Kagemusha

Kagemusha: Shadow Warrior

December 8, 2011 by Stephen 3 Comments

Kagemusha means "shadow warrior" ... and was the title of a 1980 Akira Kurosawa film. The shochu gets its name from the black koji and robust imo flavor. The sexy black bottle & black label with gold and red trim add to the mystique.

Mitsuwa Shochu Aisle

November 5, 2011 by Stephen Leave a Comment

Vast shochu selection at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Edgewater, NJ. Easily the largest shochu selection I’ve seen outside of Japan. Really impressive selection.

What to choose?!

I came home with:

Gyokuro – a green tea shochu ($28.99)

Jinkoo – a mugi (barley) shochu from the same distiller ($28.99)

Kagemusha – an imo (sweet potato) shochu ($19.99)

Akanone Ninjin – a carrot shochu ($34.99)

Toki No Kokuin – a rice shochu ($24.99)

Enma – a mugi shochu ($29.99)

Akamaoh – an imo shochu ($24.99)

This represents just a small portion of their selection. I see many, many trips back to Mitsuwa in my future.… Read More “Mitsuwa Shochu Aisle”

iichiko silhouette

This iichiko silhouette is probably the most common Japanese shochu currently available in the United States. In NYC I’ve seen it in random mom & pop liquor stores as the only shochu among a shelf of sake options. It’s most commonly available in 750ml bottles, though I’ve seen other sizes in other countries. This is a great starter shochu, which is why I’ve chosen it for my first tasting note. It was my introduction to shochu back in 2008. I’d had Korean soju before, but Japanese shochu is a strikingly different (and better) experience.

Tasting Notes: The SG Shochu MUGI

The SG Shochu MUGI wraps several barley shochu identities into one. It's lightly barrel-aged and carries the associated sweet notes. But there's also a graininess that is revealed when the temperature of the drink drops. It's a versatile barley shochu that can be enjoyed a variety of ways.

Tasting Notes: Lento Shochu

Lento is the top selling kokuto shochu in Japan, and it is available internationally as well. Try it on the rocks or with sparkling water for a refreshing taste of the Amami Islands. Kanpai!

Tasting Notes: The SG Shochu IMO

The SG Shochu IMO is a clear invitation to create the classic imo cocktail. If you get it right, it will resonate and cascade around the world until you can't not have sweet potato shochu on your menu if you consider yourself a proper drinking establishment.