In the bottle: Sweet peaches in nectar and candied fruits are right at the front before giving way to a hit of alcohol that is not entirely unpleasant—as long as you don’t inhale too deeply (like I did). Overall the nose is quite nice, especially right after pouring over some ice. It’s clean, fruity, and inviting, with a light sake-like quality that sets up good anticipation for the glass.

On the rocks: The first notes I get are nutty—like walnut or hazelnut—absolutely delicious in a way I was unprepared for. As the ice melts, the nuttiness fades slightly, allowing some of the sweeter, more typical sake notes to appear. Overall this remains a uniquely nutty shōchū with a nice little peppery bite right at the end. The balance between the rich nut character and the lighter fruit/sake elements keeps it engaging and easy to sip.

水割り Diluted with water

4:1 ratio: With a little water the sake sweetness comes out a lot more, but the nuttiness still remains on the finish along with some subtle fruit notes at the end. It stays very drinkable even at these ratios—the dilution softens the edges while keeping the core flavors present and pleasant. A good option if you want to stretch the glass or prefer something lighter.