Is Shochu Gluten Free?

Shochu is a popular liquor in Japan that is distilled with the traditional Koji fermentation techniques of the early 20th century.

Let’s find out if this popular Japanese spirit contains wheat or gluten ingredients . . .

Related: Gluten Free Alcohol List

Is Shochu Gluten Free?

Sometimes*

Shochu is a distilled liquor made from a variety of sources, including but not limited to: barley, rice, other grains, sweet potatoes, buckwheat, sugars, and sometimes even sesame or carrots.

Though many argue that ‘all distilled liquors’ are technically gluten free, this isn’t always the case due to additives, the storage of the alcohol, and the fact that everyone’s body reacts different. I have quite a few friends with Celiac Disease, myself included, who cannot drink liquors and other alcoholic beverages derived from wheat, barley, rye, etc. because we still get reactions ranging from mild to severe.

Therefore, it’s always important to check what the ingredients are in the Shochu you are going to consume if you have Celiac Disease or a gluten intolerance.

Shochu made from pure Rice, Potatoes, Buckwheat, Sugar, Sesame, Carrots, Chestnuts, or other non gluten ingredients should be fine. But it is important to check if the distillation process includes multiple base sources or if it’s just purely distilled from one.

The good news is! According to Mizunara, ‘Shochu is usually a Single Distilled (in a Pot Still) spirit that uses the traditional Koji fermentation techniques’. Meaning it is often a single distilled spirit coming from one main ingredient.

Confirmed Gluten Free Shochu Brands

Nankai Shochu https://nankaishochu.com/
Takahashi Shuzo https://www.hakutake.co.jp/eng/
Daiyame Traditional Japanese Shochu https://www.astorwines.com/item/48951
Kaido Imo Shochu https://mel.jfconline.com.au/products/27031gst

Photo: https://publicdomainq.net/shochu-japanese-liquor-0014762/

Shochu Ingredients

Ingredients for Nankai Shochu Brand

Nankai Shochu is a vacuum-distilled kokuto, or “black sugar,” shochu from Amami Island, Japan. Distilled from 80% black sugar and 20% rice, Nankai is sweetly fragrant with notes of pear, has a creamy mouthfeel, and a delicate finish.

Nankai Shochu is distilled from 80% sugarcane and 20% rice, both of which are naturally gluten-free. And, Nankai Shochu is all-natural without additives or flavorings.

Source: https://uptownspirits.com/products/nankai-shochu-750ml

Shochu Nutrition Facts

Nutritional Facts and other Health Facts for Nankai Shochu Brand

Through the magic of distillation, there is NO SUGAR and NO CARBS in the final product, even if it is made from sugarcane. And we absolutely do not add any additional sugars.

Shochu has lower calories per serving size than vodka. A 1.5 ounce shot of shochu has about 60 calories versus 90 calories for vodka.

Drinking shochu stimulates urokinase enzymes (1.5x more than red wine) in the body that break up blood clots, reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes.

Source: https://uptownspirits.com/products/nankai-shochu-750ml