Green tea with popped, toasted rice. Cold-brew it.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Two toasted grains Green tea with popped, toasted rice. Cold-brew it. Cold-brewed or hot. Roasted green tea, low in bitterness, high in toast. The oyuwari of teas.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Roasted tea and aged notes are a fireside Cold-brewed or hot. Roasted green tea, low in bitterness, high in toast. The oyuwari of teas. Cold, unsweetened barley tea. Every Japanese fridge has a pitcher in summer. Mix one to three over ice.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Barley tea on barley shochu is the same grain, roasted, twice Cold, unsweetened barley tea. Every Japanese fridge has a pitcher in summer. Mix one to three over ice. Unsweetened, cold. One part shochu to three or four parts tea, over ice.
Why this works Oolong-hai and green tea highballs are on every izakaya menu, and barley is clean enough to let the tea lead. Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Oolong-hai is the second most common shochu drink in Japanese izakaya Roasted buckwheat, in any Japanese grocery, hot or cold. In a soba restaurant the same serve is made with soba-yu, the starchy water the noodles were boiled in, which is thicker and cannot be bought.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Roasted buckwheat and roasted barley are one idea arrived at from two grains Roasted buckwheat, in any Japanese grocery, hot or cold. In a soba restaurant the same serve is made with soba-yu, the starchy water the noodles were boiled in, which is thicker and cannot be bought. Hot water in the glass first, spirit poured on top so it mixes itself. Around 40C in the glass is the sweet spot. This is not the only way, it is one way.
Why this works Barley has less to open up than sweet potato, so water shows you exactly what is there. That is a fair test and not always a flattering one: a thin mugi has nowhere to hide in it. Rich bottles are built for warmth Mugi oyuwari in winter, with an umeboshi Cold brew, unsweetened. For barley, brown-sugar, cask-aged and awamori bottles; it will bury a daiginjo.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Cold brew, unsweetened. For barley, brown-sugar, cask-aged and awamori bottles; it will bury a daiginjo. Cold-brewed Earl Grey brings bergamot; plain black tea brings tannin. For the aged and brown-sugar bottles.
Why this works Black tea's tannin sits well with aged notes Cold-brewed Earl Grey brings bergamot; plain black tea brings tannin. For the aged and brown-sugar bottles. Bitter orange: sour and aromatic rather than sweet, the citrus that goes into ponzu. Bottled juice is sold for cooking and works straight in a glass. Use the peel too, it carries most of the smell.
Why this works The peel is doing what the orange twist on an old fashioned does Bitter orange: sour and aromatic rather than sweet, the citrus that goes into ponzu. Bottled juice is sold for cooking and works straight in a glass. Use the peel too, it carries most of the smell. The gentle ginger. For bottles that a ginger beer would bully.
Why this works The barley highball is the default shochu drink in Japan. Clean spirit, cold soda, nothing in the way. Barley shochu and ginger ale is an izakaya highball Bitter, bright and forgiving. Ruby or white both work; white is drier. The grapefruit sour is a real bar order in Japan, not a novelty.
Why this works Barley shochu and grapefruit is the Kyushu sour after the lemon one Bitter, bright and forgiving. Ruby or white both work; white is drier. The grapefruit sour is a real bar order in Japan, not a novelty. Cold-brewed sencha, unsweetened. The green tea highball is one of the most common ways shochu is actually drunk in Japan.
Why this works Oolong-hai and green tea highballs are on every izakaya menu, and barley is clean enough to let the tea lead. Barley shochu and green tea is on every izakaya menu in Japan Cold-brewed. Floral without sugar. The jasmine highball is a real menu item in Japan.
Why this works Jasmine-hai is on izakaya menus next to oolong-hai Cold-brewed. Floral without sugar. The jasmine highball is a real menu item in Japan. Oita's citrus, softer than sudachi. Bartenders in Oita mix it with the local barley shochu and soda.
Why this works Kabosu and barley shochu are both Oita's and that is how Oita drinks them; the gentler acid suits a mugi wherever it was distilled Oita's citrus, softer than sudachi. Bartenders in Oita mix it with the local barley shochu and soda. Eaten whole, peel and all. Muddle a few in a glass; the peel gives bitterness, the flesh gives tartness.
Why this works Kumquat's bitter peel stands up to aged, nutty notes Eaten whole, peel and all. Muddle a few in a glass; the peel gives bitterness, the flesh gives tartness. Cold, and fizzy enough to matter. One part shochu to three or four parts soda; if it tastes thin, go one to two next time.
Why this works The barley highball is the default shochu drink in Japan. Clean spirit, cold soda, nothing in the way. The shochu highball: ice, shochu, cold soda, nothing else A small green citrus from Tokushima, sharper and more herbal than lime. Sold frozen or as juice in Japanese markets.
Why this works Sharper and greener than the lemon a barley sour usually gets, which is what makes it worth the trip from Tokushima A small green citrus from Tokushima, sharper and more herbal than lime. Sold frozen or as juice in Japanese markets. A bar spoon, not an ounce. It is very sweet, and its job here is the almond smell rather than the sugar.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Marzipan against caramel, which is a dessert people already eat Lustau or González Byass. Fino is salt and living flor; this is what is left after the flor dies, and at 18 percent an ounce lengthens the glass rather than strengthening it.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Both have spent years going quietly brown, and they meet in the middle Mr Black or a good Japanese one. Awamori and shochu makers bottle their own, so this is not a foreign idea imposed on the spirit.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. An espresso martini at this proof is a drink you can have after dinner and still talk Fino or manzanilla. Savory, salty, bone dry.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Oxidative on oxidative Bols Genever, around thirty-five dollars. The split base for a grain shochu, in a way plain gin is not.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Malt wine and barley shochu are the same grain distilled two different ways Luxardo. Dry rather than sweet despite the name, and a bar spoon changes a stirred drink completely.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Maraschino is what makes a stirred aged drink taste finished rather than flat Fresh in season, dried the rest of the year. Apricot and umeshu share a family, which is why they get along.
Why this works Long aging turns a spirit towards stone fruit; the apricot joins what is already there Fresh in season, dried the rest of the year. Apricot and umeshu share a family, which is why they get along. Juiced, or a stalk as the stirrer. Savory, salty and cold.
Why this works Barley shochu and celery is an unlikely, real pair Juiced, or a stalk as the stirrer. Savory, salty and cold. Fresh in early summer; morello or amarena in syrup otherwise. Dark cherry for aged bottles, bright cherry for sparkling.
Why this works Dark cherry against aged, oxidative notes Fresh in early summer; morello or amarena in syrup otherwise. Dark cherry for aged bottles, bright cherry for sparkling. Ribbons or muddled slices. Cucumber is what turns a serious glass into something you drink outside without thinking about it.
Why this works Cucumber and a clean barley highball is the most refreshing thing you can build out of this category. Barley shochu, cucumber, soda: a highball that tastes like a cool room Diluted one to one with warm water so it mixes cold. A little goes far; taste before adding more.
Why this works Honey and aged notes Honey and barley shochu in hot water is a Kyushu cold remedy Bruised stalks steeped in the spirit, or a syrup. Citrus without acid, which is useful when you want aroma but not sourness.
Why this works A clean barley spirit takes herbs the way vodka does, but with a cereal sweetness underneath that gives them something to sit on. A US barley shochu is literally made with lemongrass; the pairing is proven Green shiso leaves, slapped or muddled gently. Red shiso as a syrup. Japan already makes shiso shochu, which tells you it works.
Why this works A clean barley spirit takes herbs the way vodka does, but with a cereal sweetness underneath that gives them something to sit on. Shiso and barley shochu is an izakaya sour Soft water, cold, over ice or not. One to one is normal. Mix a day ahead (maewari) and the edges round off.
Why this works Barley has less to open up than sweet potato, so water shows you exactly what is there. That is a fair test and not always a flattering one: a thin mugi has nowhere to hide in it. Six parts shochu to four parts water, the classic Carpano Antica or Cocchi. A quarter of the shochu's volume, stirred cold, is a manhattan at well under half the usual proof.
Why this works An aged bottle already has the caramel a manhattan wants; this brings the botanicals There is enough weight here to carry vermouth without being flattened Gentler than rosemary. Steep a sprig, or use a thyme syrup.
Why this works A clean barley spirit takes herbs the way vodka does, but with a cereal sweetness underneath that gives them something to sit on. Barley shochu and thyme is an unexpected, clean match Good tomato juice, or a ripe tomato muddled and strained. The savour koji leaves behind and the savour in a tomato are the same glutamate.
Why this works Barley shochu and tomato juice is an izakaya standard order Good tomato juice, or a ripe tomato muddled and strained. The savour koji leaves behind and the savour in a tomato are the same glutamate. Umeboshi (salt-pickled), ume syrup, or the fruit's own liqueur. Sour, salty and savory at once.
Why this works Barley shochu with an umeboshi dropped in is a real izakaya order Umeboshi (salt-pickled), ume syrup, or the fruit's own liqueur. Sour, salty and savory at once. Orange with a raspberry edge. Winter fruit; worth waiting for.
Why this works Orange with a raspberry edge. Winter fruit; worth waiting for. A spicy one, not a sweet one. The mule format works for every dark shochu, and it is the most forgiving way to serve one.
Why this works The barley highball is the default shochu drink in Japan. Clean spirit, cold soda, nothing in the way. A Miyazaki citrus eaten with the white pith left on, which is sweet rather than bitter. Gentler and more floral than lemon, so it flavours a drink without taking it over.
Why this works A Miyazaki citrus eaten with the white pith left on, which is sweet rather than bitter. Gentler and more floral than lemon, so it flavours a drink without taking it over. Sharper and greener than lemon. The citrus for anything built on brown sugar or tropical fruit.
Why this works Sharper and greener than lemon. The citrus for anything built on brown sugar or tropical fruit. Whisked into a slurry first, never dumped in dry. Bitter, umami and creamy at once.
Why this works Whisked into a slurry first, never dumped in dry. Bitter, umami and creamy at once. Sweet, low-acid Japanese mandarin. Juice it or drop segments in a glass. It needs a squeeze of something sharper alongside.
Why this works Sweet, low-acid Japanese mandarin. Juice it or drop segments in a glass. It needs a squeeze of something sharper alongside. Fresh juice when you want it long and easy; the peel when the bottle is aged and the drink is stirred.
Why this works Fresh juice when you want it long and easy; the peel when the bottle is aged and the drink is stirred. Loose or bagged, brewed weak: at full strength it takes the glass over. Takara's own guide to tea-wari lists it alongside mugicha and sobacha.
Why this works Loose or bagged, brewed weak: at full strength it takes the glass over. Takara's own guide to tea-wari lists it alongside mugicha and sobacha. Okinawa's own citrus, picked green and sharp, more bitter than lime and more floral than sudachi. Squeezed over awamori and soda it is what the islands actually drink.
Why this works Okinawa's own citrus, picked green and sharp, more bitter than lime and more floral than sudachi. Squeezed over awamori and soda it is what the islands actually drink. Dry cava or crémant. Acid and bubbles in one pour, which is exactly what a distilled spirit has none of.
Why this works The barley highball is the default shochu drink in Japan. Clean spirit, cold soda, nothing in the way. The Japanese citrus that tastes like grapefruit, mandarin and lemon at once, with a floral peel. A little zest or juice goes a long way.
Why this works The Japanese citrus that tastes like grapefruit, mandarin and lemon at once, with a floral peel. A little zest or juice goes a long way. A sesame syrup, or a rim of ground sesame and salt. Toasty and rich.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. A sesame syrup, or a rim of ground sesame and salt. Toasty and rich. A spoon of the brine, and a slice as garnish. Sweet, sour and hot at once.
Why this works Barley shochu and gari brine is a bartender's shortcut to a ginger sour A spoon of the brine, and a slice as garnish. Sweet, sour and hot at once. A dried shiitake steeped in the spirit for a day. Savory and strange in the best way.
Why this works A long aged spirit and dried mushroom share a forest floor note A dried shiitake steeped in the spirit for a day. Savory and strange in the best way. A drop. Think of it as salt with depth, for the savory glass only.
Why this works A long aged spirit and aged soy share the same brown, oxidative notes A drop. Think of it as salt with depth, for the savory glass only. One salted plum, crushed with a spoon in the glass. Salty, sour, savory.
Why this works One umeboshi in a glass of barley shochu and hot water is the oldest shochu drink there is Dashi-wari and an umeboshi in hot barley shochu are real izakaya orders, but they belong to a winter counter rather than a summer glass. Fresh juice, never bottled. It is the whole basis of the lemon sour, and the quickest way to put acid into a spirit that has almost none of its own.
Why this works The lemon sour is the single most ordered shochu drink in Japan, and barley is what it is usually built on. Fresh lemon reads harsh against aged, caramel notes The lemon sour is Japan's most-ordered shochu drink for a reason The shortcut to a sour when there is no fresh lemon. Less sweet is better.
Why this works The barley highball is the default shochu drink in Japan. Clean spirit, cold soda, nothing in the way. Sweet soda and aged notes argue Lemon sour in one pour A dry tonic (Fever-Tree, Q). One part spirit, three parts tonic, a citrus wedge.
Why this works The barley highball is the default shochu drink in Japan. Clean spirit, cold soda, nothing in the way. Tonic's sweetness fights aged notes Shochu tonic is the drink US bars pour most when they list shochu Coconut water for lengthening, coconut milk or cream for weight.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum, about twenty dollars. At 11 percent it behaves like a syrup, so it sweetens and thickens without raising the drink.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Zuiyo's Kuririn, from Japanese chestnuts at 11 percent, or Dover's wa-shu kuri, which is on a rum base. A dessert direction, and not the same thing as kuri shochu, which is a base spirit.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Blandy's or Barbeito, ten year. It is the one fortified wine that brings real acid, so it can do the lemon's job on a bottle where fresh citrus reads harsh.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Almond syrup with a touch of orange blossom. The tiki sweetener, and kokuto shochu is a tiki spirit waiting to happen.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Buy the drinking grade from a shop with a liquor licence, not the salted cooking bottle, which will wreck the drink. A bar spoon is enough.
Why this works Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan. Cold-pressed juice or thin slices. Green apple is already in the aroma of a lot of rice shochu, so this amplifies what is there rather than adding something new.
Why this works Barley's light sweetness reads as orchard fruit already, so apple and pear extend the bottle rather than decorate it. Rothman and Winter, or a Japanese anzu liqueur. Closer to umeshu than to a candy liqueur if you buy a good one.
Why this works Long aging turns towards stone fruit anyway; this meets it there Muddled gently with citrus. Thai basil brings anise, Italian basil brings pepper.
Why this works A clean barley spirit takes herbs the way vodka does, but with a cereal sweetness underneath that gives them something to sit on. A few crushed pods, or a syrup. Floral, citrusy and warm at once; it bridges fruit and spice.
Why this works Spice on aged, nutty notes Cold-brewed chamomile as a lengthener, or steeped in the spirit.
Why this works Chamomile softens barley shochu into an evening drink A stick in hot water with the spirit, or a light syrup. Winter.
Why this works Cinnamon and aged notes are a hot toddy Fronds, gently muddled. For the savory, saline glass.
Why this works A clean barley spirit takes herbs the way vodka does, but with a cereal sweetness underneath that gives them something to sit on. Dolin dry or Noilly Prat. A quarter of the shochu's volume, stirred cold.
Why this works Shochu and dry vermouth is a Japanese martini at half the proof Barrow's Intense, made in Brooklyn, is the one to look for: much more ginger and much less sugar than most, so it works as the spice in a drink rather than as the sweetener. Domaine de Canton is the easier one to find and the sweeter one. Either gets you the mule flavour without the sugar load of a ginger beer, and both work hot as well as cold. They carry their own alcohol, so they lengthen a shochu less than a juice or a syrup would.
Why this works Warm spice against caramel, without the sugar a ginger beer brings Two slices from any Asian grocery, seeds out. The bitterness is water soluble, so at 25 percent it steeps in minutes and stops there, where a 40 percent spirit pulls it medicinal within the hour.
Why this works Two slices from any Asian grocery, seeds out. The bitterness is water soluble, so at 25 percent it steeps in minutes and stops there, where a 40 percent spirit pulls it medicinal within the hour. Ripe honeydew, juiced or in cubes. If a bottle says melon on the label, this is the proof.
Why this works Ripe honeydew, juiced or in cubes. If a bottle says melon on the label, this is the proof. Young sansho leaves, clapped between the palms and floated. Hard to find outside Japanese markets in spring, worth the hunt.
Why this works A clean barley spirit takes herbs the way vodka does, but with a cereal sweetness underneath that gives them something to sit on. Torn leaves steeped briefly. Perfumed citrus without juice.
Why this works A clean barley spirit takes herbs the way vodka does, but with a cereal sweetness underneath that gives them something to sit on. Dark, in small amounts, for the cask and sweet-potato bottles.
Why this works Maple and aged, caramel notes Green muscat grapes, halved or juiced. Shine Muscat if you can find it.
Why this works Green muscat grapes, halved or juiced. Shine Muscat if you can find it. Cointreau or a dry curaçao. The sweet-and-citrus half of any sour.
Why this works Aged bottles and orange peel liqueur Dried osmanthus flowers steeped, or the syrup. Apricot and honey, and the smell of October in Japan.
Why this works Honeyed flower on honeyed age A good one (Giffard, Merlet). A shortcut to the bellini when peaches are out of season.
Why this works Barley shochu, peach liqueur, oolong: a Japanese izakaya order Ripe pear, muddled or as nectar. Delicate, so it belongs with delicate bottles.
Why this works Barley's light sweetness reads as orchard fruit already, so apple and pear extend the bottle rather than decorate it. One star, steeped, for the dark bottles.
Why this works Anise and aged notes are a winter cabinet Sweet, sour, almondy. A splash does the work of both syrup and citrus.
Why this works Barley shochu with a float of umeshu and soda The bellini fruit. Nectar from a Japanese market, or a ripe peach muddled through a strainer.
Why this works The bellini fruit. Nectar from a Japanese market, or a ripe peach muddled through a strainer. The Korean-style yuzu preserve sold in jars. A spoon in hot water with shochu, or shaken cold.
Why this works Yuzu tea and barley shochu in hot water is a winter izakaya drink Sweet yuzu liqueur, usually on a sake or shochu base. A shortcut to yuzu when the fruit is out of season.
Why this works Barley shochu, yuzushu, soda: a yuzu sour without a yuzu Fresh figs muddled, or fig jam. For the aged and the brown-sugar bottles only.
Why this works This is a light bottle and this is a heavy ingredient. It will not taste bad, it will taste like the ingredient. Fig meets the dried fruit that kusu awamori and long aged shochu already carry Fresh figs muddled, or fig jam. For the aged and the brown-sugar bottles only. Bolder than white peach, closer to apricot. For bottles with more weight.
Why this works This is a light bottle and this is a heavy ingredient. It will not taste bad, it will taste like the ingredient. A richer peach for a richer bottle Bolder than white peach, closer to apricot. For bottles with more weight. A small piece steeped in the bottle overnight. Savory depth without salt.
Why this works A small piece steeped in the bottle overnight. Savory depth without salt. Sakamoto's, fermented outdoors in earthenware jars in Fukuyama and aged at least a year; Toiro and Japanese Taste ship it in the US. A teaspoon in a mizuwari is the whole intervention, and a second one is usually a mistake.
Why this works Sakamoto's, fermented outdoors in earthenware jars in Fukuyama and aged at least a year; Toiro and Japanese Taste ship it in the US. A teaspoon in a mizuwari is the whole intervention, and a second one is usually a mistake. White miso whisked into a syrup, a small spoon per drink. Salty, sweet and savory at once.
Why this works White miso whisked into a syrup, a small spoon per drink. Salty, sweet and savory at once. A bar spoon, no more. Salt, and the savory note that comes with it.
Why this works A bar spoon, no more. Salt, and the savory note that comes with it. A pinch in the glass or a half rim. Salt does not make a drink salty in small amounts; it makes it taste more like itself.
Why this works A pinch in the glass or a half rim. Salt does not make a drink salty in small amounts; it makes it taste more like itself. Eden Foods sells it as Ume Plum Vinegar in most US supermarkets, and it is one of the cheapest things on this list. A bar spoon, and unlike a crushed umeboshi it can go into a shaken drink.
Why this works Eden Foods sells it as Ume Plum Vinegar in most US supermarkets, and it is one of the cheapest things on this list. A bar spoon, and unlike a crushed umeboshi it can go into a shaken drink.