Ukiyo Rice Vodka 70cl /40%
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Ukiyo Rice Vodka is a craft rice vodka from Kirker Greer Spirits, blended from two Japanese rice spirits and bottled at 40% ABV in a 70cl bottle. One component is awamori, the traditional long-grain rice spirit of Okinawa; the other is a lighter, more fragrant rice distillate from Chiba, near Tokyo. After blending, the pair are distilled again. As a rice vodka made with awamori, it keeps a recognisable rice aroma instead of tasting completely neutral. It suits drinkers who enjoy sake or Japanese whisky, and it sits comfortably beside seafood and light, savoury dishes.
Ukiyo Rice Vodka tasting notes
- Nose: Steamed jasmine rice, pear skin and a light white-blossom note.
- Palate: Soft and rounded, with gentle cereal sweetness, honeydew melon and a faintly earthy edge from the awamori.
- Finish: Clean and lightly savoury, fading on rice and a pinch of white pepper.
How to drink Ukiyo Rice Vodka
Keep the bottle in the fridge rather than the freezer, so the rice notes stay clear, and pour 25 ml into a small tumbler or a sake cup, neat or over one large ice cube. Serve it with sushi, salted edamame, grilled mackerel or chicken yakitori. It also makes a calm aperitif before a Japanese-style dinner at home, or a quiet nightcap after one.
Ukiyo Rice Vodka cocktails
- Ukiyo Highball: 50 ml Ukiyo over plenty of ice in a tall glass, topped with 150 ml chilled soda water and a strip of lemon peel.
- Rice Martini: 60 ml Ukiyo and 10 ml dry vermouth stirred over ice, strained into a chilled coupe and garnished with a thin cucumber slice.
- Green Tea Collins: 40 ml Ukiyo, 20 ml lemon juice and 10 ml honey syrup shaken with ice, strained into a highball glass over fresh ice and topped with 80 ml chilled green tea.
How it compares
Haku Japanese Pure Plain Craft Vodka from Suntory is distilled from Japanese white rice alone and tastes cleaner and more polished; Ukiyo, thanks to its awamori component, is earthier and more aromatic. Nikka Coffey Vodka takes a different route altogether, using corn and barley in Coffey stills for a creamier, citrus-led glass. Of the three, Ukiyo shows the most obvious rice character.
Good to know
Ukiyo is brought to market by Kirker Greer Spirits, and the Ukiyo Rice Vodka 70cl bottle makes a thoughtful present for anyone who cooks Japanese food or collects sake. Wodka Company sends Ukiyo Rice Vodka to addresses across the UK from its London shop.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ukiyo mean?
Ukiyo is a Japanese word usually translated as “floating world”, the same term found in ukiyo-e woodblock prints. Ukiyo Rice Vodka takes the name as a nod to its Japanese roots: a blend of rice spirits from Okinawa and from Chiba, near Tokyo.
Does Ukiyo Rice Vodka taste of rice?
Yes, gently. Ukiyo Rice Vodka keeps a soft steamed-rice aroma because the Okinawan awamori in the blend carries more character than a neutral grain spirit. Compared with a typical wheat vodka, the palate feels rounder, with pear and a light savoury edge.
What is the difference between Ukiyo Rice Vodka and Haku?
Both are Japanese rice vodkas, but Haku Japanese Craft Vodka is made only from Japanese white rice and filtered through bamboo charcoal for a polished, subtly sweet style. Ukiyo Rice Vodka blends awamori with a lighter Chiba rice spirit, so its aroma is earthier and more expressive.
