In the bottle: Quite neutral at first, but after swirling a bit, sweeter notes open up with toasted rice and something that reminds me of unspiced pumpkin or freshly steamed squash. Light floral and vanilla hints appear toward the end, adding a touch of complexity. Overall, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a rice-pumpkin shōchū, but the nose turned out pretty good—clean, inviting, and building nice anticipation for the glass.

On the rocks: Really interesting right from the first sip. A soft rice shōchū character comes through initially but is quickly overtaken by the pumpkin, which is just delicious. There’s something in the pumpkin that reminds me a bit of shiso shōchū—not the exact taste, but the way it carries in the mouth and leaves a light, refreshing herby finish. As the ice melts, the rice fades to the background and the pumpkin takes full control. Initanada isn’t going to replace your favorite shōchū, but it’s certainly a nice change of pace—fresh, seasonal, and enjoyable over ice.

Straight: Incredibly herby—reminds me a lot of some of the herbal schnapps I had while living in Germany. Initanada drinks so smoothly neat in the glass, and the finish really shines here. The rice and pumpkin come across beautifully, delivering wave after wave of sweet rice and pumpkin flavors. Overall, a great way to enjoy this unique shōchū—simple, clean, and surprisingly rewarding straight.

Paired with Chocolate: Tony's chocolate 70%. As is usually the case, rice shōchū and chocolate go so well together, and Initanada is another great example. The chocolate becomes really intense and pairs nicely with the pumpkin, creating an herby-cacao vibe that lasts well into the finish. A great after-dinner dessert pairing—the pumpkin’s subtle sweetness and herbal edge complement the cocoa without clashing.