Best Soju Flavors

Flavored soju drinks are starting to have more of a presence in Western liquor stores, maybe unsurprisingly, as popular Korean culture is gaining more global attention. From The Squid Games to K-Pop and the four Academy Awards won by the Korean black comedy Parasite a couple of years ago, the Western world is developing a taste for everything Korean, and now you can enjoy the sweet taste of the best soju flavors as you watch Korean TV or listen to the latest K-Pop classics.

But which are the best flavors to try? There’s a wide range of fruity flavors that can be enjoyed straight on a hot summer day, as an accompaniment to spicy foods, or mixed into a refreshing cocktail recipe while out drinking with friends. 

Fruit-flavored soju is a great way to step into the soju world if you are unfamiliar with its neutral taste, with the slightly sweet taste of fruit juice and actual fruit making an even more refreshing drink than regular soju.

If you’re wondering which fruity taste to try first, here’s our league table of the best flavors of soju currently on the market.

Grapefruit Soju

If you enjoy the sweet-yet-tart taste of citrus fruits in a drink, then maybe you will agree that grapefruit is the way forward.

Neither too tart nor overly sweet, the grapefruit flavor works well with the unique taste of soju, and its palate-cleansing ability makes it perfect for sipping as you tuck into spicy Korean food, such as kimchi (a fermented cabbage dish), japchae (roasted vegetables with noodles), or gochujang saewu gui (grilled shrimp skewers).

Strawberry Soju

The refreshing taste of summery strawberries is ideal for those who love sweet flavors, and strawberry soju tastes more like an alcoholic fruit juice than a strong distilled spirit.

Its milder taste and fruity flavor make it perfect for sipping but versatile enough to use in cocktails, too. 

For an Asian twist on the James Bond classic, switch the vermouth in a martini for strawberry-flavored soju, or mix it into a summery strawberry margarita for a Mexico-Korea fusion drink.

Blueberry Soju

The light taste of blueberries may be less common in alcohol-infused juice drinks than strawberries and citrus fruits, but that just makes blueberry soju even better.

Its flavor is reminiscent of sipping vodka after eating a blueberry muffin and has the perfect balance of sweet flavor and a slight alcoholic kick, and it goes well with lighter foods, such as green salads or sushi.

Apple Soju

The light and sweet apple flavor in this flavored soju drink is perfect for those having their first soju experience.

Its subtle flavor won’t overpower your palate as some other drinks may, and it’s a popular choice in South Korea.

Replete with the gentle smells of orchards, apple soju can be enjoyed straight or added to your next batch of Appletinis.

Watermelon Soju

When it comes to a refreshing taste, cool and juicy watermelon is hard to beat.

Watermelon soju is another flavor that makes a great accompaniment to spicy foods.

But it can also hold its own, and when the summer is at its hottest, it’s perfect for making boozy watermelon slushies to sip in the shade and cool down with. 

Lychee Soju

The small, fleshy, sweet fruit of the lychee tree imparts a floral flavor on the palate, and lychee soju is another of the lighter-tasting soju flavors.

Perfect for sipping at your next lawn or pool party, the airy alcohol-infused juice can also serve as a substitute for St‑Germain, a French liqueur made with fresh elderflowers, in cocktail recipes.

Peach Soju

If you are a fan of peach iced tea drinks, you may well want to slide the peach-flavored soju a little higher in your rankings.

The natural hint of peaches and its sweet flavor mask any unpleasant alcohol tastes well, and keeping a bottle in your home bar provides an Asian alternative to European peach schnapps in fruity cocktail recipes.

Green Grape Soju

Slightly less sweet than some of the other soju flavors on the list, the green grape flavor finds a nice balance between booze and berry.

Its clean flavor works well with spicy Korean food, and it’s light enough to enjoy neat and versatile enough to experiment with the next time you throw a cocktail party.

Yogurt Soju

If you fancy something slightly different, yogurt soju, or ‘yoghurt soju’ if you’re European, may become your favorite flavored soju.

Yogurt soju is a creamier incarnation of the Korean spirit, and its flavor is similar to a Yakult vodka martini.

The creamy flavor is also perfect at calming down the after-effects of spicy food, which is quite common in Asia, and the velvety texture can spruce up cocktails.

Enjoy a mudslide? Switch the vodka for yogurt soju and dive in.

Yuja Soju

Of all the flavored soju on the list, this one may have you Googling to find out what ‘yuja flavor’ actually is. Outside of Korea and Korean products, the term ‘yuja flavor’ may be switched to ‘yuzu flavor.’

The yuzu fruit is a citrus fruit that hails from East Asia, and its aromatic flavor is both tart and fragrant, not wildly dissimilar to a mix of grapefruit and lemon juice, with hints of mandarin oranges.

Pomegranate Soju

The hand grenade took its name from the French for pomegranate – la grenade – and, despite its lowly position on our list, pomegranate soju is capable of unleashing a taste explosion in your mouth.

Its sweet and tart flavors are a little more bitter than the grapefruit-flavored soju, but it’s still a pleasant drink that can be enjoyed on its own or blended into a fruity cocktail.

Pineapple Soju

If you love the idea of a pineapple-flavored alcohol that evokes both the Caribbean and Asia, you may well place the pineapple soju a little higher in your rankings.

Pineapple-flavored soju wasn’t the best for us, as it tasted more like tinned pineapple than fresh, but it could work pretty well if you fancy a Pina Colada with an Asian twist.