SAKE, SHōCHū & SOJU
Nihonshu (commonly referred to as ‘sake’), shōchū and soju are spirits with origin in Japan and Korea, and which are produced by fermenting or distilling grains and starches like rice, barley, sweet potato or tapioca. To get a good overview we recommend reading this article by Cat Wolinski from VinePair.
Just like with wine making, these spirits can be made with natural processes and without the use of additives. Junmaishu, for example, is made purely from rice, yeast and water. Unpasteurised, unfiltered, undiluted and/or made from organically grown crops; the more natural, the purer umami? :)
Find out more about nihonshu here.
Learn about shōchū here.
To become a soju pro, click here.
Tip: For one of the leading pure sake (nihonshu and shōchū) importers in the Netherlands, head over to Yoigokochi.