If ever a liquor prospered in spite of being virtually unknown by much of the world, that liquor would be soju. You may never have heard of it until recently, despite that it’s the number one best-selling spirit by volume on planet Earth.
However, soju has stormed our shores with its clear, pure goodness, and it’s not going away anytime soon. This Korean liquor has an alcohol content between 20% and 40% and has long served the peoples of Korea, China, and Japan well. Like vodka, it tastes neutral but lacks that classic throat burn.
And the best part? It’s so good you can drink it straight with a meal, but it’s also an absolutely incredible cocktail foundation. And with so many different varieties of soju out there, you can have fun sampling them until you find your favorite.
So to complement our lists of the 7 best cocktails out there and the 6 top champagne recipes, here are the top eight soju cocktail recipes.
1. Soju Melona
The first thing you should know about soju is that it is versatile. Like a benevolent shapeshifter, it can form the basis of many drink types — including a slushie! This frozen cocktail is perfect for summer backyard parties.
To make the perfect soju melona for your next party, you’ll need a blender and ice along with the following ingredients:
- Prep Time 5 Minutes
- Cook Time 5 Minutes
- Total Time 10 Minutes
- Serves 1 People
- Calories 242 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 can of Sprite
- 2 Melona popsicles with sticks removed
- 1 bottle of soju
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients into the blender and mix until achieving the right consistency.
- If it needs to be thicker, simply add more ice and blend again.
- Pour into cocktail glass.
Notes
2. Yogurt Smoothie Soju Cocktail
If #1 wasn’t enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, this one will probably take care of any lingering cravings.
This cocktail is made with Yakult probiotic drink, which you can find in any Asian food market, as well as with any other cultured milk drink that’s got enough sweetness to it.
You’ll find the creamy sweetness of the cultured milk makes the alcohol flavor all but disappear.
- Prep Time 2 Minutes
- Cook Time 1 Minutes
- Total Time 3 Minutes
- Serves 1 People
- Calories 82 kcal
Ingredients
- 1 bottle of Yakult
- 1.5-2 fl. oz. of soju
- Sprite (optional)
Instructions
- Stir the Yakult together in equal parts with the soju
- Add Sprite (optional) if you prefer it carbonated
- Serve chilled
Notes
3. Soju Bomb
No respectable best-of list would be complete without the soju bomb. This cocktail is an OG in the world of soju cocktails: a blend of beer and soju that turns into the lowest-maintenance cocktail you can make.
- Prep Time 5 Minutes
- Cook Time 5 Minutes
- Total Time 10 Minutes
- Serves 1 People
- Calories 220 kcal
Ingredients
- Korean beer (Hite beer is great), otherwise a light lager
- Soju
Instructions
- Mix the beer and soju to your preferred taste
- Add more soju for a stronger cocktail
Notes
4. Cojinganmek
You’ll find a lot of soft drinks and beers in this cocktail list, and there’s a reason for that: this type of cocktail is wildly popular in Asia.
The cojinganmek mixes soju, beer, and good old-fashioned Coca-Cola — odd bedfellows, we’ll admit. Just wait till you try it.
- Prep Time 5 Minutes
- Cook Time 5 Minutes
- Total Time 10 Minutes
- Serves 1 People
- Calories 250 kcal
Ingredients
- 1.5 fl. oz. of soju
- â…“ glass of Coca-Cola, chilled
- 6 fl. oz. of beer (any light lager beer will do)
Instructions
- Gently mix the 3 ingredients
- Spir lightly with a cocktail spoon
- Add ice
Notes
5. Café Soju Cocktail
Are you a coffee lover? This soju cocktail may be right up your alley.
Never in short supply of creative avenues to pursue, soju has also gotten into the java world. All you need to make this cocktail happen is coffee and soju. However, a disclaimer is in effect: You do not need to blend your finest Ethiopian light roast brew to make your café soju. All you need is a standard canned coffee of your choosing.
- Prep Time 2 Minutes
- Cook Time 1 Minutes
- Total Time 3 Minutes
- Serves 1 People
- Calories 115 kcal
Ingredients
- ½ glass of black or creamed coffee
- 3 fl. oz. of soju
Instructions
- Mix the coffee and soju
- Stir lightly
- Add ice
Notes
6. Lemon Soju Cocktail
Refreshing and delightfully sweet, a lemon soju is the perfect way to end your day. As good in the summer as it is in the winter, this cocktail is a complex combo of sweet, sour, and bitter that tells a beautiful story in your mouth.
- Prep Time 5 Minutes
- Cook Time 2 Minutes
- Total Time 7 Minutes
- Serves 4-8 People
- Calories 200-300 kcal
Ingredients
- 6 fl. oz. of soju
- ½ cup of lemon juice
- ½ cup of granulated sugar
- ½ cup of lukewarm water
- 1 cup of sparkling water
- Several lemon slices
Instructions
- Mix the warm water and sugar
- Stir until the sugar is dissolved
- Add the rest of the ingredients
- Sitr lightly to avoid over-releasing the carbonation of the seltzer water
Notes
7. Soju Ale Cocktail
Forever one of the most generous cocktail ingredients, ginger ale lends its services to the cause here. Ginger ale, apple slices, and soju make a drink that looks as classy as a gin and tonic but offers a wildly different flavor.
Those crisp, tart green apple slices make the sweetness of the ginger ale pop, which, combined with the soju, make for an exciting ride. This is a great drink for energizing your partygoers, as the sourness definitely gives you a kick!
- Prep Time 2 Minutes
- Cook Time 3 Minutes
- Total Time 5 Minutes
- Serves 1-2 People
- Calories 100 kcal
Ingredients
- 3 fl. oz. of soju
- 6 fl. oz. of ginger ale
- Several apple slices
Instructions
- Mix soju with ginger ale
- Add ice and apple slices
- Stir lightly
Notes
8. Mojito Soju Cocktail
There are so many ways to do a mojito, but we bet you’ve never tried a soju mojito. This drink is a razzle-dazzler. It looks amazing, it smells amazing, it tastes amazing — so what are you waiting for? Get those glasses ready.
- Prep Time 3 Minutes
- Cook Time 2 Minutes
- Total Time 5 Minutes
- Serves 1 People
- Calories 100 kcal
Ingredients
- 3 fl. oz. of soju
- 1 halved small lime (set other half aside for garnishing)
- 2 sprigs of fresh mint (keep 2 sprigs extra for garnishing)
- 1 teaspoon sugar (preferably coconut sugar)
- Seltzer water
Instructions
- Add ice to cocktail glass
- Mix in all ingredients in order of listing
- Stir lightly
- Add garnish
