Shochu that goes with lemon soda (ramune, sanpellegrino)
Bubbles
These are bottles to mix lemon soda (ramune, sanpellegrino) into. Some of them taste of it too, and where that is the reason a bottle is here, its line says so.
The shortcut to a sour when there is no fresh lemon. Less sweet is better.
Best bottles for lemon soda (ramune, sanpellegrino)
The strongest matches in the catalogue, across every style. Everything below is the same ranking opened out by what the shochu is made from.
The distilleries themselves now sell imo shochu as a highball. Soda lifts the aroma off the glass instead of burying it.
sweet potato, smooth, sweet, vanilla
These bottles already have one strong flavour in them. Soda gives it room instead of competing with it.
muscat, citrus, floral, sweet potato
rice, citrus, crisp
sweet potato, banana, vanilla, clean
Soba shochu is usually vacuum distilled and light. That's the profile a highball flatters. The soba highball is a standard order in a soba restaurant, not an experiment.
sweet potato, clean
sweet potato, citrus, fruity, mint
citrus, yuzu
The barley highball is one of the most common ways shochu gets drunk in Japan. Clean spirit, cold soda, nothing in the way.
barley, citrus, melon, banana
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
The distilleries themselves now sell imo shochu as a highball. Soda lifts the aroma off the glass instead of burying it.
citrus, pear, sweet potato, clean
sweet potato, smooth, sweet, vanilla
muscat, citrus, floral, sweet potato
sweet potato, banana, vanilla, clean
sweet potato, citrus, fruity, mint
Show the other 155 lemon soda (ramune, sanpellegrino) matches
sweet potato, sweet, clean, soft
sweet potato, soft, crisp, clean
sweet potato, rich, clean, sweet
sweet potato, light-bodied, clean, sweet
sweet potato, floral, fruity, clean
sweet potato, sweet, clean, rich
sweet potato, sweet, clean, fruity
sweet potato, pear, grassy, rich
sweet potato, smooth, soft, clean
lychee, grape, jasmine, rich
vanilla, cask, rich, crisp
sweet potato, pineapple, tropical fruit, fruity
sweet potato, floral, full-bodied
sweet potato, soft, tea
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato
sweet potato, light-bodied, long finish
sweet potato, lychee, grape, muscat
sweet potato, soft, dry, sweet
sweet potato, fruity, soft
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, soft, dry, sweet
sweet potato, tea, rich
sweet potato, smooth, toast
sweet potato, rich, smooth, umami
sweet potato, smooth, umami, light-bodied
sweet potato, earthy
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, coffee, earthy, pepper
sweet potato, whisky-like, cask
sweet potato, umami, rich
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, rich
sweet potato, fruity
sweet potato, smooth, fruity, bright
sweet potato, fruity, umami, rich
sweet potato, pear, grassy, light-bodied
sweet potato, lychee, floral, fruity
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, rich, purple sweet potato
sweet potato
sweet potato, crisp
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, smooth
sweet potato, smoky, rich, long finish
sweet potato
sweet potato, umami, soft, full-bodied
sweet potato, spice, clean, sharp
sweet potato, umami, soft, clean
sweet potato, clean, aged
sweet potato, light-bodied, clean, dry
sweet potato, purple sweet potato, berry, yogurt
sweet potato, crisp, bitter
sweet potato, umami, rich, sweet
sweet potato, pineapple, maple, mineral
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, rich, sweet
sweet potato, umami, sweet, rich
sweet potato, fruity, soft, sweet
sweet potato, apple, soft, rich
sweet potato, soft, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, rich, light-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, soft, light-bodied
sweet potato, berry, soft, sweet
sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, roasted grain
sweet potato, sweet, soft
sweet potato, spice, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, umami, smooth
sweet potato, melon, banana, sweet
sweet potato, funky
sweet potato
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, rich, sweet
sweet potato, soft, light-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, sweet
sweet potato, yogurt, creamy texture
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, roasted grain, sweet
sweet potato, white peach, grape, berry
sweet potato, vanilla, creamy texture, bright
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, rich, crisp, soft
sweet potato, tea, vanilla, mushroom
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, crisp, sweet
sweet potato, full-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, floral, soft, maple
sweet potato, smooth
sweet potato, sweet, soft, rich
sweet potato, smooth, sweet, long finish
sweet potato, chocolate, sherry-like, cask
sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, umami, silky
sweet potato, sweet, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, citrus, floral, sweet
sweet potato, citrus, floral, caramel
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, rich, clean
sweet potato, smooth, clean, aged
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, tropical fruit, bright, aged
sweet potato, smooth, aged
sweet potato, milky, soft, aged
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, light-bodied, dry, aged
sweet potato, umami, rich, aged
sweet potato, fruity, earthy, mineral
sweet potato, earthy, crisp, aged
sweet potato, whisky-like, aged
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, umami, rich, aged
sweet potato, lychee, chocolate, bright
sweet potato, soft, smooth, rich
sweet potato, lychee, white peach, tropical fruit
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, umami, rich, sweet
sweet potato, fruity, silky, smooth
sweet potato, sweet, sherry-like, cask
sweet potato, shiso, smooth, tea
sweet potato, floral, fruity, umami
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, smooth
sweet potato, sweet, smooth, aged
sweet potato, soft, light-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, caramel
sweet potato, rich, soft, aged
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, nutty, umami
sweet potato, soft, smooth, aged
sweet potato, vanilla, toast, spice
sweet potato, tropical fruit, spice, light-bodied
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, caramel
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, tropical fruit, pepper, sweet
Mugi shochu
The barley highball is one of the most common ways shochu gets drunk in Japan. Clean spirit, cold soda, nothing in the way.
barley, citrus, melon, white peach
barley, citrus, melon, banana
barley, clean, off-dry, smooth
barley, bright, clean, light-bodied
barley, crisp, clean
Show the other 94 lemon soda (ramune, sanpellegrino) matches
barley, rich, clean
barley, umami, savory, clean
barley, apple, pineapple, creamy texture
barley, rice, umami
barley, rice, umami
barley, earthy, clean, bright
barley, sweet, clean
barley, clean, sharp
barley, earthy, mineral, pepper
barley, tropical fruit, light-bodied
barley, smooth, rich, light-bodied
barley, pear, soft, spice
barley, rich, crisp
barley, smooth
barley, soft, sweet
barley, umami, rich, sharp
barley, chocolate, rich, full-bodied
barley, light-bodied
barley, umami
barley, fruity, soft
barley, honey, chocolate, spice
barley, roasted grain
barley, cask
barley, sesame, grassy, chocolate
barley, smooth, mint, caramel
barley, vanilla, chocolate, nutty
barley, toast, rich, light-bodied
barley, banana, white peach, tea
barley, melon, banana, floral
barley, umami, light-bodied
barley, smooth, dry
barley, white peach, cherry, soft
barley, soft, bright
barley, soft, chocolate, toast
barley, banana, toast
barley, vanilla, cask
barley, toast, light-bodied, sweet
barley, crisp, light-bodied, fruity
barley, rich
barley, fruity, light-bodied
barley, silky, smooth
barley, banana, berry, bread
barley, smoky, soft, cask
barley, crisp, clean, aged
barley, soft, light-bodied, clean
barley, smooth, light-bodied, clean
barley, sesame, caramel, chocolate
barley, chocolate, umami, smooth
barley, smooth, crisp, aged
barley, chocolate, earthy, smooth
barley, smooth, long finish, aged
barley, umami, rich, sweet
barley, umami, rich, aged
barley, smooth, rich, aged
barley, smooth, rich, aged
barley, smooth, rich, whisky-like
barley, rich, full-bodied, cask
barley, vanilla, spice, cask
barley, rich, aged
barley, toast, savory, rich
barley, smooth, crisp, cask
barley, toast, spice, rich
barley, umami, aged
barley, chocolate, coffee, rich
barley, aged
barley, pear, banana, bread
barley, caramel, chocolate, smoky
barley, cask, aged
barley, jasmine, honey, vanilla
barley, soft, silky, smooth
barley, soft, cask, aged
barley, smooth, crisp, aged
barley, rich, cask, aged
barley, toast, cereal, rich
barley, vanilla, nutty, toast
barley, cask, aged
barley, dry, cask, aged
Awamori
The awamori highball is an easy summer drink and the simplest way into the category.
rice, citrus
rice, citrus, umami, soft
rice, sweet, rich, full-bodied
rice, clean, sweet
rice, clean, smooth
rice, citrus, roasted grain, sweet
Show the other 100 lemon soda (ramune, sanpellegrino) matches
rice, citrus, vanilla, chocolate
rice, citrus, tropical fruit, vanilla
rich, smooth, clean, soft
clean, off-dry, soft, light-bodied
rice, smooth, cereal, sweet
rice, cherry, vanilla, chocolate
rice, toast, sweet
rice, soft, rich, sweet
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, light-bodied, sweet
rice, caramel, chocolate, crisp
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, soft, smooth
rice, earthy, mushroom, rich
rice, citrus, cereal, aged
floral, clean, sharp, aged
rice, cask, aged
rice, roasted grain, aged
rice, clean, smooth, aged
rice, umami, clean, light-bodied
rice, clean, bright, aged
rice, soft, clean, aged
rice, clean, sharp, aged
rice, smooth, soft, clean
caramel, smoky, rich, earthy
umami, rich, full-bodied, cask
rice, pear, caramel, rich
rice, whisky-like, cask, aged
rice, smooth, savory, aged
rice, aged
rice, 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, sweet, smooth, rich
rice, smooth, soft, aged
rice, sweet, crisp, smooth
rice, smooth, maple, umami
rice, sherry-like, aged
rice, aged
rice, steamed rice, soft, caramel
rice, sweet, soft, smooth
rice, smooth, sweet, aged
rice, smooth, aged
rice, smooth, crisp, aged
rice, smooth, sweet, oily
rice, chocolate, sweet, aged
rice, smooth, sweet, aged
rice, cherry, vanilla, caramel
rice, floral, honey, caramel
rice, vanilla, funky, creamy texture
Shiso, sesame, yuzu and other flavoured shochu
These bottles already have one strong flavour in them. Soda gives it room instead of competing with it.
citrus, bright, bitter, crisp
rice, citrus, crisp
citrus, yuzu
sesame, nutty, toast, off-dry
barley, herbal, sweet
Show the other 4 lemon soda (ramune, sanpellegrino) matches
tropical fruit, rich
shiso, red shiso
sweet, white peach
coffee, chocolate, brown sugar, rice
Soba shochu
Soba shochu is usually vacuum distilled and light. That's the profile a highball flatters. The soba highball is a standard order in a soba restaurant, not an experiment.
buckwheat, barley, rice
buckwheat, savory, nutty, earthy
buckwheat, smooth
buckwheat, soft
Show the other 4 lemon soda (ramune, sanpellegrino) matches
buckwheat, umami
buckwheat, nutty, earthy, vanilla
buckwheat, smooth, aged
Korui, the continuous-still shochu
Soda and a neutral base is the chuhai, and nothing in the bottle competes with what you put in it.
sweet potato, soft, crisp, clean
rice, soft, crisp, clean
barley, soft, crisp, clean
soft, light-bodied, clean, sweet
corn, savory, sweet, clean
Kome shochu
Rice shochu and lemon soda
rice, citrus, apple, pineapple
rice, floral, ginjo-like, clean
rice, sweet, clean, smooth
rice, ginjo-like
Show the other 51 lemon soda (ramune, sanpellegrino) matches
rice, smooth, full-bodied, cask
rice, fruity
rice, vanilla, smooth, fruity
rice, floral, fruity, smooth
rice, melon, vanilla, toast
rice, chocolate, sweet
rice, pear, jasmine, light-bodied
rice, rich, clean, bright
rice, light-bodied, clean
rice, clean
Sweet soda and aged notes argue
rice, citrus, aged
rice, steamed rice, citrus, pineapple
rice, vanilla, caramel, chocolate
rice, umami, crisp, sweet
rice, soft, umami, rich
rice, umami, rich
rice, rich, bright
rice, smooth, rich
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, ginjo-like, floral, aged
rice, soft, umami, rich
rice, vanilla, smooth, cask
rice, vanilla, smooth, sweet
rice, floral, smooth, soft
rice, banana, vanilla, chocolate
rice, vanilla, cask, aged
rice, smooth, aged, cask
rice, cask, aged
rice, cask, aged
rice, smooth, light-bodied, sweet
rice, soft, smoky, creamy texture
rice, clean, aged
Kasutori, chestnut and other bases
Lemon sour in one pour
The bottle already smells of citrus, and this puts more of it in the glass.
Citrus is in this bottle, not just on its nose, so this doubles it rather than introducing it.
A lemon soda softens imo shochu for the unconvinced
chestnut, barley, fruity, rich
Sweet citrus bubbles on a clean bottle
Show the other 25 lemon soda (ramune, sanpellegrino) matches
Carbonation carries aroma up out of the glass, so a highball shows an aromatic bottle off rather than diluting the point of it.
chestnut, soft, sweet
roasted grain, umami, smooth
floral, fruity, sweet, plum
chestnut, floral, roasted grain, sweet
funky, crisp, dry
Sweet soda and aged notes argue
Kokuto shochu
Carbonation carries aroma up out of the glass, so a highball shows an aromatic bottle off rather than diluting the point of it.
kokuto, chocolate, nutty, sweet