Shochu that goes with carciofo amaro (cynar-style)

Bitter and aperitivo

Cynar, 16.5 percent, which is weaker than the shochu itself, so equal parts lands near 20 percent and the drink stays long. Soda or a grapefruit soda over the top is the producer's own serve.

Best bottles for carciofo amaro (cynar-style)

The strongest matches in the catalogue, across every style. Everything below is the same ranking opened out by what the shochu is made from.

Chuko Ryukyu AwamoriPouredAwamori · Okinawa (Naha)

Carciofo amaro (Cynar-style): Aged kusu is intense enough to meet amaro without either one winning.

Kuro Kirishima ShochuPouredImo (sweet potato) · Miyazaki

Carciofo amaro (Cynar-style): Amaro and gentian answer the earth with more earth, which is why a split-base imo drink reads as intentional rather than odd.

Zuisen Hiryu AwamoriPouredAwamori · Okinawa (Naha)

umami, rich, full-bodied, cask

Seifuku Vintage AwamoriPouredAwamori · Okinawa (Ishigaki)

rich, full-bodied, aged, umami

Aka Maoh Shochu Red Satan 12Imo (sweet potato) · Miyazaki

sweet potato, umami, rich, sweet

MahokoImo (sweet potato) · Miyazaki

sweet potato, rice, umami, rich

Zanpa White AwamoriAwamori · Okinawa

rice, umami, smooth, soft

Gyokuro Excellent Green ShochuPouredShochu · Fukuoka

Carciofo amaro (Cynar-style): With only 25 percent under it, the bitterness reads as celery and walnut skin instead of being scorched off

24-DO Kinjo ShiroKome (rice) · Kumamoto

rice, umami, rich, sherry-like

MotokoKome (rice) · Miyazaki

rice, umami, rich, aged

Towari Soba ShochuPouredSoba (buckwheat) · Kyoto

Carciofo amaro (Cynar-style): Vegetal bitterness against earth, which is a closer match than a caramel amaro makes

Jikuya BlackImo (sweet potato) · Kagoshima

sweet potato, earthy, sweet, koji

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 and anything poured at our bar come first. The ranking is the same engine that recommends a mixer from a bottle, run the other way round.

Awamori

Aged kusu is intense enough to meet amaro without either one winning.

Chuko Ryukyu AwamoriPouredAwamori · Okinawa (Naha)Start with Pu-erh tea, Black pepper Zuisen Hiryu AwamoriPouredAwamori · Okinawa (Naha)Start with Pu-erh tea, Yuzu kosho Seifuku Vintage AwamoriPouredAwamori · Okinawa (Ishigaki)Start with Pu-erh tea, Daidai (bitter orange)Zanpa White AwamoriAwamori · OkinawaStart with Soda water, Green tea (sencha)Zuisen Kouryu AwamoriPouredAwamori · Okinawa (Naha)Start with Ginger ale, Black tea (Earl Grey)Ryukyu Ohcho AwamoriPouredAwamori · Okinawa (Miyakojima)Start with Soda water, Yuzu

23 more, all of them in Awamori

Imo shochu

Amaro and gentian answer the earth with more earth, which is why a split-base imo drink reads as intentional rather than odd.

Kuro Kirishima ShochuPouredImo (sweet potato) · MiyazakiStart with Pu-erh tea, Kurozu (Kagoshima black vinegar)Aka Maoh Shochu Red Satan 12Imo (sweet potato) · MiyazakiStart with Ginger beer, Daidai (bitter orange)MahokoImo (sweet potato) · MiyazakiStart with Ginger beer, Green tea (sencha)Daiyame 40 Imo ShochuPouredImo (sweet potato) · KagoshimaStart with Tonic water, Passion fruit Kirishima Melt 15yr ShochuPouredImo (sweet potato) · MiyazakiStart with Ginger beer, Daidai (bitter orange)Satsuma Kuradashi Genshu ShochuPouredImo (sweet potato) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), Daidai (bitter orange)

52 more, all of them in Imo shochu

Kome shochu

A light rice spirit can be bullied by amaro. Keep the bitter under a quarter ounce or pick a heavier bottle.

Kiuchi Rice Shochu ClassicPouredKome (rice) · IbarakiStart with Oolong tea, Black tea (Earl Grey)Kiuchi Rice Shochu GinkaPouredKome (rice) · IbarakiStart with Jasmine tea, Yuzu

22 more, all of them in Kome shochu

Kokuto shochu

Brown sugar carries bitterness the way a boulevardier carries whiskey. Amaro and red bitter both land.

Nankai Gold ShochuPouredKokuto (brown sugar) · Kagoshima (Amami Oshima)Start with Ginger beer, Lime Amami Kokuto ShochuPouredKokuto (brown sugar) · Kagoshima (Amami)Start with Ginger beer, Pineapple Nankai White Oak ShochuPouredKokuto (brown sugar) · Kagoshima (Amami Oshima)Start with Ginger beer, Cinnamon

8 more, all of them in Kokuto shochu

Shiso, sesame, tea and other single-botanical shochu

A strong bitter will argue with the botanical rather than support it. Keep it to a dash.

Gyokuro Excellent Green ShochuPouredShochu · FukuokaStart with Kombucha, Kurozu (Kagoshima black vinegar)Rihei Ginger ShochuPouredShochu · MiyazakiStart with Ginger ale, Grapefruit

5 more, all of them in Shiso, sesame, tea and other single-botanical shochu

Soba shochu

Towari Soba ShochuPouredSoba (buckwheat) · KyotoStart with Ginger beer, Kurozu (Kagoshima black vinegar)

Mugi shochu

Asahi MannenboshiMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), Coffee (cold brew)