Whisky
Workable
Cask aged mugi is barley, distilled, and put in wood, and Japan has been drinking it as a highball for decades. In that one drink it is not a substitution at all, it is the other thing people already order.
The strength problem
Whisky is 40 percent and mugi is usually 25, which in a highball is absorbed by pouring less soda and in an old fashioned is not absorbed at all.
Cask aged mugi shochu
Workable
Why it works
- Barley and oak are the two things a blended whisky is made of, and this is barley and oak. In a highball, where the whisky is stretched anyway, the resemblance does most of the work.
What changes in the glass
- The barley is not malted and the spirit is distilled once, so the malt sweetness and the weight a whisky gets from repeated distillation and long wood are both lighter here.
- Expect far less colour and less wood than a long aged whisky carries. Cask ageing here is measured against a lighter spirit and is usually doing less to it.
Bottles that qualify18
Ginza No Suzume Aged 7YrMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitGinza Suzume Kohaku Mugi ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Ginger ale, CherryGoto MugiMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryHishu Taru ShochuMugi (barley) · SagaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryHyakunen No Kodoku '100 Years of Solitude' Barrel-Aged Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryIichiko Special Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryKakushiguraMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Lemon soda (ramune, Sanpellegrino), LemonKannokoMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonKirishima Melt Barley 720mlMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryKohaku no YokaichiMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitKuroUma GoldMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), AppleMizu Sakura Cask ShochuMugi (barley) · SagaStart with Ginger ale, GrapefruitSatsuma Kohaku no Yume (Amber Dream) / Kohaku No Yume Shochu 720mlMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryShirokawa White LabelMugi (barley) · EhimeStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryTakachiho KinMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Ginger ale, CherryYamaneko PremiumMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryYanagita Mizunara Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Ginger ale, CherryYufuin Black Label Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), Grapefruit
Any mugi shochu, for a highball
Workable
Why it works
- An unaged mugi in soda is the drink a great many people in Japan order instead of a whisky highball, and it is lighter rather than worse.
What changes in the glass
- With no wood there is no vanilla and no colour, so a drink that wanted those is not getting them.
Bottles that qualify103
Yanagita Koma Barley ShochuPoured at JurakuMugi (barley) · Miyazaki (Miyakonojo)Start with Jasmine tea, CucumberNikaido Oita Mugi ShochuPoured at JurakuMugi (barley) · Oita (Hiji)Start with Jasmine tea, CucumberAka Oni Shochu Red Devil 12Mugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitAokage 'Forty-One Genshu - Throughbred Stallion' Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitAsahi MannenboshiMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitBakusei Amakusa KoshuMugi (barley) · KumamotoStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitBarley Shochu 3-Year AgedMugi (barley) · EhimeStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CucumberBarley Shochu 8-Year AgedMugi (barley) · EhimeStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitBarley Shochu HoshiMugi (barley) · EhimeStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitBarley Shochu TsunezoMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonChingu Black Iki Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitChingu White Iki Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitDenenMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CucumberFukiage Kura Cask Reserve ShochuMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitGenkai "Iki"Mugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitGinza No Suzume Aged 7YrMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitGinza No Suzume Black Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonGinza No Suzume Tokkuri ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CucumberGinza Suzume Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitGinza Suzume Kohaku Mugi ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Ginger ale, CherryGoki Funadokkuri MugiMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitGoki MugiMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CucumberGoki UtagakiMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitGoki Utagaki GenshuMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitGokoo "Comfortable Sky" Mugi ShochuMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Ginger ale, GrapefruitGoto MugiMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryGoto TsubakiMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Jasmine tea, GrapefruitHana no Seki MugiMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitHishu Mugi ShochuMugi (barley) · SagaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitHishu Taru ShochuMugi (barley) · SagaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryHitotsubu No Mugi ShochuMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitHosenboMugi (barley) · EhimeStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitHyakunen No Kodoku '100 Years of Solitude' Barrel-Aged Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), Cherryiichiko FrascoMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), Grapefruitiichiko Kurobin (Kurobi)Mugi (barley) · OitaStart with Ginger ale, Grapefruitiichiko SaitenMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), Grapefruitiichiko SeirinMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Jasmine tea, Cucumberiichiko ShinwaMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), Thymeiichiko SilhouetteMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitIichiko Special Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryIkiMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitIki no Shima 25%Mugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Oolong tea, LemonIki no Shima DenshoMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Oolong tea, LemonIkikkoMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitIpponduriMugi (barley) · TokyoStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CucumberIshuMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitJakuunbaku Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), ThymeJoatsu Bakusei AmakusaMugi (barley) · KumamotoStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitKakushiguraMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Lemon soda (ramune, Sanpellegrino), LemonKannokoMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonKintaro Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonKirishima Melt Barley 720mlMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryKohaku no YokaichiMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitKokuMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitKougin no Sasayaki Ginjo Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitKourin no ShizukuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Ginger ale, GrapefruitKurokoji Takachiho Black LabelMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitKurokoji Takachiho White LabelMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonKuroUma GoldMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), AppleMannen Boshi '25' Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Ginger ale, GrapefruitMannen Boshi 'Genshu' Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitMasakoMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitMizu Green Tea ShochuMugi (barley) · SagaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitMizu Saga Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · SagaStart with Jasmine tea, GrapefruitMizu Sakura Cask ShochuMugi (barley) · SagaStart with Ginger ale, GrapefruitMugi HokkaMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitMugi Shochu EenamoMugi (barley) · AichiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonMugikatagiMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitMugio Barley Shochu 900mlMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitMugiwara Boushi Barley Shochu 900mlMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonMuhomatsu BarleyMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Ginger ale, GrapefruitNakanakaMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitNakanaka 'Pretty' Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitNasakeshimaMugi (barley) · TokyoStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitNikaido Kitchomu Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonRanbiki 3 Year Aged Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryRanbiki 5 Year Aged Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitSatsuma Kohaku no Yume (Amber Dream) / Kohaku No Yume Shochu 720mlMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherrySennen no Nemuri Aged Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Jasmine tea, ThymeSG Shochu MUGIMugi (barley)Start with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitShimajimanMugi (barley) · TokyoStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitShiratsuyu Satsuma No Mugi ShochuMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonShirokawa White LabelMugi (barley) · EhimeStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryTakachiho KinMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Ginger ale, CherryTakachiho ReiMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Ginger ale, GrapefruitTenjinsama (Aged)Mugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryTokuchu Bakusei AmakusaMugi (barley) · KumamotoStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitTokujo Taimei Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitToppai Barley Shochu 20 degreesMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Ginger ale, GrapefruitToppai Barley Shochu 25 degreesMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Ginger ale, GrapefruitTsukushi KuroMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitTsukushi ShiroMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitTsushima YamanekoMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitUsuhaneMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitWakamugiMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CucumberWatanabe Shochu Bros 'Mugi' Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitYama no MoriMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitYamaneko PremiumMugi (barley) · NagasakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), CherryYanagita 'Aokage 24' Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitYanagita Mizunara Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Ginger ale, CherryYokaichi Mugi Honkaku Barley ShochuMugi (barley)Start with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitYufuin Black Label Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitYufuin White Label Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), Grapefruit
Sources
A substitution is our judgement, not a fact, and you are invited to disagree with it. The citations below are for the facts it rests on.