What is a good shochu?
Best Overall: Iichiko Saiten In their portfolio is one classic style of honkaku barley shochu, Iichiko Silhouette, which is bottled at 25% abv, but they also have the more creative style Iichiko Saiten, which is more robust and bottled at 43% abv. Both are amazing on the rocks or in various styles of cocktails.
Is shochu stronger than soju?
Shochu sits higher in alcohol than soju, usually between 25-35%. Our shochu: Mugi Hokka Honkaku Shochu.
Why is shochu not popular?
While the Japanese love sweet potato shochu, the imparted flavours aren’t well-received outside Japan as drinkers are more used to barley-, wheat- and potato-based spirits. So starting out with sweet potato shochu, which has the strongest flavour and aroma of all, often puts off beginners.
Is soju the same as shochu?
While most soju allows the addition of flavouring, sweeteners and MSG, the rules for shochu are much stricter. Soju and shochu are both made from a base of fermented ingredients, often grain, such as rice or barley.
What is distilled Saki called?
Which Is Better Sake Or Soju? Soju is distilled from Sake, while Sake is brewed. In warm climates, Soju is more popular, while in cold climates, Sake is more popular. Soju is made from rice, barley, and sweet potatoes when Sake is just made from rice.
Is shochu like sake?
Sake is a brewed alcohol while Shochu is distilled liquor, which also leads to the difference in alcohol contents. Usually Sake is around 15% because most of the fungus stops activity and the alcohol level does not go any further, while Shochu can normally be 20%-25%, even as high as 42% (if multi-distilled).
What is shochu similar to?
Shochu is distilled liquor, similar to brandy and vodka. However Nihonshu is categorized as fermented liquor putting it in the same category as wine. Grapes are both fermented to make wine and distilled to make brandy. In Japan, rice can be fermented to make Nihonshu, or distilled to make rice Shochu.
What is the #1 spirit in Japan?
Shochu
Shochu is the most popular spirit in its native land, outselling even sake and whisky. But to the rest of the world, it’s still a well-kept secret — only about 1% of global shochu sales are outside Japan.
What is the most popular liquor in Japan?
Shochu. Most often distilled from rice or sweet potatoes, shochu is the most popular spirit in Japan.
What is the most popular alcoholic drink in Japan?
Beer
Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Japan. Due to taxation issues, several types of beer-like beverages have emerged in recent years, including happoshu and new-genre beer.
What is the most popular soju in Korea?
Chamisul is the most popular soju in Korea. It has maintained its alcohol content at 16.9% because there is a Korean law that says alcoholic beverages over 17% alcohol cannot appear in advertisements from 7am to 10pm. Therefore, it caters to people’s tastes and also opens it up for advertising anytime.
What is the best shochu to drink?
One of the most popular and most international brands of Shochu, iichiko is usually made with whole grains and is distilled at lower temperatures than other brands. This gives their drinks a cleaner taste that is very pleasant to sip alongside your meal.
What is shochu and where can you buy it?
While its popularity hasn’t spread much outside of the region, you can find many different varieties and brands of Shochu available in Japan, especially around the various islands. This drink is generally made with grains such as rice, barley, wheat, buckwheat, or even sweet potatoes.
Is the iichiko special shochu worth trying?
Iichiko is a well-known and loved shochu brand that boasts a wide variety of shochu in its lineup, running the gamut from cheap to premium (including several that are available overseas). There are several shochu from Iichiko worth trying, but one in particular is the Iichiko Special, an aged honkaku shochu with a rich aroma.
What does shochu taste like?
Most of the Shochu bottles they distill are made with different varieties of sweet potatoes to achieve a sweeter or milder taste. In general this brand boasts a lot of rich flavors, sweet aromas, and delicious types of Shochu. Unfortunately, the brand does not sell all over Japan and is more localized in the Satsuma region and surrounding areas.