Have you ever had Korea’s national drink, Soju? Aside from the plain primary flavor, there are several more flavors to try, giving your drinking experience a distinctive twist.
Soju is a traditional Korean alcoholic beverage. It has grown in popularity in different places throughout the world. Furthermore, it is inexpensive and tastes fantastic when blended with other drinks or dishes.
Soju is a transparent liquor that contains 20–40% alcohol by volume (ABV). However, the fruit-flavored versions tend to fall on the lighter side of 20% ABV. It is a Korean product mostly consumed in Korea, Japan, and China but has swept across the globe.
Soju tastes similar to vodka but lacks severe alcohol burn since it has around half the alcohol. Additionally, it is a little more dense than vodka.
Soju is generally drunk with food but also works nicely in cocktails, and we’ve ranked our favorites from best to least favorite:
- Peach
- Green Grape
- Blueberry
- Strawberry
- Watermelon
- Apple
- Yogurt
- Pineapple
- Grapefruit
- Tangerine
We’ll briefly examine what Soju is before we start the countdown on the best Soju flavors while offering some food pairing and cocktail ideas.
What Exactly Is Soju?
Let’s start at the beginning; what is Soju? Soju is usually drunk with meals to balance out the flavors. It’s also a common feature of many festive events where people gather to rejoice. Soju is popular due to its versatility; it may be drunk on its own or as part of other drinks or cocktails.
Soju is a transparent liquor that contains 20–40% alcohol by volume (ABV). It is a Korean product mostly consumed in Korea, Japan, and China, but it has been gaining popularity across the globe.
Soju tastes similar to vodka but lacks severe alcohol burn since it has around half the alcohol. Soju is generally drunk with food but also works nicely in cocktails.
Soju was initially recognized to be produced during the Mongol invasions of the 13th century. Back then, the drink was made from various cereal grains such as rice, wheat, and barley. However, Soju was not Korea’s national drink until makers adopted modern distillation techniques in the 1960s.
Famous Soju Brands To Consider
Major firms, including Jinro, Lotte, and Hite-Jinro, now produce Soju. Jinro is the industry leader, accounting for more than half of the Korean Soju market. Lotte and Hite-Jinro are two more well-known manufacturers.
Chum Churum and Good Day are relatively new brands that have also entered the market. Soju is famous not just in the United States, Japan, and China. Still, it is also exported to several other nations.
What Does Soju Taste Like?
Here lies the crux of our whole article! What does Soju taste like? The main thing to know about Soju’s flavor is that it can vary significantly due to weak restrictions governing the components used to manufacture it. In general, Soju tastes like a low-alcohol, flavorless version of vodka, except it’s thicker and sweeter.
But the above doesn’t help us much now. If you’re buying unflavored Soju, it won’t have a taste — it is flavorless, neutral alcohol, which makes it an excellent addition to cocktails (just like vodka).
On the other hand, when soju makers start playing around with flavor additions, things tend to get very interesting. Apart from the traditional neutral-flavored variants, there is a host of different fruit flavors available, each representing the flavor of the fruit. We’ll look at the most popular flavors to determine the best ones.
How To Drink Soju
In South Korea, drinking Soju is a shared experience and is always enjoyed in a group. What’s more, it forms a part of people’s social lives, from celebrating births and graduations to even celebrating life at a funeral.
Never fill your glass, and when your Soju is handed to you, accept it graciously with two hands to show your respect to the person serving you. Following these basic rules of politeness will ensure your glass always stays topped up.
Ranking Soju Flavors
Taste is subjective, and while we may like one flavor over another, we would urge you to purchase Soju and experience it for yourself. Then, if you’ve discovered your favorites, why not get creative behind the bar and create your own one-of-a-kind cocktail? The only limit is your imagination!
1. Peach
When we think of peach-infused drinks, peach schnapps, Crème de pêche liqueur, and peach brandy comes to mind. Peach-flavored Soju is no exception in the long tradition of peach-flavored alcoholic beverages.
Instead of being an overpowering drink, it is rather aromatic and sweet, perfectly masking the alcohol — think of it as peach juice with a kick. And with this in mind, it is at the top of our list of best soju flavors.
Even if you don’t like alcoholic drinks or prefer to stay away from strong-tasting spirits because of the alcohol’s burning sensation, this is the perfect drink — enough alcoholic kick without a burning sensation.
The sweet taste also pairs beautifully with spicy dishes like curries and chili con carne.
2. Green Grape
If you aren’t fond of sweet flavors, as most of the options on this list will be, green grape flavor is just what the doctor ordered.
A balance between slightly bitter balanced out by sweetness, the green grape-flavored Soju has a gummy yet candy-like taste. It is a light and fruity flavor guaranteed to appeal to a wide range of tastes. It is also the perfect cocktail mixer for those who prefer more delicate cocktails.
Still, it is equally delicious on its own, served over ice or mixed with other beverages. Simple, fresh dishes like salads and light white meats like chicken or fish are the perfect partners to green grape-flavored Soju.
Because the flavor is refreshing rather than overly sweet or harsh, it is an excellent introduction to the world of flavored Soju for beginners who prefer a drink that’s not overly sweet.
3. Blueberry
Blueberry-flavored Soju is another tempting flavor on the market that deserves a try and, hopefully, a place in your bar after realizing how great it is. Imagine a blueberry pie or muffin without the extra sweetness, and you’re pretty close to the natural blueberry flavoring used in this unique version of Soju.
Mix up some of your favorite drinks with some blueberry soju — think spritzers, cosmos, or give an adult beverage twist to a refreshing lemonade.
Foods that will benefit from a pairing with blueberry soju include green salads with citrus-driven dressings, sushi, grilled shrimp, grilled salmon, and Hawaiian poke bowls (which, in turn, are inspired by Japanese cuisine like sushi). The key to enjoying blueberry soju with food is to keep it light and fresh.
So, when are you pouring yourself a glass of blueberry soju?
4. Strawberry
Strawberries are synonymous with summertime — strawberry-and-cream scones for high tea, strawberry milkshakes at the restaurant, and strawberry-based cocktails like the daiquiri. Natural strawberry flavoring is used when preparing this version of Soju.
While the flavoring might be mild, it still delivers that alcoholic punch it promises. For a fusion of East meets West, substitute the vermouth in a Martini, and you’ll end up with a Strawberry Martini.
Substitute orange juice with strawberries and mix up a frozen Strawberry Margarita, or spruce tonic water with an ounce or two of strawberry soju.
Because of its sweet and lightly sour flavor, strawberry-flavored Soju combines beautifully with a wide range of beverages, from fruit juice to soda water to substituting ingredients in cocktails.
In addition, strawberry soju is flexible enough to be used as the base for slushies and smoothies, making it an ideal choice for refreshing summertime drinks.
5. Watermelon
Watermelons and summer go together, and watermelon-flavored Soju might be our favorite summer drink due to its juicy and sweet taste. When natural watermelon flavor gets introduced and blended with natural Soju, you end up with a refreshing drink that’s bound to get any party started!
Like many others, you can enjoy his flavor chilled or on the rocks, mixed with other beverages, or up your cocktail game and explore the limitless possibilities. Keep your dishes simple, light, and fresh when pairing them with this variant.
6. Apple
Apple-flavored Soju captures the essence of apples and maintains the smell and taste of the fruit naturally. Suppose you’re new to the world of Soju, this is a highly recommended flavor to start your journey because of its pleasantly light and sweet apple flavor.
Because it isn’t overpowering in its sweetness or taste, it is popular among South Koreans. Spruce up your Appletini game and use some apple-flavored
7. Yogurt
Those who love sweet, creamy tastes are in luck because there’s even a yogurt-flavored version of Soju available! Before you think we’ve gone nuts, let us tell you that it’s not bizarre and tastes like delicious, creamy yogurt.
The excellent news for soju enthusiasts is that this one-of-a-kind flavor is now available in a bottle, eliminating the need to spike your Soju with yogurt or vice versa. But we recommend spiking your plain vanilla ice cream with some of this delectable Soju.
Drink it chilled and neat or on the rocks to fully appreciate this unique, creamy, yogurty flavor.
8. Pineapple
Unflavored Soju is a smooth and light alcoholic beverage that blends well with pineapple’s aroma and sweetness. We downvoted it because, despite its exquisite aroma and flavor, it still tasted artificial.
However, it’s not totally bad — the ideal drink for people who want to experience the Tiki lifestyle.
9. Grapefruit
Grapefruit soju has a zesty and refreshing taste and perfectly captures a grapefruit’s natural taste. In addition, grapefruit soju is ideally served cold or over ice, which brings out the drink’s naturally tart flavor.
If you aren’t too impressed with sweet drinks, this one’s a great option. It’s not as harsh as its citrus counterpart, but it’s also less sweet than the other selections on our list.
Perhaps we did not find it as appealing (i.e., lacking in sweetness) due to our Western palates that have been ‘trained’ to associate sweet flavors with ‘enjoyable’ beverages and sweet treats as a reward.
10. Tangerine
The first fruit-flavored Soju was tangerine-flavored, or as it is known in its homeland, Yuja flavor. It is believed that this flavor inspired the fruit flavor wave in the soju world. Yuja, also known as yuzu (Citrus junos), is a sour or tart citrus fruit, and the drink carries the same characteristics.
This version would be an exciting addition to any cocktail instead of lime or lemon juice. If you’re curious about the first fruit-flavored Soju, pop a bottle in your basket and try it at home.
If you don’t like the taste, you could always use it to marinate meat or prepare a citrus-based dressing for a green salad.
Conclusion
Fruit-flavored Soju versions are a fantastic choice for a refreshing cocktail on a hot summer day or as a lighter substitute for other spirits when enjoyed ice-cold or on the rocks. Its adaptability, low alcohol content, and wide range of fruity flavors make it a fantastic choice for any occasion.
So, why not try some fruit-flavored Soju now and discover your new favorite drink?
