Shochu that goes with green tea (sencha)
Tea and coffee
These are bottles to mix green tea (sencha) into. Some of them taste of it too, and where that is the reason a bottle is here, its line says so.
Cold-brewed sencha, unsweetened. Ocha-wari is one of the everyday ways shochu is drunk in Japan, alongside the oolong version.
Best bottles for green tea (sencha)
The strongest matches in the catalogue, across every style. Everything below is the same ranking opened out by what the shochu is made from.
Oolong-hai and green tea highballs are izakaya staples, and barley is clean enough to let the tea lead.
Green tea and oolong are how shochu is drunk with dinner across Kyushu. Tea's tannin meets the earth without covering it.
sweet potato, smooth, clean, aged
sweet potato, umami, soft, clean
sweet potato, tea, rich
sweet potato, shiso, smooth, tea
sweet potato, tea, vanilla, mushroom
barley, rice, umami
barley, rice, umami
Green tea's tannin gives clean rice shochu the grip it does not have on its own
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, umami, silky
Rice shochu with green tea is an ordinary Kyushu dinner order, not a novelty.
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.
sweet potato, umami, soft, full-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, clean, aged
sweet potato, umami, soft, clean
sweet potato, tea, rich
sweet potato, shiso, smooth, tea
sweet potato, tea, vanilla, mushroom
Show the other 155 green tea (sencha) matches
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, umami, silky
sweet potato, spice, clean, sharp
sweet potato, umami, smooth
sweet potato, umami, rich
sweet potato, umami, rich, aged
sweet potato, floral, fruity, umami
sweet potato, fruity, umami, rich
sweet potato, umami, rich, aged
sweet potato, clean, aged
sweet potato, smooth, nutty, umami
sweet potato, soft, tea
sweet potato, smooth, soft, clean
citrus, pear, sweet potato, clean
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, rich, smooth, umami
sweet potato, smooth, umami, light-bodied
sweet potato, pear, grassy, light-bodied
sweet potato, light-bodied, clean, dry
vanilla, cask, rich, crisp
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, floral, full-bodied
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, tropical fruit, bright, aged
sweet potato, smooth, aged
sweet potato, milky, soft, aged
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, whisky-like, cask
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, rich
sweet potato, fruity, earthy, mineral
sweet potato, earthy, crisp, aged
sweet potato, yogurt, creamy texture
sweet potato, lychee, floral, fruity
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, vanilla, creamy texture, bright
sweet potato, rich, purple sweet potato
sweet potato, whisky-like, aged
sweet potato, rich, crisp, soft
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, rich, soft, aged
sweet potato, soft, smooth, aged
sweet potato, floral, soft, maple
sweet potato, vanilla, toast, spice
sweet potato, lychee, chocolate, bright
sweet potato, soft, smooth, rich
sweet potato, chocolate, sherry-like, cask
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, aged
lychee, grape, jasmine, rich
sweet potato, pear, grassy, rich
sweet potato, sweet, clean, rich
sweet potato, umami, rich, sweet
sweet potato, umami, rich, sweet
sweet potato, rich, clean, sweet
sweet potato, umami, sweet, rich
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, rich, clean
muscat, citrus, floral, sweet potato
sweet potato, crisp, bitter
sweet potato, pineapple, tropical fruit, fruity
sweet potato, light-bodied, long finish
sweet potato, lychee, grape, muscat
sweet potato, fruity, soft
sweet potato, roasted grain
sweet potato, smooth, toast
sweet potato, earthy
sweet potato, coffee, earthy, pepper
sweet potato, funky
sweet potato, light-bodied, dry, aged
sweet potato, fruity
sweet potato, smooth, fruity, bright
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, smooth
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, white peach, grape, berry
sweet potato, crisp
sweet potato, smooth
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, smooth
sweet potato, tropical fruit, spice, light-bodied
sweet potato, smoky, rich, long finish
sweet potato, lychee, white peach, tropical fruit
sweet potato, sweet, clean, soft
sweet potato, banana, vanilla, clean
sweet potato, soft, crisp, clean
sweet potato, light-bodied, clean, sweet
sweet potato, floral, fruity, clean
sweet potato, sweet, clean, fruity
sweet potato, smooth, sweet, vanilla
sweet potato, sweet, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, pineapple, maple, mineral
sweet potato, citrus, floral, sweet
sweet potato, rich, sweet
sweet potato, fruity, silky, smooth
sweet potato, sweet, sherry-like, cask
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, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, rich, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, smooth, aged
sweet potato, soft, light-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, caramel
sweet potato, citrus, floral, caramel
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, full-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, soft, rich
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, caramel
sweet potato, sweet, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, tropical fruit, pepper, sweet
sweet potato, purple sweet potato, berry, yogurt
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, fruity, soft, sweet
sweet potato, soft, dry, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, soft, light-bodied
sweet potato, soft, dry, sweet
sweet potato, berry, soft, sweet
sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, soft
sweet potato, spice, sweet
sweet potato, melon, banana, sweet
sweet potato, citrus, fruity, mint
sweet potato, soft, light-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, roasted grain, sweet
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, crisp, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, sweet, long finish
Mugi shochu
Oolong-hai and green tea highballs are izakaya staples, and barley is clean enough to let the tea lead.
barley, citrus, melon, white peach
barley, rice, umami
barley, rice, umami
barley, banana, white peach, tea
barley, clean, off-dry, smooth
barley, bright, clean, light-bodied
Show the other 94 green tea (sencha) matches
barley, chocolate, umami, smooth
barley, crisp, clean, aged
barley, crisp, clean
barley, soft, clean
barley, smooth, light-bodied, clean
barley, rich, clean
barley, umami, rich, aged
barley, umami, rich, sharp
barley, earthy, clean, bright
barley, umami, aged
barley, umami, light-bodied
barley, jasmine, honey, vanilla
barley, clean, sharp
barley, chocolate, rich, full-bodied
barley, rich, full-bodied, cask
barley, umami, savory, clean
barley, apple, pineapple, creamy texture
barley, earthy, mineral, pepper
barley, sesame, caramel, chocolate
barley, smooth, crisp, aged
barley, chocolate, earthy, smooth
barley, tropical fruit, light-bodied
barley, smooth, rich, light-bodied
barley, pear, soft, spice
barley, smooth, long finish, aged
barley, rich, crisp
barley, smoky, soft, cask
barley, smooth
barley, smooth, rich, aged
barley, smooth, rich, aged
barley, smooth, rich, whisky-like
barley, light-bodied
barley, vanilla, spice, cask
barley, fruity, soft
barley, honey, chocolate, spice
barley, roasted grain
barley, smooth, mint, caramel
barley, vanilla, chocolate, nutty
barley, toast, savory, rich
barley, smooth, crisp, cask
barley, toast, spice, rich
barley, melon, banana, floral
barley, chocolate, coffee, rich
barley, smooth, dry
barley, soft, bright
barley, soft, chocolate, toast
barley, banana, toast
barley, caramel, chocolate, smoky
barley, cask, aged
barley, vanilla, cask
barley, soft, silky, smooth
barley, soft, cask, aged
barley, smooth, crisp, aged
barley, rich, cask, aged
barley, crisp, light-bodied, fruity
barley, toast, cereal, rich
barley, fruity, light-bodied
barley, silky, smooth
barley, vanilla, nutty, toast
barley, cask, aged
barley, banana, berry, bread
barley, dry, cask, aged
barley, soft, light-bodied, clean
barley, umami, rich, sweet
barley, citrus, melon, banana
barley, sesame, grassy, chocolate
barley, sweet, clean
barley, soft, sweet
barley, caramel, rich, sweet
barley, toast, rich, light-bodied
barley, white peach, cherry, soft
barley, pear, banana, bread
barley, toast, light-bodied, sweet
Kome shochu
Rice shochu with green tea is an ordinary Kyushu dinner order, not a novelty.
rice, soft, umami, rich
rice, umami, rich, aged
rice, floral, ginjo-like, clean
rice, rich, clean, bright
rice, soft, umami, rich
Show the other 64 green tea (sencha) matches
rice, pear, jasmine, light-bodied
rice, light-bodied, clean
rice, vanilla, smooth, cask
rice, rich, aged
rice, soft, rich, aged
rice, smooth, aged
rice, citrus, dried fruit, floral
rice, smooth, full-bodied, cask
rice, banana, vanilla, chocolate
rice, smooth, aged, cask
rice, smooth, rich
rice, aged, cask, smooth
rice, ginjo-like, floral, aged
rice, floral, aged
rice, floral, smooth, soft
rice, soft, light-bodied, aged
rice, light-bodied, cask
rice, light-bodied, dry, aged
rice, vanilla, smooth, fruity
rice, floral, fruity, smooth
rice, vanilla, cask, aged
rice, melon, vanilla, toast
rice, citrus, apple, pineapple
rice, smooth, crisp, aged
rice, rich, bright
rice, cask, aged
rice, smooth, aged
rice, umami, crisp, sweet
rice, sweet, clean, smooth
rice, vanilla, smooth, sweet
rice, vanilla, caramel, chocolate
rice, soft, smoky, creamy texture
rice, citrus, silky, light-bodied
rice, chocolate, sweet
rice, steamed rice, citrus, pineapple
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, smooth, light-bodied, sweet
Awamori
Oolong and jasmine both belong to the same Chinese-adjacent kitchen awamori grew up in.
Green tea's tannin gives clean rice shochu the grip it does not have on its own
rice, umami, clean, light-bodied
rice, clean, smooth, aged
rice, clean, bright, aged
rice, soft, clean, aged
rice, clean, sharp, aged
Show the other 102 green tea (sencha) matches
rice, clean, smooth
Green tea has umami of its own; it meets the bottle's
rich, full-bodied, aged, umami
umami, rich, full-bodied, cask
rice, pear, caramel, rich
rice, cask, aged
rice, whisky-like, cask, aged
rice, smooth, savory, aged
rice, cherry, vanilla, chocolate
rice, bright, aged
rice, citrus, cereal, aged
rice, smooth, aged
rice, soft, aged
rice, caramel, chocolate, crisp
rice, smooth, soft, aged
rice, roasted grain, aged
rice, sherry-like, aged
rice, aged
rice, soft, smooth
rice, steamed rice, soft, caramel
rice, smooth, aged
rice, smooth, crisp, aged
rice, cherry, vanilla, caramel
rice, floral, honey, caramel
rice, vanilla, funky, creamy texture
rice, citrus, tropical fruit, vanilla
rice, nutty, dry, aged
Bitter tea and a sweet bottle argue
Cold-brewed sencha on a clean bottle is quiet and grown-up
clean, off-dry, soft, light-bodied
rice, earthy, mushroom, rich
There is enough weight here to stand up to a bitter or a spice without disappearing under it.
rice, clean, sweet
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, soft, rich, sweet
rice, soft, smooth, rich
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, soft, rich, sweet
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, sweet, smooth, rich
rice, sweet, crisp, smooth
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, citrus, roasted grain, sweet
rice, citrus, vanilla, chocolate
rice, sweet, soft, smooth
rice, smooth, sweet, aged
rice, smooth, sweet, oily
rice, chocolate, sweet, aged
rice, smooth, sweet, aged
rice, sweet, rich, full-bodied
floral, clean, sharp, aged
rice, smooth, cereal, sweet
rice, toast, sweet
rice, light-bodied, 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.
sweet potato, soft, crisp, clean
rice, soft, crisp, clean
barley, soft, crisp, clean
soft, light-bodied, clean, sweet
corn, savory, sweet, clean
Soba shochu
Roasted tea and buckwheat are one flavour from two plants. Hojicha and soba-yu are the same instinct.
Green tea's tannin gives clean rice shochu the grip it does not have on its own
Green tea has umami of its own; it meets the bottle's
Cold-brewed sencha, unsweetened. Ocha-wari is one of the everyday ways shochu is drunk in Japan, alongside the oolong version.
buckwheat, nutty, earthy, vanilla
buckwheat, smooth, aged
Show the other 3 green tea (sencha) matches
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.
Cold-brewed sencha on a clean bottle is quiet and grown-up
There is enough weight here to stand up to a bitter or a spice without disappearing under it.
kokuto, cask, aged
kokuto, rich, long finish, aged
kokuto, smooth, smoky, cask
Show the other 20 green tea (sencha) matches
kokuto, smooth, cask, aged
Bitter tea and a sweet bottle argue
Cold-brewed sencha, unsweetened. Ocha-wari is one of the everyday ways shochu is drunk in Japan, alongside the oolong version.
kokuto, molasses, vanilla, spice
kokuto, vanilla, spice, cask
kokuto, rum-like, chocolate
kokuto, tropical fruit, vanilla, sweet
kokuto, soft, light-bodied, sweet
Kasutori, chestnut and other bases
Tea is in this bottle, not just on its nose, so this doubles it rather than introducing it.
Green tea brings grassy bitterness and a little tannin, which gives a soft barley shochu an edge to push against
ginger, dry, crisp, citrus
Green tea has umami of its own; it meets the bottle's
Green tea softens the earth in imo shochu without hiding it
Cold-brewed sencha on a clean bottle is quiet and grown-up
Show the other 1 green tea (sencha) matches
There is enough weight here to stand up to a bitter or a spice without disappearing under it.
Shiso, sesame, yuzu and other flavoured shochu
Cold-brewed sencha on a clean bottle is quiet and grown-up
sesame, nutty, toast, off-dry
Tea gives a yuzu bottle length and a little tannin, which is the structure the fruit does not have
Green tea's tannin gives clean rice shochu the grip it does not have on its own