Shochu 焼酎 – Tantakatan 鍛高譚
Tantakatan As a shochu advisor I wanted to share with readers shochu that are worth checking out. The first shochu I will introduce is very interesting. My first day at work at Nihonbashi Takashimaya...
View ArticleShochu 焼酎 – Shiro しろ
Shiro Perhaps the most asked question I have is what is a good shochu to start with for those who are new to shochu. A rice based shochu is a good place to start as it is usually light, easy-drinking,...
View ArticleShochu 焼酎 – Futan 風憚
Fuutan My favorite type of shochu is an imojochu, or sweet potato shochu. It comes in a wide variety of aromas and flavors. Some can be really funky and others very smooth. Fuutan is on the...
View ArticleAntenna Shops in Ginza
If you are looking for jizake or shochu from a small producer or an artisanal miso the first place to check out are the antenna shops. Markets that specialize in regional products, usually from a...
View ArticleJougo Kokuto Shochu じょうご黒糖焼酎
Jougo Kokuto Shochu Another good shochu to start with for shochu novices is a kokuto shochu which is made from sugar cane. It’s inherent sweetness is soft on the palate. This is from Amami Oshima south...
View ArticleTowari Soba Shochu 十割蕎麦焼酎
Part of the beauty of shochu is that it is made from a variety of base ingredients. While sweet potato (imo) and barley (mugi) are very popular, it is worth exploring the others, such as buckwheat...
View ArticleShochu Slushee
What better way to beat the heat in Tokyo than with shochu on the rocks. Or how about a popsicle? Better yet, combine the two! A friend recently posted on facebook a cocktail that he had out at a...
View ArticleShochu – Mitake Imo Jochu 三岳芋焼酎
Mitake first came on my shochu radar when I was working at Nihonbashi Takashimaya in the saké department. One large bottle (1800 ml) was sitting in the storeroom as a customer had special ordered it....
View ArticleBettako Shochu Izakaya in Ikebukuro
When going out to izakaya I always take some ヘパリーゼ Hepalize to prevent a hangover the next morning. Usually in the tablet form. But, today I forgot to bring some Hepalize pills with me from home so...
View ArticleGotta Get – Summer Fruit Saké
In the humid summers I seek relief in chilled fruit saké that are tart and mouthwatering. Here are two worth seeking out, lemon and natsumikan (imagine an orange pomelo). My favorite producer for...
View Article
More Pages to Explore .....