A drink made in Scotland with Japanese inspiration

March 5, 2020 | Scotland

100 years ago, the Japanese travelled to Scotland and returned home with the secrets of the Scotch whisky distilleries.

With their newfound knowledge, they created their very own version of Scotland’s national drink.

Now, BrewDog Distilling Co. are fighting back with the creation of a shochu, Japan’s number one drink with a Scottish twist. Inugami Shochu hails from the Far East (of Scotland) and is subtly laced with galangal root, ginger and Scottish rhubarb.

Shochu is a light, delicate drink that’s loved in Japan and relatively unknown outside of it. It’s distilled unlike sake, which is fermented, and can be made from range of locally available ingredients. Ranging from rice, barley, buckwheat and even sweet potato, which all offer and wide range of flavours, shochu is usually enjoyed with cold/hot water or in a ‘Chu Hai’ Highball with soda for a lower abv sipper.

Made from malted wheat, barley and rice with a touch of molasses for fruitiness. Inugami is then subtly laced with rhubarb, galangal root and ginger giving it a complex flavour.

Named after the vengeful dog spirits found in Japanese folklore, Inugami are known for their wrath and powers of possession. Wild Scottish birds are found on the Inugami Shochu bottle keeping the wild dog in check, ready to be unleashed on a new generation looking for lighter, brighter drinks with a crisp bite.

BrewDog Distilling Co have launched their Inugami Shochu, created by their dedicated team. Inugami joins LoneWolf gin, Rogue Wave vodka, Five Hundred Cuts botanical rum and Zealot’s Heart gin.

Inugami Shochu will have a retail price of £27 and is available from 27 March at BrewDog.com and all UK BrewDog bars.