SHORO DISTILLERY - COLORFUL SWEET POTATO SHOCHU

Distillery Information

Shoro Colorful is a limited-edition Honkaku Imo Shōchū from Shoro Shuzo, an artisanal distillery founded in 1928 in Kushima. The distillery is located just 2 meters above sea level, close to the coast of South Kyushu, where it uses local groundwater filtered through volcanic soil layers. This soft water contributes to the elegant and refined style for which the distillery is known.

Shoro "Colorful" is a blend of two different sweet potato shōchūs. On one hand, it uses Tama-Akane from Kagoshima, fermented with white koji for fresh and aromatic fruit notes. On the other, the blend includes a shōchū aged for more than three years, made from Miyazaki-Beni sweet potatoes from Miyazaki and produced with black koji, adding extra depth, sweetness, and umami.

For fermentation, the distillery uses its own Miyazaki yeast, a historic yeast strain isolated from the brewery’s moromi in the 1950s. The first fermentation takes place over five days with rice koji, using rice sourced from Thailand, in stainless steel tanks. This is followed by a second fermentation of ten days with purple sweet potatoes.

Distillation is carried out using the traditional method of single pot still distillation at atmospheric pressure. No vacuum distillation is used. Because of the higher distillation temperatures, more aromas, oils, and sweet potato characteristics are preserved, resulting in a richer and more complex style of shōchū. The original distillates were produced in November 2019 (35% genshu). After maturation and blending, the final spirit is carefully diluted with water to 30% ABV, preserving the ideal balance of aroma, texture, and elegance.

After distillation, the shōchū is matured for several years in enameled tanks, a neutral aging method that preserves the pure expression of the distillate without any influence from wood. It is then bottled without chill filtration to retain as much flavor and texture as possible.

On the nose, elegant notes of Earl Grey tea appear immediately, followed by tropical accents reminiscent of ripe mango. On the palate, Shoro Colorful offers a perfect balance between rich, almost syrupy sweetness and a refined, firm astringency. Its soft texture, subtle umami, and long finish make this a particularly refined and gastronomic shōchū.

How to serve?

Neat
To fully experience the pure expression of the sweet potatoes, the subtle Earl Grey aromas, and the elegant maturation.

On the Rocks (Rokku)
Highlights the soft texture, honeyed sweetness, and the refined balance between fruitiness and astringency.

Mizuwari (with cold water)
Opens up aromas of mango, tea, and flowers, making the shōchū even more approachable and easy-drinking.

Oyuwari (with warm water)
Enhances the umami, sweet potato notes, and rounded texture, while allowing the aromatic complexity to develop further.

Shochu Highball (with soda)
Fresh, lively, and highly gastronomic. The sparkling texture accentuates the tropical fruit notes and makes this shōchū an excellent companion to grilled dishes and yakitori.

Thanks to its fruity and complex character, Shoro Colorful pairs beautifully with yakitori, grilled vegetables, barbecue dishes, and Mediterranean flavors such as tomato, olives, or aged 18-month Comté, all the way through to crème brûlée. Served with sparkling water, the tropical aromas become even more pronounced, while warm water further enhances its depth and umami.

An expression that perfectly reflects what Shoro Shuzo stands for: elegance, maturation, craftsmanship, and exceptional drinkability.}