IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

 This gives the shochu its golden tint and oaked, smokey nose and taste. On the palette it starts with the strangely oaken, earthy flavor that transforms into a sweet caramel. The finish is reminiscent of mint, as if you’ve just finished a piece of chewing gum. Overall it tastes remarkably like a very light whiskey thanks to the aging.

This is an exceptionally flavorful shochu. Great complexity, interesting nose, lovely finish. I really don’t have any substantive complaints except perhaps that if I wanted to drink whiskey, I’d drink whiskey, but I guess that’s not entirely true, because I’ve had this bottle more than once.