Drinking in Japan

One of my favourite Suntory drinks is their Strong Zero Double Lemon. Like their Double Grapefruit, this citrus drink weighs in at 9% alcohol content and goes down really smooth. While it's not nearly as flavourful as Triple Lemon, what I like about this drink is how well it pairs with a Kirin Sicilian Lemon. Having one of these before the Kirin beverage will bring out the best of both.

Suntory's Double Lemon can generally be found at the local grocery stores for just under 150円 and at the convenience stores for an additional 45円. The drink pairs really well with an apple pastry and I would encourage anyone in Japan to have a can of Double Lemon while enjoying an apple pie from Yamazaki Bread. The sweetness of the pie will bring out the tartness in Suntory's drink all the more.

As with the Double Grapefruit, the 9% content will hit pretty hard pretty quick, so do not drive or operate any heavy machinery after one of these.

It's not too often that a drink will make me sit up to take notice on the first sip. Suntory's Triple Lemon caught me off guard with its lemonness and has quickly become one of my favourite 9% beverages currently offered by the company. From the moment the can opened, my nose was hit with the irresistible aroma of lemon tarts. While the drink is nowhere near as sweet as the pastry, the taste is as close an approximation as one might expect.

This offering from Suntory is going to be on the shortlist of things to enjoy from now on.

From what I can tell, Triple Lemon is only available in 355mL cans, which is a shame as a 500mL can is generally priced better. That said, these smaller cans can be found for 98 Yen at grocery stores and are sometimes on sale for as little as 80 Yen. If you find yourself in need of a quick buzz and have a soft spot for lemon pastries, this offering from Suntory will not disappoint.

When it comes to non-beer alcoholic beverages, Kirin puts out some of my favourites. Their best offering, as far as I've tried, is their Sicilian Lemon; a 5% liqueur that goes down as smooth as a bottle of lemon-flavoured water. These are particularly good on hot days alongside some takoyaki or another salty snack.

One of my little pleasures is having a 355mL can of Kirin's Sicilian Lemon right after finishing a Suntory Double Grapefruit. The lighter lemon tang is complimented by Suntory's stronger citrus drink and the two tend to balance out quite nicely.

500mL cans of Kirin's Sicilian Lemon can generally be found for 197 Yen at convenience stores and about 140 Yen at grocery stores. The 355mL cans occasionally drop to 99 Yen at Apita, making them an incredibly attractive addition to any visit to the park.