“Absolutely, yes. While sake was more popular with the other monks (Sagiri seemed to drink more often when my performance was lacking), I personally prefer barley shochu. It’s not quite as sweet and has many health benefits.”
- Shochu is a distilled Japanese liquor that’s a bit stronger than sake. It’s been favored for its medical benefits since the Edo period and can even help prevent heart attacks. It’s pretty similar to Korean soju, which is more commonly known overseas.
From jisuk - Original post 7Jun2013