Shochu

Shochu is a Japanese spirit usually distilled from barley, rice or sweet potatoes, though it may be produced from anything including sugar and chestnuts! It is usually has an abv of around 25%, although it can be stronger, and it is produced throughout Japan. Typically it is drunk neat, with ice, or mixed with tea or fruit juice, and it is widely available in Japan.

There are two categories of Shochu which are "Multiply Distilled" and "Singly Distilled" Shochu. The former may be distilled more than once from various base ingredients, must not be filtered through charcoal, and is bottled at under 36% abv. The latter must be distilled just once from a base ingredient including potato, grain, sake lees, koji (a type of fungus), rice or sugar, and is bottled at no more than 45% abv.