Fans of Japanese liquor will be happy to hear about Shenzhen’s latest shochu bar, opened in the High-Tech Park area this past May.
As its name suggests, the bar’s main specialty is the popular Japanese alcohol shochu, which is mainly distilled from starchy foods such as rice or sweet potatoes. It’s typically stronger than sake but nowhere near as pungent as baijiu.
The kind used at Shochu&Life to create a wide range of mixed drinks is particularly mellow and light – in fact, possibly too much so. A quick scan of the menu seems to offer up many enticing mixed-drink options, from pineapple (RMB60) to yoghurt-flavored (RMB55) shochu concoctions. But put to a taste test, quite a few of them turn out to be on the watery side.
The passion fruit (RMB65) and litchee (part of the ‘secret menu’) options, however, pass muster. They stand out with pleasant bursts of fruity flavor, though still on the light side, reminding us more of fruit sodas than cocktails. A fun surprise, the mojito shochu (RMB55) substitutes shochu for rum.
As for those that prefer harder-hitting alcohol, we recommend the Nikka Whiskey (RMB80/glass), which boasts a smooth and rich yet not overpowering flavor. The interesting helmet-adorned bottle is also a plus.
Founder of the Shochu&Life brand, Jerry Hui emphasizes that the bar is about the environment as a whole rather than any drink in particular. He first became interested in shochu bars while in Shanghai and Beijing, where he was attracted to their relaxed, open and even artistic atmosphere.
With his bar in Shenzhen he seeks to recreate that vibe and convert other newcomers over to the shochu life.
So far he seems to have done pretty well; when we arrive early on a Friday night, the venue is mostly full. With its artsy Japanese-themed decor and laid-back vibe, it’s easy to see how office workers in the area might be tempted to kick back and sip fruity drinks here after a long week.
There may still be a few rough patches along the way – besides the weak drinks, the 80s R&B background music could use some work – but altogether we see a bright future for this up-and-coming bar.
Price: RMB120
Good for: chatting and relaxing, trying new drinks
Who's going: adventurous yuppies, shochu lovers, trendy kids
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