Menge Mule
Channeling Seoul instead of Moscow, this riff on the classic cocktail calls for soju and ginger kombucha.

By Demie Kim


Published on October 27, 2025

An ode to South Korea’s Menge Village, the rural location where the grain-to-glass wheat soju Jinmaek is distilled, this Moscow mule riff swaps out the traditional vodka and ginger beer for soju and ginger kombucha. This recipe is a simplified version of the one served at modern zero-waste cocktail bar Zest in Seoul, where owner Demie Kim makes his own ’booch and a ­citrus stock from spent lemon and lime husks. You can find Jinmaek Soju online at Woorisoul.

Featured in “In South Korea, a Craft Soju Boom Preserves the Past” by Frances Kim in the Spring/Summer 2025 issue. See more recipes and stories from Issue 204.

  • Makes

    1 cocktail

  • Time

    5 minutes

Matty Yangwoo Kim

Ingredients

  • 1½ oz. Jinmaek Soju, or other high-proof soju
  • ½ oz. fresh lime or lemon juice
  • 5 oz. ginger kombucha
  • 1 oxalis leaf, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Step 1

To a Moscow mule mug, add 1 large ice cube, the soju, and lime juice. Top with the kombucha, stir gently, garnish with the oxalis leaf if desired, and serve.
  1. To a Moscow mule mug, add 1 large ice cube, the soju, and lime juice. Top with the kombucha, stir gently, garnish with the oxalis leaf if desired, and serve.
Recipes

Menge Mule

Channeling Seoul instead of Moscow, this riff on the classic cocktail calls for soju and ginger kombucha.

  • Makes

    1 cocktail

  • Time

    5 minutes

Menge mule
MATTY YANGWOO KIM

By Demie Kim


Published on October 27, 2025

An ode to South Korea’s Menge Village, the rural location where the grain-to-glass wheat soju Jinmaek is distilled, this Moscow mule riff swaps out the traditional vodka and ginger beer for soju and ginger kombucha. This recipe is a simplified version of the one served at modern zero-waste cocktail bar Zest in Seoul, where owner Demie Kim makes his own ’booch and a ­citrus stock from spent lemon and lime husks. You can find Jinmaek Soju online at Woorisoul.

Featured in “In South Korea, a Craft Soju Boom Preserves the Past” by Frances Kim in the Spring/Summer 2025 issue. See more recipes and stories from Issue 204.

Ingredients

  • 1½ oz. Jinmaek Soju, or other high-proof soju
  • ½ oz. fresh lime or lemon juice
  • 5 oz. ginger kombucha
  • 1 oxalis leaf, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Step 1

To a Moscow mule mug, add 1 large ice cube, the soju, and lime juice. Top with the kombucha, stir gently, garnish with the oxalis leaf if desired, and serve.
  1. To a Moscow mule mug, add 1 large ice cube, the soju, and lime juice. Top with the kombucha, stir gently, garnish with the oxalis leaf if desired, and serve.

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