For the longest time, Japan’s Strong Zero existed very much in a “in you know, you know” kind of space for hard-partying foreigners who’d ever visited the Land of the Rising Sun. Packing a healthy 6% ABV in each can and all the fruity goodness you could ever ask for, downing one of these bad boys is like taking a bullet train directly to Fuckeyed Town. Clearly aware of what a bunch of pissheads we are, Beam Suntory has just announced Strong Zero – the company’s #1 premix in all of Japan – is finally coming to Australia.
Debuting with a brand new flavour known as Minus 196 / -196 Double Lemon, for the unimitated and the curious, this fine blend of shochu, vodka, and soda is also made from whole lemons frozen in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of the eponymous temperature: -196°C. The cold ass lemon is then pulverized and soaked in booze, thereby creating an intense lemon beverage. You’re looking at about 0.3 grams of sugar and just 122 calories per can… meaning it’s pretty good value in terms of the old slaying-slim-on-the-terps to sesh fuel ratio.
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“Aussies who’ve travelled to Japan show a genuine love for one of the country’s biggest and fastest-
growing brands -196 Strong Zero, and we’re excited to launch our very own -196 Double Lemon in Australia,” says Kay Oh, Director of Innovation at Beam Suntory.
“We want Aussies to feel like they’re enjoying the real deal straight from the fridge of a convenience store in Tokyo. Unmistakably Japanese, we can’t wait for this next-level refreshment to hit Aussie shelves.”
You can grab some Strong Zero Minus 196 / 0196 Double Lemon for yourself at leading liquor stores in the coming months and in some independent retailers as of right now. A four-pack will set you back $22 RRP while a 10-pack is priced at $47 RRP.
