Naturally, I am much more of a beer and wine drinker, but I can also appreciate a good spirit every now and then! Over here in the States, Japanese sake takes the limelight so not many people know about other types of Japanese spirits, but they do exist. Like this simple and easy Ume Shochu cocktail!
Keto people should also know that Japanese sake is actually brewed, which means it has carbs (about 2.5g per 1.5oz). It’s not much, but after a couple of drinks, they can start to add up on you!
So instead, meet shochu – a barley distilled spirit that has no carbs. It tastes similar to vodka but has a sweeter profile. The brand I drink is called iichiko but there are many different brands available.
And as with most spirits, you can prepare it many different ways. Some people drink it neat, on rocks, split with hot water, but I prefer just adding an umeboshi inside the drink which creates a nice tartness to balance the natural sweetness of shochu.
Preparing this is super easy, so even after 2, 3, 4, 5 drinks, you can’t mess it up! The only thing you will need is shochu, a glass, and umeboshi.
If you do not have access to umeboshi, you can try this paste that should work (just add a small squeeze of it). A quick note, umeboshi comes in different types which mainly are original, shiso, or sweet (honey).
You can use whichever you like, but I personally prefer shiso for this mix.
Now, let’s get started!
- Prepping Time 1M
- Total Time 1M
- Net Carb/Serv 0g
- Servings 1
Ingredients
- 2 oz Shochu
- 1 Umeboshi
Directions
1) Gather all the ingredients.
2) Pour shochu in a cup.
3) Add umeboshi inside.
Hope you enjoy your Ume Iichiko Shochu – kampai!
If you’re looking for other recipe ideas, be sure to check out our growing Recipe Index full of Asian inspired recipes!
Join us on Facebook to be part of our interactive discussions & recipe requests and follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, or subscribe to our New Recipe Notification and be the first to know when we post a new recipe!
Ume Iichiko Shochu
Ingredients
- 2 oz Shochu
- 1 Whole Umeboshi
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Pour shochu in a cup.
- Add umeboshi inside.
Video
Nutrition
*This page contains affiliate marketing links*
