SOOP X Spinelli Kilcollin

Running late to meet Sojin, we grabbed our cameras and headed straight to the American Cement Building. If you haven’t been before, it’s a striking example of 1960’s Los Angeles mid-century architecture. From the outside, its prominent concrete lattice structure is impossible to overlook—both a work of art and a functional design, cleverly concealing the studio lofts within.

Up on the 10th floor, we quietly pushed open the door where Sojin was mid-glam. Her hair stylist, Fitch, was busy arranging a fan of white lilies against the back of her head.

Sojin, known to her Instagram followers as @Sojinails, has gained fame for her mesmerizing, otherworldly nail art, adorning the hands of celebrities and pop stars alike. We’ve had the chance to work together a few times before – our most memorable being the broken gemstone nail set, but that’s a story for another time.

Most recently, Sojin launched into her latest endeavor – a beverage project titled SOOP. With our latest .925 collection launching soon after, the timing for another collaboration felt right. Before we knew it, Sojin had set out to craft a drink inspired by jewelry, metals, and the essence of Spinelli Kilcollin.

Once glam was set, Sojin led us into the kitchen, where she had carefully laid out ingredients for her SK-inspired drink. We filmed as she gracefully placed ginkgo leaves and sprinkled saffron over the glass, her ring-adorned fingers moving with effortless precision.

In no time, her glowing creation was ready: a short, round glass filled with golden liquid (mezcal, ginger tea, jujube honey) swimming around two ice cubes. She named it Qiū 秋.

The top layer of the drink had a delicate foam from the milk thistle drops, though it was nearly hidden beneath green leaves shimmering with a rainbow-like glow (sesame oil).

We each took turns savoring the drink, and the complexity of the flavors was impressive. The smoky mezcal blended well with the spice of ginger tea, while the sweetness of the jujube honey was perfectly offset by the mild bitterness of the milk thistle. The final touch, a hint of sesame oil, added an unexpected savory note that lingered with every sip.

After finishing the drink, we sat down with Sojin to learn more about the inspiration behind Qiū 秋 and her beverage project, SOOP.

Abby: Can you tell us the name of your drink and the inspiration behind it?

Sojin: “Qiū, 秋, pronounced Choo – which means Fall. I wanted to create something in gold because I’ve started to appreciate its beauty since discovering Spinelli Kilcollin. Coincidentally, it’s Korean Thanksgiving this week (a time to celebrate the harvest season), where we enjoy a lot of jujubes, as they’re typically harvested around the same time.”

Abby: That’s beautiful, thank you for sharing. Would you tell us a bit more about SOOP, the greater project behind this drink today?

Sojin: "SOOP" means "forest" in Korean, but I also love making SOOP! I started this project to introduce my home country's drinking culture to the West. When we drink, it feels more like a tea ceremony. We talk a lot all night long, surrounded by plenty of food, because we want to comfort our bodies and prevent hangovers. I noticed drinking habits here can be quite unhealthy, so I began creating more thoughtful cocktails for my friends, as I want them to live long. Then I realized that cocktails can be visually boring sometimes, so I wanted to transform them into forest-inspired, drinkable glasses of liquid that are fun to look at while you sip.”

Abby: Looking at what you’ve created today, I think you’re doing exactly what you set out to do, it’s amazing. I see you also have a new SK piece on! Can you tell us about what drew you to it? (Sojin is wearing an Aurelia Silver Gris for those curious)

Sojin: “I’m so drawn into objects that shine as you can see in my nail art; a lot of reflective jewels, mirror chromes, glass pieces etc. and I wanted something that can match those signature nails.”

And just like that, our afternoon with Sojin came to a close. From crafting stunning drinks to designing nails for your favorite pop star's next album cover, Sojin is always pushing the boundaries. We can’t wait to see where her journey with SOOP takes her next—and, of course, we’re already dreaming of our next collaboration. In the meantime, find the recipe for Qiū 秋 below, and enjoy a taste of her artistry for yourself.

Title: Qiū, 秋 (pronounced "Choo," which means Fall)

Drink:

• 2 oz Mezcal
• 1 cup Cold Brew Ginger Tea
• 1 heaping spoonful of Jujube Honey

Topping:

• Pinch of Saffron
• 5 - 7 Pine Nuts
• 2 Ginko Leaves
• Slice of Raw Ginger
• Slice of Raw Ube
• Sliced Dried Jujube
• 6 drops of Milk Thistle
• 3 Sprays of Sesame Oil

Prepare:

• In a cocktail shaker, add 2 oz of mezcal and 1 cup of cold brew ginger tea
• Stir in a heaping spoonful of jujube honey until it dissolves
• Fill the shaker with ice and shake well for about 15-20 seconds until the drink is chilled
• Strain into a glass

Add the Toppings:

• Float 2 fresh ginkgo leaves, then gently drop a pinch of saffron and 5-7 pine nuts on top of the leaves
• Add a thin slice of raw ginger, raw ube, and a sliced dried jujube on the rim of the glass
• Add 6 drops of milk thistle extract into the drink
• Finish with 3 sprays of sesame oil for a subtle aromatic touch

Serve immediately and enjoy your intricate, herbaceous creation!