iichiko Saiten

The iichiko company built Saiten for bartenders. It's made with barley koji only and bottled at 43%, well above the 25% where most shochu sits, so it holds its shape in a cocktail instead of disappearing into it.

Honeydew, white grape, and kabosu citrus on the nose, with white pepper and a nutty barley note underneath. A strong start, jasmine tea and white peach, a mineral edge, and a long saline finish.

Saiten (彩天) means "colorful skies."