For many decades, sake and beer were the two adult beverages that Japan was known for. Sure, the country has been distilling shochu for centuries, but it was and remains relatively obscure outside of the country.
Today, Western spirits like whisky and gin are flourishing in Japan. And some of the world’s most sought-after liquor now comes from the archipelago.
Of course, shochu hasn’t gone away either. While it’s still relatively obscure, Japanese shochu is better than ever. And the category is poised to explode onto the international bar scene.
Japanese Whisky
Forget sake or shochu: whisky is Japan’s most famous alcoholic beverage. A recently as a decade ago, it was quite obscure. But the category exploded onto the global scene and there’s no looking back.
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Shochu and Awamori
Shochu and awamori are the nation’s two native spirits. Though not well understood outside of the country, they are some of the world’s most flavorful and drinkable spirits.
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Other Spirits: Vodka, Gin, Rum
There’s a lot more to Japanese spirits than just shochu and whisky.
Recently, the country’s gin has made huge gains around the world. And Japanese vodka isn’t far behind.
And you may not know it, but Japanese rum has been around for a long time.
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