Job Discussion Forums

Canuck2112 · Joined: 13 Jun 2003 Posts: 239

I'm somewhat to embarrassed to say that I've only recently begun to appreciate this stuff, despite having been in Japan for a couple years. It's a very clean buzz with little to no hangover (in my experience).

Anyone have any good shochu recommendations? Shopping for it is a bit daunting...usually there is an enormous selection but the kanji on the bottles tends to be very difficult to read.

Berzerker · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 28

Is it cheap? Never heard of it(I haven't arrived yet). If the price is right I'll certainly give it a try.

G Cthulhu · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 12:15 am Post subject:

Berzerker · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 28

heheh ... i suppose ill find out. Evil or Very Mad

hivans · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 51 Location: fukuoka

If you live in Kagoshima you would probably drink nothing else! I help out a friends bar where there is nothing but. Visitors from outside Kyushuu are always asking for cocktails and look nonplussed when they get a choice of shouchu with water, hot water, or ice.

How about trying Mitake (from Yakushima)? Should be easy to recognise 三岳 with the charcter for three at the front. Rento れんと　is a sugar cane one from Amami Oshima that is getting popular, but I think the real stuff is the sweat potato variety!

By the way I found this

http://www.geocities.co.jp/SilkRoad/5609/shouchu_j.htm

which looks to be a useful source of information

partialtone · Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 137 Location: CA

Not sure of the Kanji, but it sounds like Kyogetsu Green. Square bottle, green's written in English on the label. 900 Yen buys a bottle in about any Izakaya and drinking a bottle between two people makes for a nice start to a night. Say Kyogetsu Green ipon-des, then pause, and say kori-de. That's it.

Or just go to the supermarket and get the Jin-Ro 4-litre bottle, it should last a night or two.

TK4Lakers · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 159

Shochu is my favorite drink here.
You'll find many different kinds: Imo (potato), mugi (barley), soba (buckwheat), kokutou (brown sugar), etc.

Each one has it's own taste.
My personl favorite is Imo on the rocks, has a nice clean taste.
Mugi is good, has a taste similar to whiskey.
And soba mixed with Soba-yu is something u gotta try.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

shochu from Fukuoka is the strongest. It is 40% alcohol.
Okinawa shochu (awamori) has less alcohol, but it seems it has a high alcohol content.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

drink it and see. Fukuoka shochu has more alcohol yet to me didn't seem as strong as the stuff from Okinawa.

chaz47 · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 157

Isn't sochu from Korean? Here in the ROK they call it soju. When I studied in Aomori one of my host father's loved the stuff and I have to admit it was "clean" compared to Korean soju.

Jinro is actually a Korean company isn't it? Anyway, before I sidetrack to far. At least from my experience the quality of this liquor increases dramatically with the price. Often for just a dollar or so more in Korea you get a real liquor, the cheaper stuff is produced industrially then refined to make it fit for human consumption... but such a wretched hangover if abused. Just a bit higher in price and you have a real alcohol, not an industrial solvent.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Berzerker · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 28

*Shudders*

Quite the kick to it, will keep a bottle on stand by. Good fun had by all involved.

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

You are right, chaz47. Unfortunately for me, all of my experiences with soju/shochu, both in Korea and Japan, were with the cheap stuff. I feel nauseous just thinking of the hangovers I experienced! Sad