Soju Garden cocktail recipe

The Soju Garden is delicate, captivatingly complex and downright delicious. It combines elements of the citrusy Greyhound cocktail – a simple mix of neutral spirit and grapefruit juice – with floral notes from the elderflower and the complex natural sweetness of honey syrup, which harmonise beautifully in this floral, flavoursome fusion cocktail.

There are two key components that give this cocktail its distinctive flavour. First, the spirit that gives this cocktail its name is Soju, a Korean beverage distilled from different starchy elements like rice, tapioca, wheat and sweet potatoes. Similar in nature to vodka, it has a subtle flavour profile that gives slightly floral and barely sweet flavours. It is also pleasantly light, with a round, textural mouthfeel and a comparatively light alcoholic content of approximately 20% ABV (about half as much as vodka). In Korea, it is usually enjoyed neat, sipped from a shot glass. However, its delicate palate and relative weight make it an excellent base for cocktails.

The other key ingredient is elderflower liqueur, which gives this cocktail it’s ‘garden’ character. This distinctly floral liqueur is made from hand-picked elderflower petals that are macerated in neutral grape spirit and sweetened. It was first produced in Haute Savoie, a small region in the foothills of the French Alps where elder trees are abundant. It is sometimes referred to as ‘bartender’s ketchup’ because of versatile use in a range of cocktails, especially those with a zinging citrus base to balance the elderflower’s inherent sweet, floral flavour profile.

While the focus of the Soju Garden is the soju and elderflower liqueur, the citrus brings important balance to this cocktail. The grapefruit juice in particular is an important flavour component and is best when freshly squeezed. A standard kitchen juicer will make short work of a grapefruit, however, if you’re working with store-bought juice, look for a quality brand without any pulp or added sugar.

Trying different citruses is also a great way to get playful with this cocktail. Why not switch out a yellow grapefruit for a ruby one? Or try a completely different citrus altogether. A great alternative is yuzu juice. This Japanese citrus matches the tart, tangy quality of a grapefruit but with a more zesty, aromatic character. And for those after a more mellow citrus, blood oranges and tangerines will still bring the zing needed to counter the honey and elderflower but with a rounder flavour.

Another way to mix things up with the Soju Garden is in the proverbial garden. If elderflower isn’t your thing, you can always try a different floral flavour profile in the form of a rose or violet liqueur. For a less floral variation, try Gran Mariner which has a fragrant, sweet-orange flavour. And, for a non-alcoholic option to create a lighter cocktail, you can swap out the elderflower liqueur for simple syrup flavoured with rosewater or orange blossom essence.