Soju is famously a drink that’s meant to be enjoyed socially, alongside others. But to do that, you need the right glass to put your soju in. (It would hardly be very social if you chugged the soju directly from the bottle, would it?) So, what does the best soju glass look like, and what type of glass do they use in Korea?
How to pick the perfect soju shot glass
The right glass to drink soju from is a shot glass. In fact, in Korea, shot glasses are synonymous with soju, to the extent that they are called 소주잔 or soju-jan, which literally means ‘soju glass’!
But what are the basics of a traditional Korean shot glass?
Size
You’ve probably seen one before, but in case you’re new to the wonderful world of soju: it’s a short cup, so although it hasn’t got a handle, it still means you can properly hold it – with both hands as it’s being served to you, in the traditional style – without spilling it.
Indeed, it’s small enough to hold in one hand… or even a few fingers as the night wears on!
Volume
The standard Korean soju shot glass is 50 millilitres (ml). This is a bit bigger than shot glasses in other countries, which are more typically 25ml or 35ml.
In Korea, your soju shot glass should traditionally never sit empty. Of course, that’s difficult when the volume of a shot glass is so small.
Material
Shot glasses are – as the name suggests – generally made of glass.
While they come in other materials, such as ceramic, this is more unusual – but this can look great for decoration, and be a great way to impress your friends with an unusual glass of soju.
Opacity
The glass should be clear, so that you can see the bottom of the glass, without any distortions or imperfections that could affect your view of the beautiful contents within.
Our favourite types of soju shot glass
We’ve handpicked the best soju shot glasses for your delectation and delight!
These classic shot glasses are perfect for straightforward soju drinking, and are modelled on the standard Jinro soju shot glass.
They hit all the perfect qualities we’ve set out above – customers call them the “perfect size” for drinking soju, and “pleasant to hold”.
But because they’re made of glass, some people unsurprisingly noted they were breakable.
Here’s a hint: don’t throw them at the wall.
These absolutely beautiful ceramic shot glasses are great for sharing your soju with friends – as there’s no way they won’t love how decorative these are!
They come in five different, individual, hand painted colours and are made of elegant porcelain. Best of all, they’re stackable for easy storage.
Customers love how well made they are, and how beautiful their colors are, calling them “classy and unique”, “adorable” and a “great set”.
Customers have spotted these type of soju shot glasses in a lot of Korean dramas, so you know they’re the real deal.
They also have a great embossed Korean-style design in the glass.
Customers have called them a “conversation starter”, “unique looking” and “highly recommend” them.
How to drink your soju shot
Traditionally in Korea, the first glass is taken as a shot, and the remainder can be sipped or shot, depending on your preference.
Of course, if you’re not in Korea, or you’re at home, you don’t need to worry so much about the tradition – but it’s definitely best to make sure you have your shot glass ready to drink it.
Once your soju is ready for drinking in its shot glass, you can drink it however you like.
Alternatives to shot glasses for drinking soju
While the clear shot glass is the most common way to consume this liquor, there are other methods that people use to drink soju.
One of the most popular ways to drink soju, if you don’t want to drink it neat, is in cocktails. Soju can be made into a milkshake, mixed with fruit juice, or served as a substitute in a variety of traditional cocktail recipes.
As with any cocktail, these can be served in all sorts of glasses, from a classic martini glass, to a regular highball. If you’re making these at home, the good news is that you don’t need any special glassware, other than what’s already in your kitchen cupboard!
Some of the best glasses for serving your soju cocktails in include:
- Martini glass – as soju is so versatile, simply swap out the gin or vodka from a classic martini recipe, for a Korean twist. Click here to buy our favorite set!
- Highball glass – this is great for some of the longer soju cocktails like soju and beer (known as somaek in Korea), or soju and Yakult.
- Tiki glasses – why not mix flavored soju with fruit juice for a fantastic summer drink? We love these fun tiki glasses, click here to see!
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