
Made from a variety of ingredients such as wheat, sweet potato and corn, shochu is distinguished from Western spirits by the use of koji, (a ’starter’ used in the making of sake, soy sauce, and miso) at the stage of initial fermentation. Depending on the distillation method used, shochu is divided into two categories: the single distillation method is used to make traditional shochu, in which more of the flavour of its ingredients is retained. The multiple distillation method is well suited for making coctails and fruit liquors. Shochu contains no fat or sugar, and is good drunk with hot water, in cocktails, or onits own.