Takara Yokaichi Mugi Honkaku Shochu (750ml)

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Takara Yokaichi Mugi Honkaku Shochu is a 100% barley-based spirit, meticulously crafted through a single-distillation process that retains the essence and complexity of its source material. This shochu greets you with a delicate floral nose, reminiscent of a clean spring scent. As you sip, a subtle sweetness emerges, leading to a faintly herbal finish with a gentle hint of green peppers.

Yokaichi Mugi is a savory shochu with red fruit highlights. The palate reveals notes of salty, grilled bread, raw buckwheat, brown banana, and hints of raspberry and strawberry. This sulfite-free spirit exudes a rich and satisfying mouthfeel that is best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water to accentuate its fruitier notes.

The salty-savory flavors of Yokaichi Mugi Shochu harmonize beautifully with dry cheeses like Parmesan and tapas such as toasted bread with black olive tapenade. Its intensity also lends itself to pairing with refined red meat dishes, including carpaccio, rare fillet of beef, and wagyu tataki.

This shochu can be compared to a barrel-aged gin or an unwooded whiskey, offering a similarly complex and intriguing flavor profile.

Enjoy Yokaichi Mugi Shochu neat or with a few drops of water in a small white wine or whiskey glass. Adding water reveals more fruit notes, reduces saltiness, and enhances its creamy mouthfeel. To serve warm, heat water to 175º F (80º C) and combine 4 parts shochu to 6 parts hot water, or 5:5 for a richer mix. Pour hot water first to temper the cup, then add the shochu last, aiming for a mixed temperature of 100º F - 115º F (40º C - 45º C). This method preserves the delicate flavor nuances and prevents bitterness.

This Shochu is100% barley (mugi). First comes the floral nose. A clean spring scent. Very subtle. The next thing you notice is the sweetness which carries through to a faintly herbal finish that gives you a faint hint of green peppers. Don’t let this pepper revelation put you off … it’s taken 4 years and innumerable bottles to place that flavor. It’s extremely subtle.