This one’s for those who may enjoy a cocktail (on occasion) but are less crazy about the calories.
Say こんにちは。(HELLO!) to a drinky-drink called
Shochu from Japan with about 30% as many calories as your standard vodka/rum/gin/tequila. A typical 1.5 oz shot glass of those suckers rings in at 100 calories (remember
this post?) But a shot of Shochu?
30 calories! Ok, it is also has slightly less alcohol by volume (Shochu is 20-35% depending on brand, compared with a typical vodka: 40%) but even if you were to double it, you’d still be saving calories.
What is shochu?? It’s distilled from barley, grain, sweet potatoes or buckwheat – separating it from the popular Sake which is brewed. According to fitsugar, shochu is comparable in taste to vodka, so it’s a perfect substitute for bloodys, cosmos, vodka-sodas or other vodka-containing drinks… any one else curious if it mixes with olive juice and vermouth for dirty martinis?!
Apparently some peeps like to drink it on its own over ice, too. Baller. Since it’s Japanesey, Shochu might not show up at your local liquor store but you can buy bottles
online here or
here.
Nothing to do on a weeknight in NYC? Check out En Shochu Bar in the west vill and give a new drink a try. Or take me there. Whatever.
In Japan, they mix it with oolong tea or fruit juices. But you can also try making this spin on a Bloody Mary from Fit Sugar:
The Asian Bloody
2 ounces shoju
4 ounces tomato juice
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated wasabi or 1 teaspoon wasabi paste
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha hot sauce
Pinch of freshly ground pepper
Juice of 1/2 large lime
Celery stalk, tomato, lime, or cucumber spear for garnish
Directions
Combine all ingredients except garnish in an ice-filled cocktail shaker and shake to combine.
Strain over fresh ice into a glass and garnish with assorted veggies.
Makes one drink.
I think an Asian-style Super Bowl Party is in our future!! Enjoy, and after a drink or two practice saying shochu 10 times fast. 
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