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Grapefruit Soju

Delicious and easy to make, grapefruit soju is a crowd pleaser for drinking straight or for mixing. This does have a bit of the grapefruit bitterness, so folks who don't enjoy grapefruit may not like this as much.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Infusing Time 7 days
Course Drinks
Cuisine Korean

Equipment

  • 1 Large jar or pitcher
  • 1 Food scale

Ingredients
  

  • 720 ml Soju
  • 2 Grapefruit
  • 1 Lemon
  • Sugar

Instructions
 

  • Slice the grapefruit and lemon into small pieces. I usually quarter them, then slice the quarters.
  • Place a bowl on the digital scale and press the "tare" or "zero" button. Add the grapefruit and lemon slices to get a weight for the fruit.
  • Press the "tare" or "zero" button again. Add in half the weight of sugar. (If the fruit weighed 800 grams, add 400 grams of sugar.)
  • Mix the fruit and sugar with a spatula or large spoon. Once well mixed, transfer the fruit and sugar to a very large jar or pitcher. I use a spatula to get as much sugar as possible from the bowl into the jar.
  • Pour the soju on top and stir until well mixed.
  • Cover and let sit at room temperature for approximately a week. For the first few days, a layer of sugar will likely settle on the bottom, but will slowly dissolve. You can speed up this process by stirring it daily (or shaking it if it's in a jar with a secure lid).
  • Once the sugar has dissolved. Strain the soju and lightly press the fruit to extract more juice and alcohol.
  • Bottle, chill, and serve. See notes below for serving suggestions.

Notes

Soju is a Korean spirit that doesn't have much of a taste. Typically it comes in around 20% and with the volume change from added juice, the final product is somewhere around 15%.
You might have to ask for help finding soju at your local liquor store. At my local store it's with the whiskey, and in another store (in the same chain) it's with the sake in the wine section.
I usually discard the fruit after straining, but theoretically they'd be alcohol-infused pieces of fruit and fully edible.
Feel free to mix up the citrus fruits a bit. I've also posted an orange soju. However, you could mix orange and grapefruit, or even go for a lemon and lime if that's your thing.
Serving suggestions:
  • Grapefruit soju can be enjoyed straight.
  • If the soju is a bit too thick and syrupy for your taste, an easy cocktail is to add 5 oz orange soju and 2.5 oz club soda to a glass filled with ice. This thins out the texture a little bit and the sparkling water makes it feel a little extra special.
  • If serving this with a meal, I'd suggest making this a dessert drink.
Keyword Alcohol, Soju