Kannoko Aged Barley Shochu, 25%, 720ml
Barley shochu rested three years in oak: pale amber, rich and mellow, and easy to love on the rocks.
Pre-order: arriving in the UK in early November 2026
Kannoko (神の河, "river of the gods") is a barley shochu from Satsuma Shuzō in Makurazaki, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is made from barley and barley koji using white koji, distilled once at normal pressure, and then aged for three years in oak barrels, which gives it a natural pale amber colour. Satsuma Shuzō describes it as rich and mellow with a fragrant aroma, made from natural ingredients with no additives. 25% ABV, 720ml.
Why Chefs Choose This
- Oak-aged shochu: three years in barrel rounds the barley spirit and adds gentle wood notes.
- An easy introduction: a good first shochu for guests who know whisky or brandy.
- Single distilled: normal-pressure distillation keeps more of the barley character.
- Made for Japanese food: the maker pairs it with sushi, sashimi, grilled fish and chicken.
How to Serve
- Straight: in a small glass, to taste the oak.
- On the rocks: the most popular way, over one large piece of ice.
- Mizuwari: mixed with cold water, to drink through a meal.
- Soda highball: tall, with chilled soda water.
Satsuma Shuzō is based at Makurazaki, on the southern tip of the Satsuma Peninsula in Kagoshima, one of Japan's great shochu regions. Kagoshima is best known for sweet potato shochu, but Satsuma Shuzō also makes barley shochu, and Kannoko is its oak-aged style. Barrel ageing is less common in shochu than in whisky, and it gives Kannoko its colour and its softer, rounder profile.
Learn more: Shochu
What is white koji?
Koji is the mould used to turn grain starch into sugar so it can ferment. Shochu makers mainly use three kinds: black, white and yellow. White koji (shiro kōji) tends to give a softer, gentler and cleaner spirit than black koji, which is more robust. In Kannoko it suits the mellow, barrel-rounded style.
Product Details
| Type | Honkaku barley shochu (mugi shōchū), oak-aged |
| Producer | Satsuma Shuzō Co., Ltd. (薩摩酒造) |
| Origin | Makurazaki, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan |
| Ingredients | Barley, barley koji (white koji) |
| Distillation | Single distillation at normal pressure |
| Ageing | 3 years in oak barrels (maker's description) |
| Alcohol | 25% ABV |
| Volume | 720ml |
What does Kannoko taste like?
Satsuma Shuzō describes it as rich and mellow with a fragrant aroma. Expect toasty barley softened by gentle oak from its three years in barrel, with a smooth, rounded finish. It is lighter and lower in alcohol than a whisky, so it works well with ice or water through a meal.
What food goes with it?
The maker suggests sushi, sashimi, grilled fish and chicken. On the rocks or with water it also suits yakitori, karaage and other grilled or fried izakaya dishes.
When will my pre-order arrive?
This line is due to land in the UK in early November 2026. Pre-orders are dispatched once the stock has arrived and been checked in at our warehouse. Alcohol is sold only to customers aged 18 or over.
SKU : X5008