Shochu that goes with black tea (earl grey)
Tea and coffee
These are bottles to mix black tea (earl grey) into. Some of them taste of it too, and where that is the reason a bottle is here, its line says so.
Cold-brewed Earl Grey brings bergamot; plain black tea brings tannin. For the aged and brown-sugar bottles.
Best bottles for black tea (earl grey)
The strongest matches in the catalogue, across every style. Everything below is the same ranking opened out by what the shochu is made from.
Tannin does for caramel what it does for milk tea: gives it something to push against
Black tea's tannin sits well with aged notes
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, caramel
sweet potato, citrus, floral, caramel
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, caramel
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, smooth
Rice shochu is light enough to let the tea lead, which is how it is drunk with dinner in Kyushu.
sweet potato, citrus, floral, sweet
sweet potato, shiso, smooth, tea
Tea and cask is a Scotch idea
barley, caramel, rich, sweet
kokuto, cask, aged
Grouped by what the shochu is made from, because that is the level the reasoning works at: what this does to an imo shochu is a fact about imo shochu rather than about one bottle. Within each style the strongest matches come first, and bottles we pour are marked rather than promoted. The scores are the same engine that recommends a mixer from a bottle, run the other way round, but the labels are not: a bottle page badges at most twelve strong matches and at most three per family, so that the twelve describe that bottle rather than the same citrus and soda every time. Here there is no cap, so a pairing badged strong on this page can read as a good match on the bottle's own.
Imo shochu
Green tea and oolong are how shochu is drunk with dinner across Kyushu. Tea's tannin meets the earth without covering it.
Black tea's tannin sits well with aged notes
Tannin does for caramel what it does for milk tea: gives it something to push against
sweet potato, citrus, floral, caramel
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, caramel
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, smooth
sweet potato, citrus, floral, sweet
Show the other 154 black tea (earl grey) matches
sweet potato, shiso, smooth, tea
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, sherry-like, cask
sweet potato, smooth, clean, aged
sweet potato, vanilla, toast, spice
The bottle is already floral, and this puts more of that in the glass.
The bottle already smells of tea, and this puts more of it in the glass.
sweet potato, lychee, floral, fruity
sweet potato, tea, vanilla, mushroom
sweet potato, floral, soft, maple
Tea and cask is a Scotch idea
sweet potato, umami, rich, sweet
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, fruity, silky, smooth
sweet potato, tropical fruit, bright, aged
sweet potato, smooth, aged
sweet potato, milky, soft, aged
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, umami, soft, full-bodied
sweet potato, spice, clean, sharp
sweet potato, whisky-like, cask
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, rich, clean
sweet potato, umami, rich, aged
sweet potato, fruity, earthy, mineral
sweet potato, umami, soft, clean
sweet potato, sweet, smooth, aged
sweet potato, earthy, crisp, aged
sweet potato, soft, light-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, whisky-like, aged
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, rich, soft, aged
sweet potato, umami, rich, aged
sweet potato, clean, aged
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, nutty, umami
sweet potato, soft, smooth, aged
sweet potato, lychee, chocolate, bright
sweet potato, soft, smooth, rich
sweet potato, chocolate, sherry-like, cask
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, tropical fruit, pepper, sweet
The bottle already smells of citrus, and this puts more of it in the glass.
citrus, pear, sweet potato, clean
sweet potato, soft, tea
sweet potato, floral, fruity, clean
sweet potato, citrus, fruity, mint
sweet potato, smooth, sweet, vanilla
Tea is in this bottle, not just on its nose, so this doubles it rather than introducing it.
sweet potato, light-bodied, dry, aged
Tea and honey
sweet potato, light-bodied, clean, dry
sweet potato, tropical fruit, spice, light-bodied
sweet potato, lychee, white peach, tropical fruit
There is enough weight here to stand up to a bitter or a spice without disappearing under it.
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, umami, silky
sweet potato, sweet, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, umami, rich, sweet
sweet potato, pineapple, maple, mineral
sweet potato, rich, clean, sweet
sweet potato, rich, sweet
sweet potato, umami, sweet, rich
sweet potato, apple, soft, rich
sweet potato, soft, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, rich, light-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, umami, smooth
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, rich, sweet
sweet potato, umami, rich
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, rich
sweet potato, smooth, sweet
sweet potato, fruity, umami, rich
sweet potato, yogurt, creamy texture
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, vanilla, creamy texture, bright
sweet potato, rich, purple sweet potato
sweet potato, rich, crisp, soft
sweet potato, smooth, soft, clean
sweet potato, full-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, soft, rich
sweet potato, sweet, rich, full-bodied
Cold-brewed Earl Grey brings bergamot; plain black tea brings tannin. For the aged and brown-sugar bottles.
sweet potato, crisp, bitter
sweet potato, sweet, clean, soft
sweet potato, pineapple, tropical fruit, fruity
sweet potato, banana, vanilla, clean
sweet potato, soft, crisp, clean
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, light-bodied, long finish
sweet potato, lychee, grape, muscat
sweet potato, fruity, soft, sweet
sweet potato, soft, dry, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, soft, light-bodied
sweet potato, fruity, soft
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, soft, dry, sweet
sweet potato, berry, soft, sweet
sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, roasted grain
sweet potato, smooth, toast
sweet potato, rich, smooth, umami
sweet potato, smooth, umami, light-bodied
sweet potato, sweet, soft
sweet potato, earthy
sweet potato, spice, sweet
sweet potato, light-bodied, clean, sweet
sweet potato, coffee, earthy, pepper
sweet potato, funky
sweet potato, sweet, clean, rich
sweet potato, soft, light-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, fruity
sweet potato, sweet, clean, fruity
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, fruity, bright
sweet potato, pear, grassy, light-bodied
sweet potato, pear, grassy, rich
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, roasted grain, sweet
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, crisp
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, crisp, sweet
sweet potato, smooth
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, smooth
sweet potato
sweet potato, smooth, sweet, long finish
sweet potato, smoky, rich, long finish
sweet potato, sweet
Awamori
Oolong and jasmine both belong to the same Chinese-adjacent kitchen awamori grew up in.
Tannin does for caramel what it does for milk tea: gives it something to push against
rice, steamed rice, soft, caramel
Black tea's tannin sits well with aged notes
rice, citrus, roasted grain, sweet
rice, citrus, vanilla, chocolate
rice, citrus, tropical fruit, vanilla
Show the other 102 black tea (earl grey) matches
aged, caramel, smooth, spice
rice, pear, caramel, rich
rice, cask, aged
rice, whisky-like, cask, aged
rice, sweet, soft, smooth
rice, cherry, vanilla, caramel
floral, clean, sharp, aged
The bottle already smells of citrus, and this puts more of it in the glass.
caramel, smoky, rich, earthy
rich, full-bodied, aged, umami
Tea and cask is a Scotch idea
rice, clean, smooth, aged
rice, smooth, savory, aged
rice, bright, aged
rice, clean, bright, aged
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, soft, smooth, rich
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, smooth, aged
rice, soft, rich, sweet
rice, soft, aged
rice, caramel, chocolate, crisp
rice, sweet, smooth, rich
rice, smooth, soft, aged
rice, soft, clean, aged
rice, sweet, crisp, smooth
rice, roasted grain, aged
rice, smooth, maple, umami
rice, sherry-like, aged
rice, aged
rice, smooth, sweet, aged
rice, smooth, aged
rice, smooth, crisp, aged
rice, smooth, sweet, oily
rice, chocolate, sweet, aged
rice, smooth, sweet, aged
rice, clean, sharp, aged
rice, vanilla, funky, creamy texture
rice, smooth, soft, clean
rice, nutty, dry, aged
rice, umami, clean, light-bodied
There is enough weight here to stand up to a bitter or a spice without disappearing under it.
rice, cherry, vanilla, chocolate
rice, soft, rich, sweet
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, soft, smooth
rice, sweet, rich, full-bodied
Cold-brewed Earl Grey brings bergamot; plain black tea brings tannin. For the aged and brown-sugar bottles.
clean, off-dry, soft, light-bodied
rice, smooth, cereal, sweet
rice, toast, sweet
rice, clean, sweet
rice, clean, smooth
rice, light-bodied, sweet
rice, earthy, mushroom, rich
Mugi shochu
Oolong-hai and green tea highballs are izakaya staples, and barley is clean enough to let the tea lead.
Tannin does for caramel what it does for milk tea: gives it something to push against
Black tea's tannin sits well with aged notes
barley, sesame, caramel, chocolate
barley, smoky, soft, cask
barley, smooth, rich, aged
barley, smooth, rich, whisky-like
Show the other 94 black tea (earl grey) matches
barley, vanilla, spice, cask
barley, smooth, crisp, cask
barley, caramel, chocolate, smoky
barley, cask, aged
barley, jasmine, honey, vanilla
barley, soft, silky, smooth
barley, soft, cask, aged
barley, rich, cask, aged
barley, vanilla, nutty, toast
barley, cask, aged
barley, dry, cask, aged
The bottle already smells of tea, and this puts more of it in the glass.
barley, chocolate, umami, smooth
barley, crisp, clean, aged
barley, smooth, crisp, aged
barley, chocolate, earthy, smooth
barley, soft, light-bodied, clean
barley, smooth, long finish, aged
barley, smooth, light-bodied, clean
barley, umami, rich, sweet
barley, umami, rich, aged
barley, smooth, rich, aged
Tea and cask is a Scotch idea
barley, smooth, mint, caramel
barley, toast, savory, rich
barley, toast, spice, rich
barley, umami, aged
barley, chocolate, coffee, rich
barley, pear, banana, bread
barley, vanilla, cask
barley, smooth, crisp, aged
barley, toast, cereal, rich
There is enough weight here to stand up to a bitter or a spice without disappearing under it.
barley, apple, pineapple, creamy texture
Tannin and melon do not agree
Cold-brewed Earl Grey brings bergamot; plain black tea brings tannin. For the aged and brown-sugar bottles.
barley, bright, clean, light-bodied
barley, earthy, mineral, pepper
barley, crisp, clean
barley, tropical fruit, light-bodied
barley, smooth, rich, light-bodied
barley, pear, soft, spice
barley, rich, crisp
barley, soft, clean
barley, smooth
barley, rich, clean
barley, soft, sweet
barley, umami, rich, sharp
barley, light-bodied
barley, umami, savory, clean
barley, rice, umami
barley, rice, umami
barley, fruity, soft
barley, earthy, clean, bright
barley, roasted grain
barley, sesame, grassy, chocolate
barley, vanilla, chocolate, nutty
barley, toast, rich, light-bodied
barley, umami, light-bodied
barley, smooth, dry
barley, white peach, cherry, soft
barley, soft, bright
barley, soft, chocolate, toast
barley, banana, toast
barley, toast, light-bodied, sweet
barley, crisp, light-bodied, fruity
barley, rich
barley, fruity, light-bodied
barley, sweet, clean
barley, silky, smooth
barley, clean, sharp
barley, banana, berry, bread
barley, citrus, melon, white peach
barley, melon, banana, floral
Kome shochu
Rice shochu is light enough to let the tea lead, which is how it is drunk with dinner in Kyushu.
rice, citrus, dried fruit, floral
rice, soft, umami, rich
rice, vanilla, smooth, cask
rice, vanilla, smooth, sweet
rice, banana, vanilla, chocolate
Show the other 63 black tea (earl grey) matches
rice, cask, aged
rice, vanilla, caramel, chocolate
rice, ginjo-like, floral, aged
rice, floral, aged
rice, floral, smooth, soft
rice, citrus, aged
rice, steamed rice, citrus, pineapple
rice, aged, cask, smooth
rice, vanilla, cask, aged
rice, cask, aged
rice, smooth, light-bodied, sweet
rice, rich, aged
rice, soft, rich, aged
rice, smooth, aged
rice, smooth, full-bodied, cask
rice, umami, rich, aged
rice, soft, smoky, creamy texture
rice, floral, ginjo-like, clean
rice, citrus, silky, light-bodied
rice, floral, fruity, smooth
rice, citrus, apple, pineapple
rice, soft, light-bodied, aged
rice, light-bodied, cask
rice, light-bodied, dry, aged
rice, clean, aged
rice, clean, aged
rice, smooth, crisp, aged
rice, smooth, aged
rice, smooth, rich
rice, umami, crisp, sweet
rice, rich, clean, bright
rice, soft, umami, rich
rice, vanilla, smooth, fruity
rice, sweet, clean, smooth
rice, chocolate, sweet
rice, rich, bright
rice, pear, jasmine, light-bodied
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, light-bodied, clean
Kokuto shochu
Tea and coffee meet the molasses in the bottle rather than arguing with it, and the darker the cup the better it holds.
Tea and cask is a Scotch idea
Black tea's tannin sits well with aged notes
kokuto, smooth, smoky, cask
kokuto, smooth, cask, aged
kokuto, chocolate, nutty, sweet
Show the other 21 black tea (earl grey) matches
kokuto, rich, long finish, aged
Tannin cuts molasses the way it cuts condensed milk in a cup of chai
kokuto, molasses, vanilla, spice
kokuto, vanilla, spice, cask
kokuto, tropical fruit, vanilla, sweet
kokuto, light-bodied, clean, aged
Black tea and brown sugar is milk tea logic
kokuto, rum-like, chocolate
Tannin and melon do not agree
Kasutori, chestnut and other bases
Black tea's tannin sits well with aged notes
smooth, rich, full-bodied, sweet
smooth, rich, cask, aged
floral, smooth, aged
Tea is in this bottle, not just on its nose, so this doubles it rather than introducing it.
Show the other 10 black tea (earl grey) matches
The bottle already smells of citrus, and this puts more of it in the glass.
The bottle is already floral, and this puts more of that in the glass.
citrus, plum, sweet, yuzu
chestnut, floral, roasted grain, sweet
Citrus is in this bottle, not just on its nose, so this doubles it rather than introducing it.
smooth, rich, aged
There is enough weight here to stand up to a bitter or a spice without disappearing under it.
Soba shochu
Roasted tea and buckwheat are one flavour from two plants. Hojicha and soba-yu are the same instinct.
Black tea's tannin sits well with aged notes
buckwheat, smooth, aged
Cold-brewed Earl Grey brings bergamot; plain black tea brings tannin. For the aged and brown-sugar bottles.
buckwheat, nutty, earthy, vanilla
buckwheat, smooth
Show the other 4 black tea (earl grey) matches
buckwheat, barley, rice
buckwheat, sweet
Korui, the continuous-still shochu
Oolong-hai and green tea-hai are this bottle's job. The tea is the drink; the shochu is the proof behind it.
Tea and honey
Cold-brewed Earl Grey brings bergamot; plain black tea brings tannin. For the aged and brown-sugar bottles.
rice, soft, crisp, clean
soft, light-bodied, clean, sweet
barley, soft, crisp, clean
corn, savory, sweet, clean
Shiso, sesame, yuzu and other flavoured shochu
Citrus is in this bottle, not just on its nose, so this doubles it rather than introducing it.
The bottle is already floral, and this puts more of that in the glass.