Shochu that goes with madeira (dry, sercial or verdelho)

Wine, liqueur and spirits

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.

Best bottles for madeira (dry, sercial or verdelho)

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

Brooklyn Kura Kasutori ShochuKome (rice)

Madeira (dry, Sercial or Verdelho): Grain and roast are the same flavour arrived at twice, once by the still and once by the pan.

Kirishima Melt Barley 720mlMugi (barley) · Miyazaki

barley, caramel, rich, sweet

Musha Gaeshi "Tipsy Samurai" Rice ShochuKome (rice) · Kumamoto

rice, melon, vanilla, toast

ToyonagaKome (rice) · Kumamoto

rice, roasted barley, smooth, sweet

24-DO Kinjo ShiroKome (rice) · Kumamoto

Madeira (dry, Sercial or Verdelho): Rice shochu stirred with vermouth is a martini at half the proof.

Toyonaga "Okukuma"Kome (rice) · Kumamoto

rice, vanilla, caramel, chocolate

Ark JakuunbakuMugi (barley) · Fukuoka

barley, roasted barley, chestnut, vanilla

Ginza Suzume Kohaku Mugi ShochuMugi (barley) · Oita

barley, smoky, soft, whisky-like

Hyakunen No Kodoku '100 Years of Solitude' Barrel-Aged Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · Miyazaki

barley, rich, full-bodied, cask

Iichiko Special Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · Oita

barley, vanilla, spice, cask

Mannen Boshi 'Genshu' Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · Miyazaki

barley, toast, spice, rich

Mugi HokkaMugi (barley) · Kagoshima

barley, roasted barley, chocolate, coffee

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.