Make sure to hold your shot glass with both hands while receiving the drink, which is also a sign of respect. Starch or grain aside, soju’s the go-to booze for Korean celebrations. Don’t add ice to the drink because it is typically served as a small pour and taken as a shot. “In a fun way, it’s kind of a dangerous … You can shoot it, sip it, or sub it in cocktails. It's made by fermenting and then distilling a mixture that contains mainly rice and a blend of wheat, barley, and even sweet potatoes and is clear and mainly tasteless, much like vodka.Soju's alcohol percentage can range greatly, from 16 to 45 percent (32 to 90 proof, also similar to vodka). When someone is pouring you a drink, soju etiquette states that you should lift and hold your cup with both hands. This act is said to date back to the old days when sediment was deposited into the bottles during production. Cojinganmek (Cola + Soju + Beer) A very interesting twist to the original Soju Bomb. Soju Yakult. “People can drink it with a meal, or with anju — snacks like nuts and dried fish.” The Korean diet is … WRONG! I named this infusion “Penicillin” since I drew inspiration from the whiskey cocktail of the … Jinro Soju is a clear, neutral spirit akin to vodka, with … The experience of drinking soju is a bit like synchronized swimming, requiring a delicate ballet that navigates the social highway. By using our site, you agree to our. It should be drunk with food and usually in company. A hole in a wall at a Korean barbeque place, the quasi-cacophony of K-Pop, and a cute lass offering you a glass of Soju; all the commercials of this drink … However, the tradition has remained. Research source The answer is a soju bomb, also called somaek, the perfect drink when catching up with friends, even virtually. While “Soju Bars” are a trendy thing in the US, they simply don’t exist in Korea. He enjoys cultural experiences and exciting adventures and is not a stranger to travelling alone. When you’re ready to serve it, swirl the bottle around for a couple of seconds, then slap the bottom of the bottle with your palm. I blame my burgeoning K-drama addiction for that last one. The act of pouring your own drink is frowned upon in Korea and often considered rude. The first Soju I tried was Pyongyang Soju, which is probably my favourite. This article has been viewed 82,743 times. Brewing soju can be done in approximately three weeks at a cost (in 2010) of … Whenever we watch Korean dramas or movies where the characters are having a meal, is there anything more refreshing than hearing that “aaaaah” sound they make right after downing a shot of soju? Free to drink as much I liked, just tallying up the total at the end and paying accordingly. The person who flicks the end piece off of the cap wins; everyone else drinks. Some drinkers opt to shake the bottle instead of swirling. Learn more... Soju is a traditional Korean spirit that is best served cold and neat (with no ice). No drinking without eating. The recipe is simple: mix together 2 shots of soju with a half glass of your beer … In addition to drinking it with food, the way it’s traditionally served is also important. For Asians, the value of filial piety is a deeply-rooted tradition in our culture. Guinness doesn’t mute the soju, making it harder to drink, or complement it in any way, making it less fun to drink. “In a fun way, it’s kind of a dangerous alcohol,” says Max Soh, general manager and beverage director of New York’s intimate and chic Korean restaurant Oiji. Instead, if you spot an empty glass on the table (make sure it’s empty and not half full), offer to fill it up but not your own. All that’s left to do now is to shout “ganbae” (which means bottoms up)! The most famous brand Jinro sells nine million bottles every day. Chill the bottle of soju in the refrigerator for a few hours if you are drinking at home. This delicious drink is a simple mixture of kiwi juice, soju and ice. Unlock staff-researched answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/a16752958/soju-korean-liquor/, http://www.slate.com/articles/life/drink/2013/08/soju_drinking_tips_the_ceremony_mixology_and_regret_of_korea_s_worldwide.html, https://thetakeout.com/a-starter-guide-to-soju-one-of-the-world-s-most-popula-1798256991, https://www.liquor.com/articles/korean-soju/, https://goghism.com/blog/how-to-drink-soju/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Never drink Soju from the bottle. content enquiries. Place 2 cups white rice in colander and rinse in cool water. Soju drink combinations. The answer is a soju bomb, also called somaek, the perfect drink when catching up with friends, even virtually. Brewing soju, a Korean rice wine, saves money and enables you to adjust the alcohol and sugar content to your personal tastes. The closest we would offer to a “soju drink tour” would be our All Koreas Tour, which will let you drink soju … I like a drink, but BaiJiu is frankly putrid. As seen in Itaewon Class when Saeroyi (PSJ) goes drinking with his staff, he’s usually the first one to pour them a shot. But in the end, it wasn’t me, it was you. Instead, if you spot an empty glass on the table (make sure it’s empty and not half full), offer to fill it up but not your own. Somaek is the combination of soju and beer (maek-ju) both literally and physically. Soju is an alcoholic beverage from Korea that became popular because of the Hallyu wave-this green-tinted bottle is always offered in Korean barbecue restaurants and you can see this drink in most Korean dramas, too. … The person who sinks the shot glass is the loser, and must drink the beer/soju mixture (called somek). It’s also the best selling alcohol in the world. A popular local favorite is the kiwi soju cocktail. Most soju bottles are made with a metal cap that twists off easily. While many of these rules don’t apply when you’re drinking with your close friends, they are still super important to remember if you want to be polite when drinking with others! Soju is usually drunk straight. To drink soju, serve it cold and without ice for the best flavor. Soju runs through the blood of the Koreans. After that though, feel free to sample the drink (and it’s many different varieties and flavours) at a leisurely pace. In addition, it is also good to slightly bow your head when receiving a drink as a sign of respect. Soju Always Brings the Party . Soju cocktails are appearing up and down the West Coast (including at Dodger Stadium, where concessioners sell bottles of Jinro’s Chamisul adorned with Psy’s face), and because lobbyists … When pouring a drink for someone, it is always polite to use both hands. Image via Google. Beer and soju can be mixed to create somaek (소맥), a portmanteau of the words soju and maekju … when Saeroyi (PSJ) goes drinking with his staff, he’s usually the first one to pour them a shot. Soju is usually drunk straight. In fact, one of the only times this doesn’t happen is right at the beginning when he’s enjoying a meal with his father. Many people choose to continue to take shots, just because the “rubbing alcohol” flavor of the soju doesn’t make it very pleasant for sipping. If you are … Whoever breaks the tail has to take a shot of soju. While soju is typically a nice drink to enjoy sip by sip, you should down it in one go if it’s your first shot. “As a mixed drink, we prefer to a shot of soju mixed with a glass of local lager beer. Seoul-jito. Drink this Korean alcohol from small shot size glasses. The drink starts … Because they’re restaurants. The rule of thumb is simple: you do NOT fill your own glass. Koreans never pour this traditional liquor in their own glasses, as it serves as a social beverage. Never drink Soju from the bottle. Penicillin. Also read: Eating in South Korea: Korean Dining Etiquette 101. In my mind, this is a bit of an abomination! Light and crisp with a little bit of complexity, this is the perfect pairing for those who either find the taste of Korean beer to be plain or the taste of soju to be harsh. Soju is a common, highly potent alcohol in Korea. Because of the nature of the tradition—the constant pouring of rounds to keep glasses full—it is easy to consume a lot of alcohol and become very intoxicated. In the midst of this elegant choreography, I managed to do a full cannon ball by picking up my drink before everyone had been served. Yes, while soju is a truly enjoyable drink, there are certain customs associated with drinking it. "It's very interactive," says Simon Kim, the owner of Cote, a new and … This delicious drink is a simple mixture of kiwi juice, soju … Just like the rule about receiving drinks, this rule can be ignored when drinking with close friends. The experience of drinking soju is a bit like synchronized swimming, requiring a delicate ballet that navigates the social highway. Following Korean tradition, soju should be consumed as a communal drink – and consumers should never pour their own soju. “You could drink soju with pickled herring, with Russian food, with Swedish food,” says Kim. As incredibly as it sounds, that’s actually being polite! wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. (Remember to hold your glass with both hands while they pour.). The Soju Bomb (aka Somaek) resembles its cousin, the Sake Bomb, when the is shot posed on chopsticks above a glass (or lined up in an epic … If the shot glass is super small, as they usually are, hold it with your left palm and use your right hand to support it. For the uninitiated, soju is a traditional Korean liquor made with rice, wheat, or barley. Brewing soju can be done in approximately three weeks at a cost (in 2010) of less than $1 a cup in Fresno, California. What you can do is twist the “tail” of the cap into a spiral and everyone at the table takes a turn flicking it. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. You may also bang the bottom of the bottle against your elbow instead of slapping it with your palm. The drink starts … The bottom of the glass is tapped with a spoon to trigger the beer's carbonation, which mixes the drink. Hold the shot glass with two hands when receiving drinks. Soju Always Brings the Party . You can drink soju anywhere, so long as you’re eating, and you will get much respect from local Koreans,” says Kim Bayeon, an Australian expat teaching English in Jeonju. Since soju bottles are often pretty small, the typical way to do it is to hold the bottle with one hand, and place the other hand either below your elbow or slightly above your wrist. unlocking this staff-researched answer. If you’re pouring the shots, fill everyone else’s glass, then set the bottle down so someone else may fill yours, which is considered respectful. Than you or has a much higher ranking super potent versions of soju as seen in!... 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