Even top sushi restaurants never mention anything like it in their menus so had assumed that sake was the equivalent of soju in terms of nationality. Difference Between Soju and Sake: Conclusion. Soju tastes pretty much like diluted Vodka, while Sake’s flavors vary from sweetness, umami, saltiness, sourness to bitterness. Image Courtesy: japanesestyle.com, gluttonguide101.blogspot.com. Like vodka, it is often drunk neat, and sometimes as a cocktail. Soju is a clear spirit that originated in Korea. Soju and sake have a slightly higher calorie count, clocking in at about 65 and 80 calories respectively per 1.5-ounce serving. Sake typically has a lower alcohol content than soju. According to Yukari Sakamoto, sommelier, certified shochu advisor, and author of “Food Sake Tokyo,” shochu flavor and quality can vary greatly. Soju (/ ˈ s oʊ dʒ uː /; from Korean: 소주; 燒酒) is a clear, colorless distilled alcoholic beverage of Korean origin. There is difference in the production of Soju and Sake. However, the ABV of sake is often reduced to 15% by diluting it with water prior to bottling. Sake is best served room temperature. Sometimes, sake is compared to soju. Sake is low-proof alcohol made from rice (often referred to as rice wine, although it's brewed like beer rather than fermented like sake), with alcohol content roughly between 15-19%. It has a neutral flavor, like vodka, but half the alcohol content — it t… To the newbie, soju and sake may seem somewhat challenging to tell apart, particularly since both soju and sake are clear alcoholic beverages that contain the same ABV; at approximately 14-24%. Sake is a fermented rice wine from Japan and can range from 15-40% ABV. Soju is clear and colorless and is widely consumed in Korea, mainly due to its low price. In the 1960s beer consumption surpassed sake and the production of sake has been declining since the mid 1970s. Dry vermouth is another fortified wine that is originally from Spain. Undiluted sake contains 18%–20% alcohol by volume (ABV), higher than the ABV of wine (9%–16%) or beer (3%–9%). ByAdmin August 24, 2017 No Comments. It typically runs with a 20-34 percent abv. You’ll often see these numbers on sake menus or on sake bottle labels. Consequently, shochu can be stored for long periods of time while sake has a limited shelf life. In sake’s case, it is then fermented a second time with koji mold. Aside from their different countries of origin and alcohol contents, these two clear beverages also feature key contrasts in their production processes, flavors, and serving suggestions. Sake is an alcoholic beverage from Japan, whereas, soju is an alcoholic beverage from Korea. In contrast, most Japanese shochus are single-distilled. Soju is the world’s top-selling liquor by volume. And how about shochu's? In 2007, the number of breweries in Japan amounted to 1,845, down from 3,229 breweries in fiscal 1975. We love this one, it's very smooth, and tastes and smells a lot like … Soju is a clear spirit that originated in Korea. Dry Vermouth. In Japan, sake is a generalized term referring to any and all alcoholic beverages. Here’s a breakdown of all the differences among sake, soju, and shochu. While delicious to sip with a meal, sake is often used in marinades, sauces, soups, and other recipes to add delicate flavor depth and tenderize meats. Soju is made with rice as well as ingredients like sweet potatoes and barley. The alcohol content is a little less, with most shochus averaging around 25%-30%. Shochu vs. soju In addition to the rise of izakayas in the Bay Area, Lim believes that the marketing of shochu's Korean equivalent, soju, has helped shochu become better known. The similarity in appearance alone is enough to throw off most of the uninitiated. Meanwhile, sake continues to gain popularity, with U.S. sales increasing annually since the 1990s. From the origin, both alcoholic beverages comes from different places, Soju from Korea while Sake comes from Japan. In his book The Year of Drinking Adventurously: 52 Ways to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone, Jeff Cioletti breaks it down as follows: Sake brewed with rice polished to 70 percent its original size is generally referred to as either junmai or honjozo. Shochu originated in Japan at least 500 years ago. There, it is seen more as a palate cleanser, best enjoyed between meals or on its own. Shochu is the most popular spirit in its homeland of Japan, and it’s reportedly making a splash stateside in Highball variations and posh umami cocktails. Ginjo refers to sake whose rice grains are polished to 60 percent or less; and daiginjo, to 50 percent or less. OK, let's compare soju vs. shochu ads. And how does soju play into things? Soju is often sweeter while sake is dry in comparison. Soju is most often drunk straight with food, like wine, but is also used in cocktails, like a spirit. Soju is a clear spirit from Korea and is consistently one of, if not the most-consumed alcohol by volume year after year worldwide, although it’s dwarfed in popularity by Japanese sake and sochu. content so is closer to sochu than sake that way. 1. Brewing sake calls for relatively lower temperatures, but shochu can be distilled in these warmer regions. Sake and Soju are both alcoholic beverages. Aspergillus oryzae. In spite of that, they are quickly becoming household names worldwide. It was traditionally made with rice but, ever since distilling rice was banned during the Korean War, distillers have used other grains and starches, such as wheat, sweet potatoes, and even tapioca. Sake is an alcoholic beverage from Japan, whereas, soju is an alcoholic beverage from Korea. While Sake is brewed, Soju is distilled. But all those sips add up. Sake vs Soju. Sake quality and cost are all about the level of polish, or the amount the rice grains have been milled before brewing. You can learn more about sake styles here. What’s the difference between sake and shochu? Soju doesn't cheat you. All rice grains are polished about 10 percent before they reach a sake brewery. The probable origin of sake was between … 2. For many people, alcohol is a part of their daily life, it is a lifestyle, a beverage, and a tool to socialize while also can be categorized as a tranquilizer for some. Soju is the world’s top-selling liquor by volume. to 794 A.D. But they can also be made from buckwheat, sweet potatoes, or, in … It is traditionally made from wheat, barley or rice. Cozy!!! Sake is a brewed alcohol while Shochu is distilled liquor, which also leads to the difference in alcohol contents. It is usually consumed neat, and its alcohol content varies from about 16.8% to 53% alcohol by volume (ABV). It was commonly used for religious ceremonies, court festivals, and drinking games. Sake vs Soju: Which have higher alcohol content? As such, a sweet potato shochu will taste very different from a rice shochu. Sake has more in common with beer than any other alcoholic beverage. Korean soju is made from potatoes (and a whole lotta chemicals) and is in some ways closer to vodka; Japanese sake is made from rice. However, it is often considered to have a taste sweeter than vodka due to the sugars added in the manufacturing process. Sake is made with rice, water and koji mould. It is well known that the Japanese culture of drinking is usually. One can also see a difference in the environment in which the two beverages are made. One of the key differences between shochu and sake, and why shochu is logistically an easier product to sell, is aging. True sake is made from rice, water, and kōji mold, i.e. rice, sweet potato etc. Sake is meant to be enjoyed within a year of its release, while shochu is often aged in steel tanks or oak barrels to improve its flavor. It is usually clear and still; but unfiltered sake is milky white, and some sakes are carbonated. Although both drinks have some similarities, they have many apparent disparities. From the alcoholic content, some Soju may have higher alcohol content than Sake. It’s no secret that Asian spirits are on the rise. In Japan, sake is a generalized term referring to any and all alcoholic beverages. From the main ingredient used, Soju can be made from various grains as well as starches while Sake is only made from rice. There are so many people wondering how SAKE (Sake) SOJU (SOUCH) Korean liquor and SHOCHU (CHOJU) Japanese liquor is different. Also, the higher alcohol content and drier feel is more appealing to many in milder climates. Have you ever wondered how the Japanese sake, Soju (Korean liquor), Shoku (Japanese liquor) is different? Soju vs Sake Japan has a similar spirit to soju called shochu. The biggest difference is how the two are made: Sake is fermented and brewed like beer and soju is distilled like vodka. Usually Sake is around 15% because most of the fungus stops activity and the alcohol level does not go any further, while Shochu can normally be 20%-25%, even as high as 42% (if multi-distilled). What English speaking countries refer to as sake, is in fact termed nihonshu in Japanese. Soju with 20% is the most common. Sexy!!! When comparing sake with soju, most Americans are far more familiar with the former, a frequent sushi companion. The glasses are small, as are the bottles – usually 375ml – and soju is reasonably priced, compared with sake and other spirits. This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. Sake and Soju are both alcoholic beverages. Sake is a traditional Japanese beverage made from fermented rice. Pretty!! As a result, sojus vary in aroma and flavor. 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