It’ll be in Japan and it will be shochu, a vodka-like distillation of rice, barley and potatoes.
It will be Coca-Cola’s first low-calorie alcoholic drink in the company’s 125-year history.
“It makes sense to give this a try in our market,” Jorge Garduño, president of Coca-Cola’s Japan business unit said. “But I don’t think people around the world should expect to see this kind of thing from Coca-Cola.”
The Financial Times says “Chu-Hi canned drinks mostly range in alcohol content between 3% and 8% — a profile that has put them in direct competition with beer and proved particularly attractive to female drinkers. The appeal of Chu-Hi has been enhanced by the relentless trial-and-error approach by major Japanese producers Kirin, Asahi, Takara and Suntory, which have released flavors that include yoghurt, acerola and wild basil.”