South Korea is seeing its prime temperatures these days as spring transitions to summer. We can finally rely on breezy, balmy weather when we leave the house; coats and jackets are officially being hung up in the closet until fall; and shorts and sandals are being brought back into our daily wardrobe.
I love this time of year, even though it doesn’t last long and, if anything, is a soft warning sign that the dreadfully hot and humid summer season is just around the corner. This perfect, fleeting, in-between weather makes me want to sit back, soak up, and savor every minute of it while it’s here. Can anyone else relate? There’s just something about the first signs of summer that make me want to slow down.
In the spirit of sitting back, soaking up, and slowing down, I was at home one evening, binge-watching The Crown, and wishing I had a glass of wine to sip on. But the only alcohol I had in the fridge was a bottle of soju. Soju is just one of those alcohols that are taken either as straight shots or mixed with beer. If you’re new to soju, it’s a clear distilled rice liquor that tastes somewhat like a weaker, slightly sweeter vodka. It’s rare to see a soju cocktail on any menu in Korea. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get creative in the comfort of our own home, does it? So, using what I already had in my fridge, I mixed up the perfect, most refreshing summertime soju cocktail.
Oranges and basil are the main ingredients in this recipe, but feel free to switch up the ingredients to your liking. Not a huge fan of basil? Swap it out for mint. This recipe can be easily adapted to suit your liking, and just a few swaps can quickly make this drink a delicious soju mojito. But be warned — the taste of soju in this drink is subtle, and this drink goes down easily. So, sip slowly and drink responsibly. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 3 ounces (2 shots) of plain soju
- Half an orange
- A teaspoon of honey
- Juice from 1/4 of a lemon
- A few basil leaves
- Soda water
Directions
- Muddle the orange, basil, honey and lemon juice together. If you don’t like it chunky, you can simply juice the orange instead of muddling it.
- Pour the muddled mixture in a glass.
- Add ice.
- Add 2 shots of plain soju. Any kind works, but ABV can vary depending on the brand, so make sure you know how strong your soju is beforehand.
- Fill soda water to the top.
- Stir and enjoy!
Craving This Now 