Shochu that goes with shikuwasa
Citrus
These are bottles to mix shikuwasa into. Some of them taste of it too, and where that is the reason a bottle is here, its line says so.
Okinawa's own citrus, picked green and sharp, more bitter than lime and more floral than sudachi. Squeezed over awamori and soda it is what the islands actually drink.
Best bottles for shikuwasa
The strongest matches in the catalogue, across every style. Everything below is the same ranking opened out by what the shochu is made from.
Sharper and more bitter than a lime, which is what keeps it from disappearing into a light bottle
The bottle already smells of citrus, and this puts more of it in the glass.
sweet potato, light-bodied, clean, sweet
sweet potato, floral, fruity, clean
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, rich, clean
sweet potato, smooth, clean, aged
sweet potato, smooth, soft, clean
An earthy, heavy spirit flattens out without acid. This is the ingredient doing structural work, not decoration.
citrus, pear, sweet potato, clean
Kokuto shochu is a cane spirit at two thirds the proof, and citrus acid is what keeps its sugar moving.
kokuto, light-bodied, clean, aged
sweet potato, crisp, bitter
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
Citrus acid cuts sweet potato's weight. That's why Kagoshima bars reach for grapefruit and yuzu before anything else.
Sharper and more bitter than a lime, which is what keeps it from disappearing into a light bottle
The bottle already smells of citrus, and this puts more of it in the glass.
sweet potato, light-bodied, clean, sweet
sweet potato, floral, fruity, clean
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, rich, clean
sweet potato, smooth, clean, aged
Show the other 155 shikuwasa matches
sweet potato, smooth, soft, clean
An earthy, heavy spirit flattens out without acid. This is the ingredient doing structural work, not decoration.
citrus, pear, sweet potato, clean
sweet potato, crisp, bitter
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, citrus, floral, sweet
sweet potato, fruity, soft, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, soft, light-bodied
sweet potato, berry, soft, sweet
sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, roasted grain
sweet potato, shiso, smooth, tea
sweet potato, umami, smooth
sweet potato, funky
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, smooth
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, roasted grain, sweet
sweet potato, vanilla, creamy texture, bright
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, sweet
sweet potato, citrus, floral, caramel
sweet potato, rich, crisp, soft
sweet potato, tea, vanilla, mushroom
sweet potato, rich, soft, aged
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, crisp, sweet
sweet potato, full-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, nutty, umami
sweet potato, soft, smooth, aged
sweet potato, smooth
sweet potato, vanilla, toast, spice
sweet potato, tropical fruit, spice, light-bodied
sweet potato, roasted sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, sweet, rich, full-bodied
muscat, citrus, floral, sweet potato
sweet potato, pineapple, tropical fruit, fruity
sweet potato, lychee, white peach, tropical fruit
sweet potato, sweet, clean, soft
sweet potato, soft, crisp, clean
sweet potato, rich, clean, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, clean, rich
sweet potato, sweet, clean, fruity
sweet potato, pear, grassy, rich
The sweetness here is aroma rather than sugar, because sugar does not come over a still. Acid is what keeps the impression from turning cloying.
sweet potato, white peach, grape, berry
vanilla, cask, rich, crisp
sweet potato, sweet, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, umami, rich, sweet
sweet potato, umami, rich, sweet
sweet potato, pineapple, maple, mineral
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, rich, sweet
sweet potato, umami, sweet, rich
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, spice, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, rich, sweet
sweet potato, rich, sweet
sweet potato, soft, light-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, floral, fruity, umami
sweet potato, soft, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, sweet
sweet potato, sweet, smooth, aged
sweet potato, yogurt, creamy texture
sweet potato, soft, light-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, caramel
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied, sweet
sweet potato, floral, soft, maple
sweet potato, sweet, soft, rich
sweet potato, smooth, sweet, long finish
sweet potato, chocolate, sherry-like, cask
sweet potato, tropical fruit, floral, caramel
sweet potato, tropical fruit, pepper, sweet
sweet potato, banana, vanilla, clean
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
Fruit without acid goes flat fast. A squeeze of something sour is what keeps a fruity bottle tasting fresh instead of sweet.
sweet potato, lychee, grape, muscat
sweet potato, lychee, floral, fruity
Okinawa's own citrus, picked green and sharp, more bitter than lime and more floral than sudachi. Squeezed over awamori and soda it is what the islands actually drink.
sweet potato, floral, full-bodied
sweet potato, soft, tea
sweet potato, light-bodied, long finish
sweet potato, tropical fruit, bright, aged
sweet potato, soft, dry, sweet
sweet potato, smooth, aged
sweet potato, fruity, soft
sweet potato, umami
sweet potato, soft, dry, sweet
sweet potato, tea, rich
sweet potato, milky, soft, aged
sweet potato, smooth, toast
sweet potato, rich, smooth, umami
sweet potato, smooth, umami, light-bodied
sweet potato, aged
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, whisky-like, cask
sweet potato, light-bodied, dry, aged
sweet potato, umami, rich
sweet potato, rich, full-bodied
sweet potato, smooth, rich
sweet potato, umami, rich, aged
sweet potato, fruity
sweet potato, smooth, fruity, bright
sweet potato, fruity, umami, rich
sweet potato, pear, grassy, light-bodied
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, rich, purple sweet potato
sweet potato, whisky-like, aged
sweet potato, crisp
sweet potato, umami, rich, aged
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, bright
sweet potato, smooth
sweet potato, lychee, chocolate, bright
sweet potato, soft, smooth, rich
sweet potato, smoky, rich, long finish
A heavy earthy bottle swallows it, and the fruit is too good to waste that way
sweet potato, earthy
sweet potato, coffee, earthy, pepper
sweet potato, fruity, earthy, mineral
sweet potato, earthy, crisp, aged
Kokuto shochu
Kokuto shochu is a cane spirit at two thirds the proof, and citrus acid is what keeps its sugar moving.
kokuto, sweet, clean, rich
kokuto, light-bodied, clean, aged
dried fruit, chocolate, honey, kokuto
kokuto, tropical fruit, vanilla, sweet
kokuto, chocolate, nutty, sweet
Show the other 21 shikuwasa matches
kokuto, soft, light-bodied, sweet
kokuto, molasses, roasted grain, dry
kokuto, molasses, vanilla, spice
kokuto, vanilla, spice, cask
kokuto, cask, aged
kokuto, rich, long finish, aged
kokuto, smooth, smoky, cask
kokuto, rum-like, chocolate
kokuto, smooth, cask, aged
Awamori
Awamori carries citrus and tropical aromatics of its own, out of an all-koji ferment rather than out of anything added. Citrus meets what is already there instead of introducing it.
rich, full-bodied, aged, umami
umami, rich, full-bodied, cask
rice, citrus, cereal, aged
rice, citrus, roasted grain, sweet
rice, citrus, vanilla, chocolate
Show the other 102 shikuwasa matches
rice, citrus, tropical fruit, vanilla
rice, nutty, dry, aged
rich, smooth, clean, soft
floral, clean, sharp, aged
clean, off-dry, soft, light-bodied
rice, clean, smooth, aged
rice, umami, clean, light-bodied
rice, clean, bright, aged
rice, soft, clean, aged
rice, smooth, soft, clean
aged, caramel, smooth, spice
rice, pear, caramel, rich
rice, smooth, savory, aged
rice, smooth, cereal, sweet
rice, cherry, vanilla, chocolate
rice, bright, aged
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, soft, smooth, rich
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, soft, rich, sweet
rice, smooth, sweet
rice, smooth, rich, sweet
rice, light-bodied, sweet
rice, caramel, chocolate, crisp
rice, sweet, smooth, rich
rice, smooth, soft, aged
rice, sweet, crisp, smooth
rice, roasted grain, aged
rice, sherry-like, aged
rice, soft, smooth
rice, steamed rice, soft, caramel
rice, sweet, soft, smooth
rice, smooth, sweet, aged
rice, smooth, crisp, aged
rice, smooth, sweet, oily
rice, sweet, rich, full-bodied
rice, vanilla, funky, creamy texture
caramel, smoky, rich, earthy
rice, earthy, mushroom, rich
Mugi shochu
A clean mugi does under citrus what a neutral shochu does, with a little more grain left behind it.
barley, citrus, melon, banana
barley, caramel, rich, sweet
barley, clean, off-dry, smooth
barley, bright, clean, light-bodied
barley, crisp, clean, aged
Show the other 90 shikuwasa matches
barley, soft, light-bodied, clean
barley, soft, clean
barley, smooth, light-bodied, clean
barley, umami, savory, clean
barley, apple, pineapple, creamy texture
barley, sweet, clean
barley, citrus, melon, white peach
barley, sesame, caramel, chocolate
barley, chocolate, umami, smooth
barley, smooth, crisp, aged
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, umami, rich, sweet
barley, umami, rich, aged
barley, smooth, rich, aged
barley, smooth, rich, whisky-like
barley, umami, rich, sharp
barley, chocolate, rich, full-bodied
barley, rich, full-bodied, cask
barley, vanilla, spice, cask
barley, rice, umami
barley, honey, chocolate, spice
barley, roasted grain
barley, sesame, grassy, chocolate
barley, smooth, mint, caramel
barley, toast, savory, rich
barley, toast, rich, light-bodied
barley, smooth, crisp, cask
barley, toast, spice, rich
barley, banana, white peach, tea
barley, chocolate, coffee, rich
barley, umami, light-bodied
barley, smooth, dry
barley, white peach, cherry, soft
barley, soft, chocolate, toast
barley, banana, toast
barley, pear, banana, bread
barley, caramel, chocolate, smoky
barley, cask, aged
barley, jasmine, honey, vanilla
barley, toast, light-bodied, sweet
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, vanilla, nutty, toast
barley, cask, aged
barley, banana, berry, bread
barley, dry, cask, aged
barley, earthy, clean, bright
Kome shochu
Rice sweetness wants acid, and citrus is the most direct way to give it some.
rice, citrus, apple, pineapple
rice, citrus, dried fruit, floral
rice, citrus, silky, light-bodied
rice, steamed rice, citrus, pineapple
rice, vanilla, caramel, chocolate
Show the other 64 shikuwasa matches
rice, floral, ginjo-like, clean
rice, rich, clean, bright
rice, light-bodied, clean
rice, aged, cask, smooth
rice, ginjo-like, floral, aged
rice, soft, umami, rich
rice, umami, crisp, sweet
rice, vanilla, smooth, cask
rice, vanilla, smooth, sweet
rice, rich, aged
rice, soft, rich, aged
rice, floral, smooth, soft
rice, soft, light-bodied, aged
rice, light-bodied, cask
rice, light-bodied, dry, aged
rice, vanilla, smooth, fruity
rice, banana, vanilla, chocolate
rice, floral, fruity, smooth
rice, vanilla, cask, aged
rice, melon, vanilla, toast
rice, smooth, aged, cask
rice, smooth, crisp, aged
rice, rich, bright
rice, pear, jasmine, light-bodied
rice, cask, aged
rice, smooth, rich
rice, smooth, light-bodied, sweet
rice, soft, smoky, creamy texture
Korui, the continuous-still shochu
Neutral by design, so the citrus does all of the flavour and the shochu does the length and the proof. This is the base a lemon sour is built on.
Sharper and more bitter than a lime, which is what keeps it from disappearing into a light bottle
rice, soft, crisp, clean
soft, light-bodied, clean, sweet
barley, soft, crisp, clean
Okinawa's own citrus, picked green and sharp, more bitter than lime and more floral than sudachi. Squeezed over awamori and soda it is what the islands actually drink.
Shiso, sesame, yuzu and other flavoured shochu
Acid frames a single strong flavour and keeps it from turning syrupy.
Citrus is in this bottle, not just on its nose, so this doubles it rather than introducing it.
rice, citrus, crisp
There is real sugar in this bottle already, and acid is what keeps it from reading as syrup.
Sharper and more bitter than a lime, which is what keeps it from disappearing into a light bottle
shiso, red shiso, herbal, floral
Show the other 4 shikuwasa matches
tropical fruit, rich
Soba shochu
Buckwheat is nutty and low in acid, so citrus is doing structural work rather than adding a flavour.
An earthy, heavy spirit flattens out without acid. This is the ingredient doing structural work, not decoration.
Show the other 3 shikuwasa matches
buckwheat, cask, aged
A heavy earthy bottle swallows it, and the fruit is too good to waste that way
Kasutori, chestnut and other bases
The bottle already smells of citrus, and this puts more of it in the glass.
citrus, plum, sweet, yuzu
Citrus is in this bottle, not just on its nose, so this doubles it rather than introducing it.
Sharper and more bitter than a lime, which is what keeps it from disappearing into a light bottle