We love to throw parties, and soju cocktails have become our favorite way to set the mood. Soju cocktails have been rising in popularity in recent years, especially among people who don’t want to serve the same old drinks. Soju is a traditional Korean distilled spirit that has a lower alcohol content than vodka resulting in soju cocktails that are delicious, refreshing, and light, perfect for any occasion.
As K-drama lovers, we all know what soju is since it is practically in every K-drama. And given how beloved the drink is in Korea it’s no wonder that soju is somehow featured in so many Korean TV shows and movies. Koreans will drink it on every occasion such as graduations, birthdays, going away parties, funerals, you get the picture. In fact, soju is not just alcohol, it really is a part of Korean daily life.
What might surprise you is that soju is also the # 1 selling liquor in the world. Since it is a clear, colorless distilled alcohol, it is often described as Korean vodka. However, it has half the alcohol content (about 20%) of vodka (40%).
With less alcohol content, soju cocktails make an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy the party without getting buzzed too early.
Here are 12 soju cocktail recipes to wow your friends, plus a bonus must-try soju mixer. Cheers!
1. Melona Soju Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients for 4 Soju Cocktails
- 1 bottle Soju
- 1 can Sprite
- 2 Melona Popsicles
- Some ice
- Fresh mint leaves and orange slice, garnish (optional)
Directions
- Blend this all together until it reaches a slushie consistency.
- Pour the soju cocktails into the chilled glass.
- Put orange slices and fresh mint leaves on the rim, and serve.
2. Soju Mojito
Ingredients for 1 Soju Cocktail
- 10 fresh mint leaves
- ½ lime, cut into 4 wedges
- 3 fluid ounces Soju
- 2 tablespoons white sugar, or to taste
- 1 cup ice cubes
- ½ cup Sparkling water
Directions
- Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass.
- Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice.
- Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar, and muddle again to release the lime juice.
- Do not strain the mixture.
- Fill the glass almost to the top with ice.
- Pour the soju over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water.
- Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.
3. Yogurt Soju
Ingredients for 1 Soju Cocktail
- 3 fluid ounces Soju
- 3 ounces Asian yogurt drink, plain or flavored, thawed if frozen
- 3 ounces lemon-lime soda, such as Sprite or 7UP
Directions
- Pour ice, the soju and yogurt drink Into a stainless steel cocktail shaker.
- Shake until ingredients are thoroughly chilled.
- Add the soda and stir.
- Strain into a glass and enjoy!
4. Soju Cosmo
Ingredients for 1 Soju Cocktail
- 1.5 ounces Soju
- 1 ounce Triple Sec (or Cointreau)
- 1.5 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- Orange zest twist, sugar rim, and fresh mint leaves, garnish (optional)
Directions
- Chill a martini glass in the freezer.
- Remove the glass from the freezer, rub the edge of the glass with a lime slice and dip it in sugar that you’ve spread on a plate.
- Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
- Add the soju, triple sec, and cranberry and lime juices.
- Cover and shake vigorously to combine and chill.
- Strain the cosmopolitan into the chilled martini glass.
- Twist the orange zest over the drink and fresh mint leaves on the rim and serve. Add a candy cane during the holidays.
5. Soju Sunrise
Ingredients for 1 Soju Cocktail
- 3 fluid ounces soju
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 3/4 ounce grenadine syrup
- Orange slice, for garnish
- High-quality maraschino cherry, such as Luxardo, for garnish
Directions
- In a highball glass filled with ice, pour in the soju and orange juice.
- Slowly pour the grenadine into the glass over the back of a spoon or by drizzling it down the side of the glass, allowing it to settle at the bottom.
- Garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry.
6. Soju Lemonade
Soju lemonade is a refreshing and easy-to-make cocktail that is perfect for warmer weather days.
Ingredients for 1 Soju Cocktail
- 2 oz of soju
- 4 oz of lemonade
- Ice
- Lemon slice (for garnish)
Directions
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Add the soju and lemonade, and stir.
- Garnish with a slice of lemon and enjoy!
7. Soju Martini
The soju martini is a delicious and sophisticated cocktail that is perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients for 1 Soju Cocktail
- 2 oz of soju
- 1 oz of dry vermouth
- Ice
- Lemon twist (for garnish)
Directions
- Fill a shaker with ice, add the soju and dry vermouth, and shake well.
- Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
8. Soju Sangria
Fill a punch bowl with soju sangria for a fruity and refreshing cocktail that is perfect for a summer party.
Ingredients for a Large Bowl of Soju Sangria
- 2 cups of soju
- 1 bottle of red wine
- 1 cup of orange juice
- 1 cup of pineapple juice
- 1 cup of mixed fruit (such as apples, oranges, and berries)
- Ice
- Mint leaves (for garnish)
Directions
- Combine the soju, red wine, orange juice, pineapple juice, and mixed fruit in a large pitcher.
- Stir well and refrigerate for at least an hour.
- Serve the sangria over ice and garnish with mint leaves.
9. Spicy Watermelon Soju Cocktail
Ingredients for 8 Servings
- ¼ cup of simple syrup
- 1/2 seeded and chopped serrano chile (about 1 Tbsp.)
- 3 cups cubed seedless watermelon (about 2 lb.)
- 3/4 cup (6 oz.) soju
- 1 (12 oz.) can watermelon-flavored or plain seltzer water
- Garnish: salt for rim, chile slices, and watermelon wedges
Directions
- Prepare ¼ cup of simple syrup; remove from heat. Stir in seeded and chopped serrano chile. Cover and steep for 30 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl; discard solids. Cool to room temperature for 1 hour.
- While the syrup cools, process cubed seedless watermelon in a blender until smooth for 2 to 3 minutes. Working in batches, pour watermelon puree through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl; discard solids.
- Pour the watermelon juice into a 2- to 3-qt. pitcher. Stir in soju, watermelon-flavored or plain seltzer water, and cooled syrup. Salt the rims of 8 Collins glasses, and fill them with ice. Pour cocktail evenly into glasses; garnish with chile slices and watermelon wedges.
10. Soju Royal Hawaiian
Ingredients for 1 Soju Cocktail
- 1.5 ounces soju
- 1 ounce unsweetened pineapple juice
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ½ ounce orgeat syrup
- Pineapple slice/wedge and mint leaves, garnish (optional)
Directions
- Shake all ingredients except gin with ice.
- Strain into a Collins glass with crushed ice, and layer gin on top.
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge.
11. Soju Citrus Cocktail
Ingredients for 1 Soju Cocktail
- 3 ounces Soju
- 2 ounces grapefruit juice
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 ounce lychee syrup
- soda water
- Grapefruit slice/wheel and mint leaves, garnish (optional)
Directions
- Fill a glass with crushed ice and grapefruit wheel.
- Shake grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and lychee syrup on ice and strain into the glass.
- Layer Soju on top and add a splash of soda water.
12. Soju Jello Shot
Ingredients for 20 Servings
- 3 ounces blue raspberry flavored gelatin mix
- 1 cup boiling water
- ½ cup cold soju
- ½ cup cold water
- 20 Peach ring gummies
- 20 Gummy bears
- 20 1oz Clear Plastic Disposable Cups
Directions
- On a tray set out your cups, set aside for later. This is also a good time to make sure you have room in your fridge for the tray of jello shots.
- In a large measuring cup with a spout or a mixing bowl with a spout add 1 cup of boiling water and your jello.
- Whisk until the jello is all dissolved.
- Add in your ½ cup of soju and ½ cup of water. Whisk again.
- Carefully pour the mixture into the cups almost all the way up.
- Place them in the fridge for at least 3 hours or until they are set. (overnight is recommended)
- Place a gummy ring on each one and then cut a gummy bear in half and stick one in each ring.
- Place a gummy ring on each one and then cut a gummy bear in half and stick one in each ring.
- These will stay good in the fridge for a week!
Bonus: Somaek
Somaek is a popular alcoholic beverage in Korea that is made by mixing soju with beer. The name somaek is a combination of the Korean words for soju (soju) and beer (maekju).
Somaek is often served in bars and restaurants in Korea, and it is particularly popular among young people. It is also commonly consumed at outdoor festivals and gatherings. The combination of the two drinks creates a unique flavor that is both sweet and bitter.
Check out this video on how to make somaek: