyes and imagine cherry blossoms raining down around you in the springtime. That's this cocktail.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces soju
- ¾ ounce elderflower liqueur
- 3 ounces tart cherry juice
- 1-2 dashes plum bitters
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, soju, elderflower liqueur, tart cherry juice, and plum bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with a lime wedge.
Mixers for Soju
Looking for a quick cocktail or want to build your own soju experience? These will get you there.
- Club soda, plain or flavored
- Tonic water
- Lemonade
- Cherry juice
- Cranberry juice
- Lemon juice or lime juice
- Simple syrup
- Lychee syrup or juice
- Prosecco
- Honey
- Mango juice
- Lemon-lime soda
- Watermelon juice
- Iced tea
- Ginger ale
Step Into a World of Soju Cocktails
Go ahead, take a step outside of your comfort zone, and stir yourself into something new. Soju cocktails are bursting with flavor, ready for you to try. And after just one, we bet you'll be texting your friends about your new find. Let's get shaking!
