Where to buy mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)?

[Anonymous]

According to this article, what I am looking for is hon-mirin, which has 14% alcohol content, vs aji-mirin, which is sold in grocery stores.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/05/20/food/add-little-booze/

“Mirin seasoning, sometimes called aji-mirin, is not mirin at all — it’s an alcohol-free substitute that contains sweeteners (sugar or high-fructose corn syrup), salt and monosodium glutamate. It was created as a cheap alternative to mirin that could be sold in regular grocery stores.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to this article, what I am looking for is hon-mirin, which has 14% alcohol content, vs aji-mirin, which is sold in grocery stores.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/05/20/food/add-little-booze/

“Mirin seasoning, sometimes called aji-mirin, is not mirin at all — it’s an alcohol-free substitute that contains sweeteners (sugar or high-fructose corn syrup), salt and monosodium glutamate. It was created as a cheap alternative to mirin that could be sold in regular grocery stores.”

I don’t think I’ve seen hon kirin in asian stores. It’s usually aji Mirin, it’s sweet not salty. If Hon mirin is sold anywhere your best bet is probably Alcohol stores.

[Anonymous]

Why do you want to do this? I’d just get a decent Sherry instead.

[Anonymous]

I went through this about ten years ago, ended up having my sister get me a bottle of hon mirin from a Japanese specialty store in New York City. She said she's seen that brand in regular grocery stores since then so maybe things have changed. I remember being in Seattle and San Francisco that year and visiting several liquor stores looking for real mirin without success.

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/dining/searching-for-the-real-mirin.html

https://umamimart.com/blogs/main/takaramirin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for the real thing for drinking, not the salty cooking version. Assuming a liquor store with a decent sake collection would have it?
Thank you!

Sheffield Liquor next to politics and prose

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to this article, what I am looking for is hon-mirin, which has 14% alcohol content, vs aji-mirin, which is sold in grocery stores.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/05/20/food/add-little-booze/

“Mirin seasoning, sometimes called aji-mirin, is not mirin at all — it’s an alcohol-free substitute that contains sweeteners (sugar or high-fructose corn syrup), salt and monosodium glutamate. It was created as a cheap alternative to mirin that could be sold in regular grocery stores.”

I think I've seen it at Maruichi in Rockville.
Regardless, mirin in any form is used for cooking not drinking. If you want something to drink look for sake (rice wine).