How to: drink Yuzushu (and what even is yuzu?)
- Reed & Co Distillery
- Oct 14
- 3 min read
What is yuzushu — and what is yuzu?
What is yuzu?
Yuzu is a small, highly aromatic East-Asian citrus; think lemon, mandarin and grapefruit rolled into one intensely perfumed fruit. It’s prized for its floral, tart flavour and fragrant oils, and is used widely in Japanese cooking and cocktails. If you're keen to discover more, we've got a whole blog about it here.
WHAT IS YUZUSHU
Yuzushu is a Japanese citrus liqueur made by macerating yuzu (usually fresh juice and the zest) with a base alcohol (often sake, shochu or a neutral distillate) and sugar. The result is a bright, sweet-tart liqueur that’s easy to sip and brilliant as a cocktail ingredient.
Our Koji Spirits Yuzushu is an 11% ABV expression designed to be sipped neat, poured over ice, or used as the citrus backbone for Chuhai and other cocktails.
Why yuzushu is useful in the bar -and at home
Yuzushu gives you a concentrated yuzu flavour without the hassle of sourcing fragile fresh fruit. It brings an immediate citrus aroma, a balancing sweetness, and a mouthwatering tang — which is why bartenders use it for sour cocktails, tall Chuhai drinks, and spritzes. It’s also lower ABV than many spirits, so it’s great for sessionable cocktails or pairing with meals.
Food pairing: what to eat with yuzushu
Yuzushu’s citrus and floral oils make it a great match for:
Seafood & sashimi: citrus lifts the flavours of raw fish without overpowering it.
Grilled chicken or yakitori: the citrus in Yuzushu cuts throught the fat and helps cleanse the palate.
Spicy dishes: the sweetness of Yuzushu helps balances heat in spicy foods.
Light desserts: pannacotta, citrus tarts or almond-based sweets pair beautifully with Yuzushu.
Because Yuzushu is often lower ABV and sweeter than straight spirits, it’s ideal as both an aperitif and an after-dinner digestif.
How to drink Yuzushu — simple ways that work every time
1) Straight / neat
Serve Yuzushu chilled in a small liqueur glass — it's aromatics are at their best when cold. This is perfect as an aperitif.
2) On the rocks
Pour Yuzushu over a single large ice cube. As it slowly melts, the aromas open up and this makes a beautifully balanced after-dinner sip.
3) Yuzushu Chuhai A light, refreshing highball that’s perfect for summer. See our Reed & Co recipe below, or here.
5) As a cocktail base
Yuzushu works brilliantly in sours, spritzes and short cocktails because it supplies both citrus and sweetness in one bottle. Use it instead of lemon syrup and liqueur for quicker, more consistent (and more delicious!) results.
3 recipes to try (easy, bar-friendly)
Yuzushu Chuhai
Serves 1: tall glass / highball
75ml Yuzushu
100ml soda water
Ice + lemon wheel Pour Yuzushu over ice, top with soda water, stir once gently, garnish with lemon.
YUZU SOUR - our best seller
Serves 1 : coupe / DOF glass
30ml Yuzushu
30ml NEO Yuzu New World Gin
20ml fresh lemon juice
15ml sugar syrup
Nori & orange salt for rim (optional)
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, shake hard, fine strain into a chilled glass rimmed with nori & orange salt.
yuzu highball
Serves 1: tall glass / highball
30ml Shochu (light barley or rice)
30–45ml Yuzushu
Soda water to finish
Ice and a thin yuzu peel
Build in a glass, top with bubbles, garnish.
Try Yuzushu at Reed & Co
If you’re local or visiting Bright, try our Koji Spirits Yuzushu in our Spirit Lab Tasting Room (book a tasting here) or order a Yuzushu Chuhai at Koji Bird Restaurant (bookings here). Want to add some to your home bar?Order from our online shop — Yuzushu is perfect for gifts and summer picnics.