Sanwa IIchiko Sochu [720ML]

Description

iichiko shochu is a barley shochu from Sanwa Shurui in Oita Prefecture, Japan, made from 100% two-row barley fermented with koji, sold here in the 720ML bottle.

At a Glance

• Brand: iichiko, by Sanwa Shurui
• Style: Barley (mugi) shochu, a distilled spirit
• Volume: 720ML
• ABV: Sanwa lists iichiko Silhouette at 25%
• Country: Japan
• Region: Oita Prefecture, Kyushu
• Made from: 100% two-row barley, fermented with koji

It is the shochu we suggest to customers who want to try a Japanese barley spirit for the first time.

How It Differs

The bottle label reads “barley shochu iichiko” in Japanese, 720ml, and calls it “a genuine distilled spirit produced from carefully selected barley”. For another shochu in our range, see Nakano Kishu No Umeshu To Yuzu Shochu [720ML], and for the wider shelf see our Sake and Umeshu range.

How to Serve

The brand’s own site suggests enjoying iichiko straight, on the rocks, or as a chu-hi mixed with soda and fruit juice. For a Japanese whisky highball to follow, see Suntory Toki Japanese Whisky [700ML].

Ideal for: Japanese dinners at home, relaxed gatherings and anyone new to shochu.

Pairs with: we suggest Chinese-Malaysian steamed fish and Indian-Malaysian tandoori chicken.

Questions

Is iichiko a sake or a shochu?
It is a shochu, a distilled spirit made here from 100% two-row barley fermented with koji. We list it on our Sake and Umeshu shelf with other Japanese drinks.

What is iichiko made from?
The brand says iichiko is made from 100% two-row barley, fermented with koji, and crafted in Oita Prefecture on Kyushu.

How do you drink iichiko shochu?
The brand’s site suggests straight, on the rocks, or as a chu-hi with soda and fruit juice.

Is iichiko a premium grade of shochu?
The brand’s own site says “iichiko is a Honkaku Shochu, the highest grade of shochu.” Per JETRO, shochu is usually distilled only once and mostly sits at 20 to 30% ABV, which it describes as substantially lower than other world spirits, mainly over 35 percent.

Order before 2 PM for same-day delivery to the Klang Valley, covering major areas such as Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Subang Jaya and Klang, Monday to Saturday except public holidays.

Alcohol is sold strictly to non-Muslim customers aged 21 and above, for delivery within West Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia) only.