Leona Sparkling Fuji Apple: A Sparkling Shochu at 8%

We already pour Garappa, the gin Yamamoto Shuzo distills using shochu technique. This is the same Kagoshima house at the opposite end of its range.

What It Is

Leona Sparkling Fuji Apple combines Japanese Fuji apple with barley shochu, carbonated, at around 8% ABV in a 375ml bottle.

It is worth being precise about the category, since the format invites assumptions. This is not a soft drink and it is not a wine cooler. It is a shochu-based sparkling drink at roughly beer strength, built from a real distilled base rather than from neutral alcohol and syrup.

Yamamoto Shuzo makes the point that it uses only all-natural ingredients, with no preservatives and no artificial flavoring. There is also a yuzu version.

Why Barley Shochu Is the Right Base

Mugi, barley shochu, is the lightest and gentlest of the honkaku shochu styles. Light, faintly nutty, closer to a soft whisky than to anything aggressive.

That is exactly what you want under fruit. An imo shochu base would put sweet potato in the way of the apple. A neutral korui base would carry the fruit but contribute nothing. Barley sits in between: enough character to give the drink a spine, gentle enough not to argue with the apple.

Fuji Apples

Fuji is a Japanese apple variety developed in Aomori in the mid twentieth century, from a cross of Ralls Janet and Red Delicious. It is now one of the most widely grown apples in the world.

What makes it useful here is its sugar level and its density. Fuji is notably sweet and firm, with a high sugar content and a clean flavor that does not turn vegetal or tannic. Softer, more acidic apple varieties tend to taste cooked once processed. Fuji holds its shape.

What It Tastes Like

Crisp and refreshing, with clear natural apple character and a clean finish rather than a syrupy one. The 8% is present but easy, and the carbonation keeps the sweetness from settling.

How to Drink It

Very cold, straight from the bottle or poured into a glass.

Nothing needs to be added. The carbonation and the dilution are already built in, which is the whole convenience of the format.

Pair It With

Fried and salty. Karaage, tempura, gyoza. Apple and fried food is an underrated combination, and the bubbles handle the oil.

Try It at Juraku

Leona Sparkling is on the list at Izakaya Juraku, Lower East Side, alongside Garappa from the same producer. Check the current menu or ask us what is open.