Nankai Shochu White Oak Cask Finish

Nankai Shochu White Oak Cask Finish is a 24% ABV (48 proof) Japanese shochu in a 750mL bottle — a single-distilled kokuto (black sugar) spirit finished 3 to 5 years in American and French Limousin white oak casks on tropical Amami Island. Made from 80% artisanal kokuto and 20% rice with white rice koji at Machida Shuzo in Tatsugo, Kagoshima, it is naturally gluten-free with zero sugar, zero carbs, and no additives. It is in stock and available to order online now at Del Mesa Liquor.

• Proof / ABV: 24% ABV / 48 proof
• Size: 750mL
• Aging: 3–5 years in American and French Limousin white oak casks, tropical aging on Amami Island
• Origin: Tatsugo, Amami Island, Kagoshima, Japan (Machida Shuzo)
• Production: 80% kokuto + 20% rice, single distillation, white rice koji; Double Gold SFWSC

Tropical Oak on Black-Sugar Spirit

Kokuto shochu is Japan's island answer to rum-adjacent spirits — black sugar, not molasses, fermented with koji and distilled once so the raw ingredient sings. Nankai takes that delicate distillate and lays it down in white oak under Amami Island's tropical heat, where three to five years in wood adds vanilla and structure without hiding the kokuto's lychee-and-banana character. The official bottling carries a Double Gold from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a Gold from The Spirits Business in London. Discover more Nankai Shochu expressions, or compare with the unaged Iichiko Shochu style at Del Mesa Liquor.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Woody aromas balanced with vanilla and brown sugar.

Palate: Silky — lychee and banana over soft oak and vanilla, with kokuto depth underneath.

Finish: Gentle and clean, woody-vanilla lingering.

How to Enjoy

Serve chilled or on the rocks to highlight the oak finish, or try it oyuwari-style with warm water to release the kokuto aromatics. At 48 proof it is an elegant session pour, and it mixes beautifully in a shochu highball with soda and a lemon twist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is kokuto shochu?
A single-distilled Japanese spirit made from black sugar (kokuto) with rice koji — Nankai uses 80% artisanal kokuto and 20% rice.

What is the ABV of Nankai White Oak?
24% ABV (48 proof).

How long is it aged?
3 to 5 years in American and French Limousin white oak casks.

Is Nankai Shochu gluten-free?
Yes — naturally gluten-free, with zero sugar, zero carbs, and no additives.

Island-aged, oak-kissed, and utterly unique — order Nankai Shochu White Oak Cask Finish online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.