{"product_id":"watanabe-hidama-roasted-barley-infusion-spirit-25-720ml","title":"Watanabe Hidama Roasted-Barley Infusion Spirit, 25%, 720ml","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-description\" style=\"line-height: 1.7; max-width: 800px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 600; font-size: 1.05rem; margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003eBarley shochu infused with hand-roasted barley: amber in the glass, with roasted, bitter-chocolate notes and no cask in sight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 0.95rem;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePre-order: arriving in the UK in early November 2026\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 16px; font-size: 0.95rem;\"\u003eHidama (ヒダマ) is made by Watanabe Shuzōjō (渡邊酒造場), a shochu distillery in Tano, Miyazaki Prefecture. The distillery takes its own barley shochu and infuses it with six-row barley that has been slowly roasted by hand over a low heat. The roasting gives the spirit its amber colour and a fragrant, mellow aroma with notes the maker compares to bitter chocolate. It was the first release in Watanabe's Infusion Spirits range. 25% ABV, 720ml.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(260px, 1fr)); gap: 24px; margin-bottom: 28px; margin-top: 16px;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 600; font-size: 0.9rem; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); padding-bottom: 6px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eWhy Chefs Choose This\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"padding-left: 18px; margin: 0; font-size: 0.85rem; list-style: disc;\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSomething different on the list:\u003c\/strong\u003e a roasted-grain shochu that guests will not have tried before.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eColour from the grain:\u003c\/strong\u003e the amber comes from roasted barley, not from cask ageing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade for mixing:\u003c\/strong\u003e the maker recommends it with water or soda, which suits highballs.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWorks with rich food:\u003c\/strong\u003e suggested with Chinese dishes and meat.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 600; font-size: 0.9rem; border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); padding-bottom: 6px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eHow to Serve\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"padding-left: 18px; margin: 0; font-size: 0.85rem; list-style: disc;\"\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMizuwari:\u003c\/strong\u003e with cold water over ice, to open up the roasted aroma.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoda highball:\u003c\/strong\u003e with chilled soda water in a tall glass with ice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOn the rocks:\u003c\/strong\u003e for the fullest roasted character.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"margin-bottom: 7px;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWith food:\u003c\/strong\u003e grilled meat, yakiniku and Chinese-style dishes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 22px; font-size: 0.95rem;\"\u003eShochu is Japan's native distilled spirit, and southern Kyushu, including Miyazaki, is its heartland. Most shochu is made from a single base ingredient such as barley, sweet potato or rice. Watanabe Shuzōjō's Infusion Spirits range goes a step further by steeping a flavouring ingredient in the finished shochu, a technique borrowed from the world of infused spirits. With Hidama the added ingredient is barley again, but roasted, so the spirit tastes of the grain twice over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 22px; font-size: 0.9rem;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn more:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/masterclass\/shochu\" style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eShochu\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 600; font-size: 1rem; margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003eWhat does Hidama taste like?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 22px; font-size: 0.95rem;\"\u003eThe maker describes a fragrant, mellow aroma and bitter-chocolate-like notes from the roasted barley, with a sweetness that develops in the glass. Think of the toasty smell of roasted barley tea, carried on a barley shochu base. Water or soda lengthens it and brings the roasted notes forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 600; font-size: 1rem; margin-bottom: 6px;\"\u003eProduct Details\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 10px 0 25px 0; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35);\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"opacity: 0.75; width: 35%; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eType\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eInfusion spirit: barley shochu infused with roasted barley\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"opacity: 0.75; width: 35%; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eProducer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eWatanabe Shuzōjō (渡邊酒造場)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"opacity: 0.75; width: 35%; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eTano, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"opacity: 0.75; width: 35%; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eInfused With\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eSix-row barley, slow-roasted by hand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"opacity: 0.75; width: 35%; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eAlcohol\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003e25% ABV\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"opacity: 0.75; width: 35%; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eVolume\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003e720ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"opacity: 0.75; width: 35%; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eCask Ageing\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding: 10px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); font-size: 0.85rem;\"\u003eNone; colour comes from the roasted barley\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 12px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); border-radius: 4px;\"\u003e\n\u003csummary style=\"padding: 12px; font-weight: 600; font-size: 0.9rem; cursor: pointer;\"\u003eWhat is an infusion spirit?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding: 12px; font-size: 0.85rem; margin: 0;\"\u003eA spirit that has had a flavouring ingredient steeped in it after distillation. Watanabe makes its own shochu first, then infuses it, in this case with roasted barley. Because an ingredient is added after distilling, it is sold as an infusion spirit rather than as plain shochu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 12px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); border-radius: 4px;\"\u003e\n\u003csummary style=\"padding: 12px; font-weight: 600; font-size: 0.9rem; cursor: pointer;\"\u003eIs it aged in oak?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding: 12px; font-size: 0.85rem; margin: 0;\"\u003eNo. The amber colour and the toasty notes come from the roasted barley infusion, not from a cask. The distillery states this clearly on its own description.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"margin-bottom: 40px; border: 1px solid rgba(127,127,127,0.35); border-radius: 4px;\"\u003e\n\u003csummary style=\"padding: 12px; font-weight: 600; font-size: 0.9rem; cursor: pointer;\"\u003eWhen will my pre-order arrive?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding: 12px; font-size: 0.85rem; margin: 0;\"\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Watanabe","offers":[{"title":"Default","offer_id":58704321446269,"sku":"X5006","price":41.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0353\/5621\/files\/36754bf4-9a8f-4d01-977e-e3c367711cbf_00001.jpg?v=1790275266","url":"https:\/\/www.sushisushi.co.uk\/products\/watanabe-hidama-roasted-barley-infusion-spirit-25-720ml","provider":"SushiSushi","version":"1.0","type":"link"}