In the bottle: Otsujyōchū starts off so soft, subtle and neutral, it's hard to tell there is anything on the nose; however, it you get a little oxygen into it, you can catch some very light pear, peach and sake notes floating around. If you really inhale deeply you can find that 43% alcohol, but only just barely, which makes what you get in the bottle all that much more of a mystery.  

On the rocks: Smooth and thick, with a nice balance between sharp and sweet; never falling to heavy on either side. Unlike other bottles of kasutori or sake kasu shōchū the typical sake notes are less pronounced, you can catch some lychee, licorice and vanilla, and these counterbalanced by some really nice mature earthy notes that finish off with a really nice sweetness. 

Straight: Intense is the best way to start, with the sharpness really up front but amazing this settles quickly which gives the less in your face notes some breathing room. What I enjoyed about this the most was the finish, you can catch some really amazing flavors for a minute or two after drinking.

水割り Diluted with water

4:1, This mellows out quite a bit, and the added water helps some of those beautiful sake notes come to the surface leaving a really nice drink to sip. My preference is on-the-rocks as I prefer the bigger punch but if I was going to have more than 1 glass, adding a splash of water or letting the ice melt half way would be my choice.

Paired with chocolate: Vietnam 75% dark chocolate and Otsujyōchū straight. Now this is a match made in heaven, the sweetness of shochu opens up the dark, rich chocolate to create an amazing combination that reminds of a chocolate ganache or a chocolate tart with vanilla and fruit. Absolutely sublime.