Nankai Shochu
Nankai Shochu is a kokuto (black sugar) shochu from Amami Island, Japan — 24% ABV (48 proof), 750mL, single-distilled under vacuum from 80% black sugar and 20% rice with white rice koji, in the genuine shochu method: four natural ingredients, nothing added, and zero sugar in the finished spirit. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 24% (48 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Base: 80% kokuto (black sugar from sugarcane), 20% rice, white rice koji
- Distillation: Single-distilled, vacuum-distilled (gentler, lower-temperature distillation)
- Origin: Tatsugo, Amami Island (Amami Oshima), Kagoshima, Japan (Machida Shuzo)
- Profile: Sugar-free, carb-free, naturally gluten-free finished spirit (official)
- Awards: Gold, 2018 LA Spirits Competition; Double Gold, SIP Awards (official listings)
The Honeymoon Discovery from Amami
In 2015, Paul and Mai Nakayama honeymooned in Mai's parents' hometown on Amami Island and found vacuum-distilled kokuto shochu in a local bar; they visited the distillery — Machida Shuzo in Tatsugo — the next day, and by 2017 they were importing it as Nankai, "southern seas". Vacuum distillation drops the boiling point to roughly 113 degrees, treating the mash gently and keeping the spirit soft and clean — a deliberate contrast to the earthier sweet-potato and barley shochus most drinkers meet first. The brand positions this bottle as the perfect introduction to shochu. Start exploring the category on our shochu shelf, or meet its cask-aged sibling via the Nankai Shochu vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Sweetly fragrant with a pear note (official description); IWSC judges added floral green apple and grass. Palate: A creamy mouthfeel, silky, clean and bright. Finish: Delicate, elegant and long.
How to Enjoy
On the rocks, the classic Amami serve, or lengthened with soda and citrus. At 24% it also works the way it is drunk at home — with food, from grilled fish to richer dishes — and as a lower-proof base in cocktails.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is kokuto shochu? Shochu made from kokuto — unrefined black sugar from sugarcane — here blended 80% black sugar with 20% rice and fermented with rice koji. It is cleaner and lighter than sweet-potato (imo) or barley shochu.
Does it taste sweet? It is made from sugar. No — distillation leaves the sugar behind. The finished spirit is officially sugar-free and carb-free, with a fragrant pear character rather than sweetness.
How does it differ from Nankai Gold? Strength and ageing: this flagship is 24% and vacuum-distilled for delicacy; Gold is a 43% blend of oak-aged kokuto shochus built for whisky drinkers.
The gentle way into shochu — buy Nankai Shochu online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
