Bespoke Offering From Shochu Lounge

Shochu Lounge (37 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RR), London’s only venue to create shochu tonics on site, will launch bespoke shochu on Wednesday 14 March 2007. The stylish and sexy Shochu Lounge sells over 40 flavours of shochu tonic that can be served straight or as the basis of many of the bar’s groundbreaking cocktails. Last year the venue was named ‘Best Bar’ at the 2006 Time Out Eating & Drinking Awards.

Bespoke shochu will enable devotees of this historical tonic to order their very own flavour, following a consultation with the shochu master, who will discuss and analyse the client’s likes and dislikes. When the brand new flavour is ready, a large bottle of bespoke shochu – complete with unique label – will be presented to the client, which can then be kept on the premises for future visits, given as a present or enjoyed at home. A bottle (70cl) of bespoke shochu is priced at £120 and a traditional shochu jar (420cl) is priced at £260.

Originally served in Northern Japan for its medicinal attributes, shochu tonic has been compared with gin or vodka, and is created by the fermentation and distillation of base ingredients such as rice, barley or sweet potato mash, before being aged in kumes or barrels. The shochu is then infused with a large variety of fruits, herbs and spices ranging from pine needle and raspberry to plum and ginseng, in a process that can vary from just a few days (in the case of mint, for example) to several months (for cinnamon). The beautiful glass jars of shochu marinating various fruits line one wall of the bar creating a striking focal point to the stunning interior.

Shochu Lounge is a favourite among celebrities such as Scarlett Johanson, Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey. As well as the exceptional cocktails and a full drinks list that includes wines and sakes, Shochu Lounge is the ideal venue to sample some of the dishes or enjoy a meal from the Roka menu that is served in full.