US Shochu Cocktail Competition 2024

Win A Trip To Japan and Experience Japan’s Oldest Spirit

Presented By

 
 

3rd Annual SHOCHU COCKTAIL COMPETITION 2024

This competition is about the bridge between our spirits culture and world class bartenders. Submit your best shochu cocktail inspired by Kyushu or Okinawa, Japan, the ‘home’ of shochu. Use your favorite shochu: Potato, Brown sugar, Rice, Barley, Sesame, or Awamori, for a chance to win a week-long immersive shochu trip in Kyushu Island, Japan.

Check out last year’s Shochu Cocktail Competition here.

Official Rules

Key Dates for 2024

  • Application Opens: December 26, 2023 - February 5, 2024

  • Judging Period: December 26, 2023 - February 10, 2024

  • Semi-Finals

    • Semi-Finalists Announced February 11, 2024

    • Semi-Final Competition February 19, 2024 – February 23, 2024

      • Location: California, Chicago, New York

  • Finalists Announcement: February 24, 2024

  • Grand Finale Competition: March 4, 2024 in New York

  • Application open to all legal residents of the contiguous 48 US States (and Washington, DC) ages 21+

Judging Criteria

  • Creativity and interpretation of the theme: “Kyushu”

  • Knowledge and understanding of shochu

  • Balance in a cocktail ((not only flavor but also proof)

  • Name, presentation, and style of the cocktail in the time limit.

Ingredients

Your original cocktail must use 2 oz of shochu and up to 7 ingredients (including the garnish). Up to two of those ingredients can be custom made syrups, infusions, etc but you will be judged on how consistently and easily they can be produced at volume as a drink on the menu at your bar.

Judges

*Subject to availability. Listed judges to participate only in later rounds of judging.

Meet the Judges

  • Don Lee

    Spirits Educator

  • Julia Momosé

    Bar Kumiko

  • Kenta Goto

    Bar Goto

  • Takuma Watanabe

    Martiny's

  • Masa Urushido

    Katana Kitten

Click the image and follow this page to access tutorials and content from our judges to help you understand shochu and create an amazing cocktail for this year's competition.

Click and follow this page to access tutorials and content to help you understand shochu and create an amazing cocktail for this year's competition.

Find Shochu Near You

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