Shochu Cocktail Recipe: Nankai Hop Soda Highball

Hop Soda Highball
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The Nankai Hoppy Highball (Hoppy-Hi) is a shochu highball recipe using hop soda that is easy to make at home, delicious, and incredibly low in calories. Since Nankai Shochu has no sugar, carbs, or gluten, it’s perfect to mix with no-sugar, zero calories Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher for a diet-friendly cocktail.

We talked about the highball in an earlier post, and this recipe is just an extension of that. However, the Lagunitas hop soda is a great mixer to use with Nankai since the floral hop aromas shine when combined with our black sugar shochu.

If you’re on the keto diet, hop soda with Nankai is also a great replacement for beer. You get the same carbonation and hoppy aromas, but with zero carbs or sugars and much fewer calories per serving. Plus you’ll get a nice boozy kick.

Hop Soda Highball
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5 from 12 votes

Nankai Hop Soda Highball (Hoppy-Hi)

The classic way to drink shochu is as a Chu-hi (Shochu highball), and this version using Lagunitas' Hoppy Refresher has no sugar or carbs. You can add an orange wedge for a hint of sweetness.
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time1 minute
Total Time3 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Cocktail
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Calorie
Keyword: highball, hops, ketofriendly, lagunitas, Low ABV, Low suger, simple cocktail
Servings: 1
Calories: 80kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Nankai Shochu
  • 4 oz Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher
  • 1 wedge Orange Optional
  • 1 Orange Peel for garnish

Instructions

  • Combine Nankai and Lagunitas in a glass over ice.
  • Squeeze orange wedge and stir. (Optional)
  • Add garnish and serve.

Notes

The classic way to drink is as a Chu-hi (basically a shochu highball). Today let’s do a California version with a hop soda from the great folks at Lagunitas beer.

Nutrition

Serving: 6oz | Calories: 80kcal | Potassium: 65mg

What is a Highball?

So, what is a highball exactly and why do we at Nankai love it so much? A highball is, on the surface, a simple cocktail: 1 part spirit and 3-4 parts soda water over ice. Its simplicity is part of why we love it– you can make it at home and it’s easy for restaurant/bar staff to serve it up. But more importantly, the ice and the carbonation really open up the shochu’s flavors while making it incredibly refreshing. Of course, a highball in the hands of a master bartender is hardly a simple cocktail, and more a meditation in precision and tradecraft. The expertly-made highball requires high quality ice and super carbonated soda water, as well as the patience to pour and stir properly.

If you want to learn more about highballs and other shochu cocktails, check our main cocktail recipe page.

If you’re looking to pick up a bottle of Nankai Shochu or have it shipped/delivered to you, you can find us here. Grab a six pack of the hop soda and you’ll have enough for 8-10 highballs.

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