Yamaneko Wildcat Honkaku Imo Shochu, Osuzuyama Distillery

One spirit that I've found myself reaching for on a consistent basis is Shochu. Shochu can be made from a variety of different base ingredients, with the most common of the bunch being sweet potato, barley, rice, brown sugar, and buckwheat. This expression from Osuzuyama Distillery is made with 80% Joy White sweet potatoes and 20% white koji rice. Flavors of tropical fruits and beautiful florals abound. This spirit is a joy to sip on its own, over the rocks, and makes a really refreshing highball. One key feature of note regarding Honkaku (authentic) Shochu is that it is legally required to be distilled once in a pot still. Most producers choose to bottle their spirits at around 24 or 25% ABV, so you end up with an incredibly flavorful spirit that's easier to consume and pairs incredibly well with all different types of Japanese food!