shōchū 焼酎
What happens when Japan decides to make vodka interesting. It’s the sister of sake, distilled from everything from sweet potatoes to barley.
Common bases:
- 芋焼酎 imo-shōchū (sweet potato)
- 麦焼酎 mugi-shōchū (barley)
- 米焼酎 kome-shōchū (rice)
- 蕎麦焼酎 soba-shōchū (buckwheat)
- 黒糖焼酎 kokutō-shōchū (brown sugar)
Unlike sake, good shōchū often tastes better room temperature or chilled. But it can also be mixed with hot water in the winter.
- Fair warning: That smooth taste is deceiving. Most shōchū is stronger than sake. But it’s weaker than whisky.
- Drink tip: チューハイ chūhai (shōchū highball) is a cocktail made with shōchū, soda water, and sometimes other flavorings or ingredients.