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. In a highball you absorb that by pouring less soda. In an old fashioned you can't.
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 isn't malted, and the spirit is distilled once. So the malt sweetness is lighter here, and so is the weight whisky gets from repeated distillation and long wood.
- 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 qualify19
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 Hot water (oyuwari), CherryKakushiguraMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Lemon soda (ramune, Sanpellegrino), LemonKannokoMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitKirishima Melt Barley 720mlMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Hot water (oyuwari), LimeKohaku no YokaichiMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Hot water (oyuwari), 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), CherrySG Shochu MUGIMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitShirokawa White LabelMugi (barley) · EhimeStart with Mugicha (barley tea), ChamomileTakachiho 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 what a great many people in Japan order instead of a whisky highball. It's lighter, not 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 qualify101
Yanagita Koma Barley ShochuTasted at JurakuMugi (barley) · Miyazaki (Miyakonojo)Start with Jasmine tea, CucumberNikaido Oita Mugi ShochuTasted at JurakuMugi (barley) · Oita (Hiji)Start with Jasmine tea, CucumberAka Oni Shochu Red Devil 12Mugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Soda water, 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 Hot water (oyuwari), 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), PearGinza 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), CherryGoki 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 Mugicha (barley tea), LemonHana 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 KurobinMugi (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), Chamomileiichiko SilhouetteMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitIichiko Special Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Hot water (oyuwari), 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), GrapefruitKintaro Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonKirishima Melt Barley 720mlMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Hot water (oyuwari), LimeKohaku no YokaichiMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Hot water (oyuwari), GrapefruitKokuMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitKougin no Sasayaki Ginjo Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Hot water (oyuwari), GrapefruitKourin no ShizukuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Hot water (oyuwari), 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 'Genshu' Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Hot water (oyuwari), GrapefruitMasakoMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitMizu Green Tea ShochuMugi (barley) · SagaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitMizu Sakura Cask ShochuMugi (barley) · SagaStart with Ginger ale, GrapefruitMizu Shochu Saga BarleyMugi (barley) · SagaStart with Jasmine tea, GrapefruitMugi HokkaMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitMugi Shochu EenamoMugi (barley) · AichiStart with Jasmine 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 Soda water, LemonMuhomatsu BarleyMugi (barley) · FukuokaStart with Ginger ale, GrapefruitNakanakaMugi (barley) · MiyazakiStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitNasakeshimaMugi (barley) · TokyoStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitNikaido Kitchomu Barley ShochuMugi (barley) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitRanbiki 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) · OitaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), GrapefruitShimajimanMugi (barley) · TokyoStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonShiratsuyu Satsuma No Mugi ShochuMugi (barley) · KagoshimaStart with Mugicha (barley tea), LemonShirokawa White LabelMugi (barley) · EhimeStart with Mugicha (barley tea), ChamomileTakachiho 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), LemonTokujo 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), CucumberUsuhaneMugi (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.