FL - Spirits Portfolio

WORLD SPIRITS SHOCHU

IKINOKURA DISTILLERY JAPAN Iki Island, located two and a half hours Northwest of Fukuoka by ferry, has been a cultural and trading gateway to Kyushu since ancient times. Iki no Kura Distillery is situated in the middle of the island surrounded by an abundance of local barley, rice and pure spring water; the distillery has been committed to traditional Honkaku single pot distillation for generations. In 1995 the World Trade Organization recognized the unique character and distilling traditions of Iki Shochu and awarded the island Geographical Indication status. Today, even if the ingredients and manufacturing are the same, no shochu may use the name “Iki Shochu” unless it’s made on Iki Island. Iki Nadeshiko True Beauty Barley Shochu 50PF / 750 ML True Beauty Barley Shochu is a modern variation on a 400 year-old Ikijima distilling tradition. Using prized local ingredients of barley, rice, wildflower yeast, white koji and refined vacuum distillation True Beauty delivers the famous Iki Island barley shochu polish with a sweet flourish of cherry essence.

Sweet Potato Shochu Sweet potato shochu is aromatic and varied in its elements. It has fruit notes (ie: lychee and mango) and floral notes of lavender and roses. It becomes richer as it ages. Barley Shochu It has a richness and flavor that rivals lightly barrel-aged whiskey or rum. As it matures, the nose settles down and its flavor develops to become fuller and more intense. Rice Shochu It has a light and high fragrance like that of ginjo sake, with hints of green apple, citrus, melon, etc. Rice shochu produced using atmospheric distillation retains the powerful aroma and savory flavor of rice. Brown Sugar Shochu It has a light, crisp, green aroma, similar to unaged rums and cachaça. As it matures, it develops a richer, fuller body, with little change in fragrance. Awamori Moderate in both fragrance and character. With age, it develops a richer and fuller flavor and a fruity aroma. — JETRO.GO.JP CHIRAN JAPAN Chiran Township, located in the southernmost tip of the Satsuma Peninsula of Kagoshima Prefecture,is rich with agriculture and known for their Shochu distilling heritage.The high quality of locally grown “Kogane Sengan” sweet potatoes are essential to making delicious Imo-shochu (sweet potato shochu). Minami Kyushu City, where Chiran Jozo is located, boasts the highest production of sweet potatoes in Japan. Chiran Hotaru Firefly Sweet Potato Shochu 50PF / 750 ML Firefly commemorates the beautiful fireflies of the Chiran area in Satsuma. Created from freshly harvested, locally grown Kogane Sengan sweet potatoes, using single batch, decompression distillation, Firefly embodies the silky-smooth flavors, fresh ocean breezes, and rich volcanic soil that is Satsuma’s special terroir. Subtle sweetness with clear smooth flavor, light floral aroma, and slightly smokey finish. KITSUKURA JAPAN Kitsukura Shuzo was officially founded in 1696 and has been brewing Sake crica 300 years. Nagano’s alpine climate and pristine natural resources frame Kitsukura’s style of sake as well as their Soba Shochu. The brewery’s water is sourced from beneath the Chikuma River which flows down from the surrounding Yatsugatake Mountains to provide ice cold slightly soft water, perfect for brewing sake of substantial body and character. Kitsukura Touge “Ridge” Soba Shochu 42PF / 750 ML “Ridge” is a culmination of the famous Shinshu Buckwheat from Nagano and the shochu making traditions from the South of Japan. Deliciously smooth yet stern, “Ridge” embodies the understated homey flavor of the buckwheat together with traditional smooth goodness of the Shochu. It has a light and refreshing taste while still taking advantage of the flavor of soba.

Learn more about Japanese Spirits Spirits of Japan Glossary excerpted from Pellegrini, Christopher. The Shochu Handbook: An Introduction to Japan’s Indigenous Distilled Drink. Telemachus Press, 2014.

Where shochu stands among the spirits of the World

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