Skip to content
Sip Curator
Log in Sign up
All spirits Bourbon Scotch Whiskey Tequila Mezcal Rum Gin Vodka Brandy Liqueur Ready to Drink Everything else Taste finder Brands
iichiko Saiten Shochu
iichiko

iichiko Saiten Shochu

3.75 Decent

2 reviews2 ratings

89 critic score

Everything else Shochu & Soju Japan No age statement 43% ABV

Tried it?

How was this pour?

Score this bottle

Rating a bottle takes an account, so your scores follow you and count towards the number everyone else reads.

About this bottle

iichiko Saiten, a barley shochu (also known as mugi shochu), is categorized as honkaku shochu. This designation signifies the highest grade, made exclusively from a single ingredient (in this instance, 100% two-row barley) and subjected to a single distillation. Both low-pressure (gen-atsu) and atmospheric (jo-atsu) distillation techniques are employed before the resulting spirits are combined. Saiten, launched in March 2019, is offered at 43% ABV and designed for cocktail creation.

How it tastes

Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.

Rich 70
Bitter 70
Earthy 70
Herbal 50
Savory 50
Oily 40
Funky 40
Spicy 40

Reviews

Showing the most detailed of 1 parsed reviews.

Dorothea Jorgensen 4.0

A well-rounded Shochu from iichiko Distillery, a family enterprise in Oita Prefecture, Japan. Made solely from locally sourced nine-row barley, it's fermented with koji, distilled once, and bottled at 43% ABV. The aroma starts with notes of honeydew melon, Grappa, soy, and exotic citrus. The rich body introduces hints of umami, jasmine tea, white peaches, and earthy minerality, leading to a lingering finish reminiscent of coffee beans, sea spray, and tropical fruits. Enjoyed between May and June 2021.

Tastes like this

Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.

All Shochu & Soju