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Makers & Origins

DAIYAME, SEKITOBA

The Lychee Aroma Rising from Imo Shochu

Inside Daiyame’s Path of Innovation To many, imo shochu evokes an earthy, robust character. Yet, a single pour of Daiyame 25% ABV｜crafted by Hamada Syuzou in Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima｜instantly introduces notes of fresh lychee. How does a sweet potato spirit yield such a vibrant, fruit-forward profile? The secret rests upon two deliberate choices: the evolution of […]

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Steeping 136 Kilograms of Strawberries｜and Finishing Crystal Clear

AWAYUKI Strawberry Gin, and the Day Umenoyado Sake Brewery Was Called a “Disgrace” Until the bottle is opened, no one realizes it is a strawberry gin. AWAYUKI Strawberry Gin is completely colorless｜clear as water, indistinguishable from an ordinary gin. But the moment the cap is twisted open, the aroma of ripe strawberries rises from the […]

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The Butterfly on the Mekong

How a Dream from Hiroshima Rewrote the Story of Rum In a definitive moment of transformation, a 52-year-old man chose to step away from the secure embrace of corporate life, embarking on a journey to craft fine spirits from inception in a land entirely unfamiliar to him. His name is Ikuzo Inoue, a native of […]

AWARD : SHOCHU

Spring Water from the Kirishima Mountains and a Century of Earthenware Pots

Akarui Nōson” by Kirishima Town Distillery The San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) is one of the world’s largest and most respected spirits competitions, where dozens of professional judges conduct blind tastings and score entries each year. In 2018, the Double Gold｜awarded only by unanimous gold ratings from the panel｜was granted to “Akarui Nōson,” a […]

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The Quiet Dedication Behind Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries

In March 2026, the UK-based World Whiskies Awards announced that a Japanese blended malt had been named “Best Japanese Blended Malt.” The winner was Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries from Venture Whisky in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture. Created by founder Ichiro Akuto, it is a flagship expression that vats malt whiskies from Chichibu Distillery I and Chichibu […]

AWARD : SHOCHU

Barley Unearthed from Kuma’s Soil

Toyonaga Shuzo’s Mugishiru and Its Four-Time Kura Master Gold Legacy Most modern barley shochu aims for one thing: refinement. Cleaner aromatics, lighter texture, polished smoothness. But one bottle stands in direct opposition to that philosophy. From Toyonaga Shuzo in Yunomae, Kumamoto, comes Mugishiru, a barley shochu built not on subtraction, but on depth, weight, and the […]

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Hakushu’s Famed Water and the 1880 Imperial Lodging

The Birthplace of Yamanashi Meijo’s “Shichiken Onakaya” When people hear “Hakushu,” many think of the Suntory Hakushu Distillery. But there is another brewery that has long used the same underground water from the Ojira River｜the soft water filtered over thousands of years through the granite layers of Mount Kaikoma in the Southern Alps｜that serves as […]

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A Masterpiece from a Legend Who Cannot Drink

Naohiko Noguchi’s brewing work and the Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute’s Organic Rice Junmai Ginjo Unfiltered Unpasteurized Genshu 2019, made using JAS-certified organic Gohyakumangoku rice.

AWARD : SAKE

In the Heart of Kyoto Stands a 300-Year-Old Sake Brewery

With the slogan “Trust your own palate,” the Sake-1 Grand Prix ranks sake from breweries across Japan by votes from tasters. Held each year at Matsuo Taisha in Kyoto, it is a rare competition in the sake world where consumers’ impressions directly determine the results. At the 9th competition, held on April 19, 2026, one bottle selected for third place was Matsui Sake Brewery’s “Kagura” from Kyoto.

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The Shifting Terroir

Burgundy’s Harvest: A Changing Agricultural Rhythm In France’s Burgundy region, the start of the harvest has moved forward by an average of roughly two weeks over the past 30 years. Bordeaux is seeing the same pattern. The vendange, once a quintessential October ritual, now often begins as early as late August.

AWARD : SHOCHU

At TWSC 2026, Two SHOCHU REPUBLIC Labels Win Awards

At the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC) 2026, two labels from the export-only brand SHOCHU REPUBLIC earned awards in the shochu and awamori category. The sweet potato shochu Sweet Potato Robin received the Superior Gold Award, while the barley shochu Barley Bunny took home a Silver Award.

BORN

Born Tokusen Junmai Daiginjo Wins Gold at Kura Master 2026

Kura Master, the annual sake competition held in France, announced its 2026 results, with Born Tokusen Junmai Daiginjo (Katokichibee Shoten, Fukui Prefecture) earning a Gold Award in the Junmai Daiginjo (36–50% polishing ratio) category. Another label from the brewery, Born Ginsen, also received Gold in the same category. This recognition reflects an enduring commitment to quality. Born Tokusen Junmai Daiginjo previously received Platinum Awards in both 2021 and 2023, demonstrating a consistent resonance with juries of French sommeliers and gastronomy professionals over multiple years.

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