Shochu at Its Base, Liqueur by Category—The Freedom of Blending Revealed by MATCHA CAT
The Sake Staircase, Episode 6 | Step 4: Liqueur, Part 1
In Episode 5, we explored the third step through Umenoyado Brewery’s Aragoshi Umeshu: the delicate craft of capturing fruit and time within alcohol. In the broadest sense, umeshu is also a type of liqueur. Yet this series treated it as a separate step in order to examine the preservation technique of steeping unripe ume plums in sugar and alcohol as a principle in its own right. The fourth step builds upon this foundation, exploring the expansive freedom found in the curation and harmony of ingredients.
Our entry point is MATCHA CAT. Its official product description classifies it as a liqueur, yet its base is authentic barley shochu. This dual identity reveals the mechanism at work in the fourth step.
Japan’s National Tax Agency defines liqueur as an alcoholic beverage made from alcoholic drinks, sugars, and other ingredients, with an extract content of at least two degrees. However, beverages that fall under another category, such as sake or shochu, are excluded. Here, “extract content” refers to the approximate amount of sugars and other substances remaining after alcohol and water are removed from the liquid.
Where, then, does the distinction between shochu and liqueur lie? The answer is found in two subtle markers: the product category and the ingredient list. MATCHA CAT is labeled as a “liqueur,” while its ingredients include domestically produced processed matcha, authentic barley shochu, sugar, starch syrup, and other components. From this, we can see a structure in which tea and sweeteners are layered onto a shochu base. The third step examined the relationship between ume fruit and time in depth. The fourth step focuses instead on the combination of a base spirit and the ingredients added to it. In this series, the expanding range of possible combinations is understood as the “freedom of blending.”
MATCHA CAT is a product of SHOCHU NEXT. Hamada Syuzou is responsible only for its production. On July 1, 2024, SHOCHU NEXT launched its original brand, SHOCHU REPUBLIC. Under this project, four distilleries in Kyushu each produce one item, all presented under a shared concept and unified visual identity to showcase the diversity of shochu.
The name “SHOCHU REPUBLIC” literally means “Shochu Republic,” yet the four-product lineup also includes liqueurs such as MATCHA CAT. SHOCHU NEXT explains that it deliberately chose not to remain confined to the category of authentic shochu, instead including liqueurs made with authentic shochu as their base.
Hamada Syuzou was founded in 1868 in Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima Prefecture. According to an article published by SHOCHU NEXT, MATCHA CAT marked the company’s first attempt to produce an alcoholic beverage using matcha. Matcha itself is not sweet, and perceptions of sweetness vary from person to person. As a result, the company reportedly struggled during development to determine how much sweetness to add. Both sugar and starch syrup appear in the ingredient list. Publicly available materials, however, confirm only that the processed matcha is made in Japan; the specific origin or grade of the tea has not been disclosed.
The predominantly green label features a calico cat wearing a kasa-kamuri, a traditional umbrella-style headdress seen at Kagoshima’s Sano-Sa Festival. The headdress evokes the place of production, while the green color and product name suggest matcha. From a single label, two kinds of information can be read: place and ingredient. Hamada Syuzou, founded in 1868, and SHOCHU REPUBLIC, launched in 2024, come together in a single product.
MATCHA CAT presents one particular combination: authentic shochu as the base, layered with tea. Replace the tea with yuzu, salt, cassis, or spices, and the composition changes even though the finished product may still be classified as a liqueur. The point is not to rank these combinations, but to understand that the pairing of a base spirit with added ingredients shapes the character of each product.
This rich diversity of liqueurs represents a compelling chapter of Japanese beverage culture—one that will be shared at KANPAI Thailand 2026, hosted at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) from August 28 to 30, 2026.
The product category tells us how the finished beverage is classified, while the ingredient list reveals how it was assembled. By reading the two together, the formal boundary between shochu and liqueur becomes easier to see, and the “freedom of blending” explored in the fourth step becomes more concrete.
With forty-six days remaining until the curtains rise, the staircase gently leads to the next step.
This article is intended solely to provide information about the blending craftsmanship and cultural context associated with MATCHA CAT. MATCHA CAT is a product of SHOCHU NEXT. Hamada Syuzou Co., Ltd. serves solely as its manufacturer. This article is not intended to promote or encourage the consumption or purchase of alcohol. Participating producers and products at KANPAI Thailand 2026 may change before the event. This content is intended for persons aged 20 and over. Please drink responsibly.
บทความนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อให้ข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับศิลปะการผสมผสานและบริบททางวัฒนธรรมที่เกี่ยวข้องกับ MATCHA CAT เท่านั้น MATCHA CAT เป็นผลิตภัณฑ์ของ SHOCHU NEXT โดย Hamada Syuzou Co., Ltd. รับผิดชอบเฉพาะการผลิตเท่านั้น บทความนี้มิได้มีเจตนาส่งเสริมหรือโฆษณาการบริโภคหรือการซื้อเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ รายชื่อผู้ผลิตและผลิตภัณฑ์ที่เข้าร่วมงาน KANPAI Thailand 2026 อาจเปลี่ยนแปลงได้ก่อนวันงาน เนื้อหานี้สำหรับผู้มีอายุ 20 ปีขึ้นไป โปรดดื่มอย่างมีความรับผิดชอบ
Related Articles
“Returned, Not Added” / “Map of Washu — The Five Steps at a Glance” / “A Shochu by Nature, a Liqueur by Law” / “Layering Yuzu and Sea Salt over Sake”
Related Product(s)
Discover the culture behind every bottle
We share brewery stories, tasting notes and the craft of koji & fermentation — for educational and cultural purposes only.
เราถ่ายทอดเรื่องราวจากผู้ผลิต บันทึกรสชาติ และศาสตร์แห่งโคจิและการหมัก — เพื่อการศึกษาและวัฒนธรรมเท่านั้น