Iichiko Silhouette: Review & Price

Last Updated: 1/29/2021

Iichiko is probably the biggest name in shochu worldwide. Their smooth and feather-light Silhouette brand is the flagship product driving their success. It’s the ultimate gateway shochu.

What’s the secret to Iichiko Silhouette’s success? A combination of low price, clean drinkability, and clever marketing deserves some credit.

This post will explore where you can find Iichiko Silhouette, its tasting notes, serving and cocktail recommendations, and pairings that work. 

An Overview of Iichiko Silhouette Barley Shochu

Iichiko Silhouette is a barley shochu from Oita. Rare for shochu, Iichiko uses 100% (two-row) barley. Most brands will contain at least some koji rice. Iichiko is a pioneer in making barley koji. They mill the barley as a sake brewer would, which results in a light and fruity profile.

Iichiko uses white koji and a mix of vacuum and normal pressure distillation.

This shochu is also once distilled (honkaku). A lot of the flavor from the polished barley makes it into the final spirit. Water cuts the final proof down to 25% abv. This makes for a food-friendly spirit.

Finding Iichiko Silhouette: Restaurants, Retail, Pricing

Iichiko Silhouette is widely available at izakayas across the world. And a standard 2-ounce pour will likely be less than $10. Sushi restaurants and bars with a large spirits collection may also carry Iichiko.

This is one of the most common brands of shochu that retailers carry in the United States and Canada. Still, shochu hasn’t caught on yet, so you may have to search around. Expect to pay between $20-$25 per 720 ml bottle.

If you’re having trouble, we suggest looking at online retailers. Depending on where you live, there may be several delivery options available to you.

Iichiko Silhouette Review: Tasting Notes

Silhouette is only 25% abv, which means it’s much lighter than Western spirits like vodka or gin. It’s clear and has no sediment.

Iichiko Silhouette is fairly aromatic. A Lemon zest quality takes center stage. Other notes include lychee, white peach, white flowers, mint, thyme, steamed grains, and almond.

On the palate, Silhouette is light-bodied with a soft impact. It has a slightly sweet impression with a lean and bright finish. Tasting notes match the nose with mild umami. 

Overall, Iichiko Silhouette is moderately complex, incredibly smooth, and easy-going. 

Serving Iichiko Silhouette Barley Shochu

Iichiko Silhouette is delicious served neat. If you prefer, adding water (mizuwari) can bring it down to a strength that’s similar to sake. This will allow it to be enjoyed throughout a meal.

Using hot water instead (oyuwari) is another traditional way to serve this barley shochu. It will open up the aroma but still result in a mild, drinkable experience.

Finally, serving Iichiko shochu on the rocks (roku) is a fool-proof option that suits this drink well.

Iichiko Cocktails: Chuhai Recipes

The chuhai is the classic shochu cocktail. It’s usually a combination of soda and fruit. A lot of chuhais use higher-proof, multiple-distilled shochu, but Iichiko is an upgrade in quality. In fact, Iichiko Silhouette is one of the best shochu for a chuhai. 

A lemon chuhai or an ume chuhai are the most popular, but there are a million variations. Sudachi (or key lime), grape, and orange are also good (juices) to use. Oolong tea is also a tasty option. Almost anything works, really.

Just be sure to keep in mind to use a minimal amount of juice. Otherwise, you may over-dilute the drink.

Here’s a standard chuhai recipe:

• Iichiko Chuhai
  • 2 oz Iichiko Silhouette
  • Soda
  • Lemon or plum wine

Combine shochu and ice in a chilled highball or Old Fashioned glass. Add a splash of umeshu (plum wine) or lemon juice, then top with chilled soda. We also recommend expressing a lemon over the finished drink. 

Pairing Iichiko with Food

Iichiko Silhouette, like most low-proof barley shochu, is one of the best spirits to pair with a meal.

Unlike whisky, tequila, or vodka, it will not overpower your food (or blood-alcohol content). It’s instead refreshing, and its umami amplifies the flavor of many dishes.

Tempura is a slam dunk with barley shochu, Iichiko included. Other fried Japanese dishes like chicken karaage and pork tonkatsu are perfect with Silhouette.

Other classic Japanese foods to pair with this barley shochu include aradaki and nitsuke, salt-grilled mackerel (saba shioyaki), most ramen and udon, and silver skin fish sushi. 

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