Shochu In New York

If you're just looking to grab a bottle and brown bag it, head over to the new location of this Greenwich Village staple. Astor Wines & Spirits is stocked with over … fifty types of shochu. The sweet potato blends tend to have a bad aftertaste, so I'd suggest avoiding those (this advice holds true here as well as everywhere else on this list). [link]

The sushi at Shimizu is the stuff dreams are made of. I kid you not, my last visit to this place is literally etched onto my subconscious. Located in the lobby of a hotel … in the Theater District, Shimizu is my pick for the best Japanese restaurant in New York. Before you argue for your favorite, check out their unforgettable tuna tartar with one of their 21 different shochu options, like the full-bodied Jougo or the crisp, citrusy Sudachi. [link]

There are only two types of shochu on the menu at this Upper East Side eatery, but the Iichiko is a basic blend that'll give you a great sense of classic shochu taste. As … its name implies, the best dish is the Shabu Shabu, thin slices of premium beef that you steam in a bowl of boiling water at your table before dipping in a nutty, brown sauce. If you can afford to eat here, you might as well spring for the highest-grade meat, which is marbled to perfection. [link]

Located on Fifth Avenue in the heart of South Brooklyn's burgeoning restaurant district, this stylish bistro features excellent sushi prepared by "Master Chef Nishikawa" … and Jinro -- a refreshing grain-based soju from Seoul that's on sale at $16 a bottle. Sadly, Sakura also boasts unjustifiably high prices and painfully slow service. I'd skip Sakura unless you're confident you'll be able to coax the staff into giving you your Jinro to go. [link]

Since they were having "an event" at Chanto when I stopped by, I didn't get to try the food or the supposedly abundant shochu selection at this West Village newcomer. … Still, I think I saw enough to know that Chanto isn't worth another visit. Decked out like a tacky club with themed levels, headset-clad door personnel, and multiple video fireplaces, this joint is clearly designed to appeal to Bridge-and-Tunnellers pre-gaming for a night of partying in the Meatpacking District. With other options nearby, there's no reason to have your shochu in a location that is so, to put it delicately, "atmospherically-challenged." [link]

This trendy, overpriced outpost of a Japanese restaurant empire is a full-fledged shochu bar. The drinks at En are accompanied by izakaya, which their website … describes as "traditional pub fare." Among the 38 shochus offered at En are several original house infusions, which can be enjoyed on their own or as part of a cocktail. The ginger shochu martini is excellent, but if you're looking to try the stuff straight up, go for the fiery, barley-based Yamano More. [link]