1.
shochu; distilled spirit
A Japanese distilled alcoholic beverage, typically made from sweet potato, barley, rice, or buckwheat. Generally 20-25% alcohol, stronger than sake but milder than many Western spirits.
焼酎をロックで。
Shochu on the rocks.
芋焼酎が一番好きだ。
I like sweet potato shochu the best.
焼酎は水割りにすると飲みやすくなる。
Shochu becomes easier to drink when mixed with water.
Japan's most widely consumed distilled spirit, with a long history especially in Kyushu. Unlike sake (日本酒), which is brewed, shochu is distilled. It can be made from various base ingredients, each producing a distinct flavor profile.
COMMON TYPES:
- 芋焼酎 — sweet potato shochu (rich, earthy flavor; Kagoshima specialty)
- 麦焼酎 — barley shochu (lighter, smoother)
- 米焼酎 — rice shochu (delicate, sake-like)
- 蕎麦焼酎 — buckwheat shochu
COMMON DRINKING STYLES:
- 水割り — mixed with cold water
- お湯割り — mixed with hot water
- ロック — on the rocks
- 炭酸割り — with soda (called チューハイ)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 日本酒 — sake; brewed rice wine, not distilled
- 泡盛 — awamori; Okinawan distilled spirit, similar to shochu but made with Thai rice and black koji mold