Japanese Barley Shochu · Ōita · 43% Bartender Strength
Shochu is Japan's most-drunk spirit and Britain's least-known. Saiten is the bottling that changes that — 100% barley, brewed and distilled in Ōita, then bottled at 43% instead of the usual 25% specifically so it can hold its own in a cocktail. Clean, grainy, faintly tropical, and unlike anything else on the shelf.
Our signature presentation box, added at checkout.
Hand-Tied Ribbon
Wide cream satin, tied by hand into a full bow.
Signature Gift Bag
Our matching gift bag, so it's ready to hand over on arrival.
Your Message
Add a personal note at checkout — we'll include it with the delivery.
Sending it as a surprise? Enter the recipient's address at checkout and we'll deliver straight to their door, boxed, ribboned and carrying your message — in as little as 30–45 minutes anywhere in London.
How We Deliver
London · 30–45 Minutes
Delivered to your door 24/7, 365 days a year, across Greater London.
UK-Wide Delivery
Express in 1–2 business days, standard in 3–5. Rates shown at checkout.
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Challenge 21
Age verified on delivery — 18+ ID required. Responsible retailing, always.
At a Glance
Origin
Ōita Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan
Style
Honkaku barley shochu
Base
100% barley, kōji fermented
Distillation
Single distilled
ABV
43%
Bottle Size
70cl
Questions
What is shochu, and how is it different from sake?
Sake is brewed, like beer. Shochu is distilled, like whisky — usually from barley, sweet potato or rice, using the same kōji culture. It is the everyday spirit of southern Japan and outsells sake there comfortably.
Why is this one 43% when most shochu is 25%?
Because it was designed for bars outside Japan. At 25% shochu disappears behind ice and citrus. Saiten was bottled far higher so bartenders could build proper cocktails with it — and it works neat too.
Does it taste like whisky?
Not really. Both start from barley, but shochu is distilled once and never aged in oak, so what you get is the grain itself — toasted, clean, faintly banana-like — with none of the vanilla and caramel oak brings.
Who is this a good gift for?
The Japanophile, the bartender, and the drinker who has run out of new categories. Almost nobody in Britain owns a bottle of shochu, which makes it a genuinely surprising gift rather than a familiar one.
Can you deliver it directly to the person I'm gifting?
Yes — enter their address at checkout and add your message. In London it can be at their door within 30–45 minutes, any hour of the day. The recipient must be 18+ with ID for our Challenge 21 check.
Why Buy From Drinks House 247
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