Distillery: さつま無双 Satsuma Musou
Address: 1-1-17 Nanatsushima , Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Website: https://satsumamusou.co.jp/
Additional Content: Couldn't find much other than this CM.
Name: 赤もぐら Red Mogura
Type: 焼芋焼酎 Roasted Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
紅さつま芋（さつま芋）Beni Sweet Potato
-
米麹 Rice Koji
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: The nose is clean and somewhat neutral to start. However, once this opens up a bit Mogura Red gives off a gentle wave sweet potato freshness along with a subtle sweetness that while still a bit nondescript does bring a nice warm feeling to the whole experience. Additionally, there is a faint alcohol note appears toward the end which helps to bring a little more of the softer vanilla and toasted rice to the surface. Overall, I was expecting a bit more as this is a roasted sweet potato Shōchū, but in the end this feels polished and quite approachable.
On the rocks: From the first sip you are treated to a pleasant intensity as Mogura Red strikes a beautiful balance between roasted sweet potato sweetness and a light caramel notes that ebb and flow between sweet and bitter. As this opens up a bit more with the melting ice you can find subtle hints of mature vanilla, cereal grain, toasted rice and dried fruit which build out a nice character that really extends the drinkability. The finish carries a gentle black pepper that lightly prickles the tongue and pushes you to the next sip or the next glass
水割り Diluted with water
Ratio 4:1: Mogura Red holds its structure well; however, it softens considerably, losing some intensity but gaining a rounded edges that still make this enjoyable.
Ratio 2:3: The profile becomes too mellow and light, with most of the bolder notes subdued and too washed out, although, interestingly the sweetness seems to rise to the top with a bit more dilution, not my preference though.
Reflections on this shōchū
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The bottle design is highly appealing, the Mogura series have consistent labels that strike an effective balance between rustic charm and classy.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: 土竜長期甕寝かせ Mogura Chōki Unekase (3-years)
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
黄金千貫 Golden Sengen (Kagoshima)
-
Rice Koji米麹
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Initially quite neutral on the nose and like some of the other bottles of Mogura, after letting this open up a bit, the aromas gradually rise to the surface. There is gentle sweet potato sweetness that emerges first, followed by beautiful toasted rice and grain notes that bring this 3-year aged bottle of Mogura together perfectly. Additionally, the alcohol here is quite soft and does a good job of trying to carry everything forward to build a good anticipation for that first sip.
On the rocks: Mogura Chōki Unekase starts exceptionally smooth and provides a well-balanced sweet potato character that has a touch of sharpness and subtle black pepper accents to tie this together nicely. As the ice melts and opens up a bit more there is a delicate floral sweetness that has a hint of vanilla custard which adds a nice rang of depth to this 3-year aged bottle of Mogura. Additionally, the finish is a highlight, it is remarkably soft and understated with a nice background of sweet potato and mature vanilla. For an aged sweet potato Shōchū, you get a nice, straightforward profile that never sways into any extremes (most likely as this is proofed down to 25%) which makes this an easy bottle to go back for another glass.
Straight: Unusually light, almost as if there is little there, which can feel surprising at first for something neat in the glass. However, soon after this opens up a little, there is a mild sweet potato note that pulls you back in to the experience. The finish here is particularly enjoyable, carrying forward those vanilla, custard and toasted rice elements through to the end.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Another solid bottle in the Mogura series that fully lives up to expectations. Having now sampled quite a few bottles in this series, I look forward to any new releases from this distillery.
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I gifted a bottle of Mogura Koshu during the Christmas season, and it was warmly received and well enjoyed.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: 2023年もぐら新酒 2023 Mogura Shinshu
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
黄金千貫 Golden Sengen (Kagoshima)
-
Rice Koji米麹
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Initially quite subtle and neutral; however, Mogura Shinshu opens up quite nicely with a little oxygen finally revealing a bit of what is inside. What pops out first is a fresh, vibrant sweet potato vibe that is backed by a soft but sweet confectionary aroma, the way these weave together is quite nice. This combintation reminds me of those Japanese sweet potato tarts or some dried sweet potato. Overall, this Mogura release from Satsuma Musou is highly aromatic, approachable, and ready to be enjoyed.
On the rocks: From the first sip, Mogura Shinshu delivers a fresh, crisp character with a pronounced bite, not overly sharp, but just enough to really makes its presence known. What I really enjoyed here was the sweet potato flavor which is up front and assertive, dominating the overall profile. While it feels like this bottle is a bit one-dimensional with limited development beyond the initial impact, for me, I think this is where this bottle succeeds. Additionally, the finish adds some subtle depth through faint hints of vanilla and toasted rice, although these fade a bit too quickly to really become fully part of the experience.
Straight: As would be expected, the sweet potato leads prominently, transitioning smoothly from sharp to softer tones of pure sweet potato bliss. This focus allows the alcohol to carry delicate notes of vanilla and cacao through to the finish which I really enjoyed. In the end, Mogura Shinshu performs well neat in the glass, though I personally prefer it on the rocks as I opened this up during the summer months, still quite good.
Reflections on this shōchū
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I acquired this bottle in December (of the previous year) and opened it over the summer, this was one of the better bottles I opened and I wish I had picked up an additional bottle to keep on the shelf.
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The 2024 edition was released in December and is certainly worth adding to the collection.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Unsurprisingly, like other bottles of Mogura the nose is remarkably neutral and restrained, offering only subtle hints of general sweetness that reminds me somewhat of peaches or candied fruits, along with a faint touch of earthy damp hay. Even after this opens up a bit more the nose is not particularly intense or impactful; however, what is there is never in question of being lackluster or bland. Overall, Mogura Gold does a great job of building the right level of anticipation for getting this in the glass.
On the rocks: The sweetness of the potatoes has a slight bite to it, but not in an off way, it's more refreshing than heavy, which really makes this very drinkable if going for more than one glass. The finish also has some nice earthy tones that fade nicely into those typical vanilla and toasted rice notes that I also found in the Red Mogura and others from this distillery. As the ice melts Mogura Gold mellows significantly, while this does add to the smoothness, it does however, lose a lot of those important impact notes, so don't let the ice melt too much. Overall, another great offering from Satsuma Musou and it really shows that is is worth trying a few more bottles from this series.
水割り Diluted with water
Ratio 4:1: A lot of what is present on the rocks remains, with an obvious mellowing of the impact notes; however, overall it still drinks very nice and becomes even smoother. From my perspective, on the rocks is the best way to enjoy any of the Mogura bottles.
Reflections on this shōchū
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I love the look of this bottle, all of the Mogura offerings have a similar label that is both rustic and classy at the same time.
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While I enjoyed this bottle quite a lot, it just did not have the impact that I found with the Red, which has been my favorite so far.While it is priced a bit higher than some other bottles in a similar class, it shines on the rocks and really holds up well when diluted with water.
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Looking forward to trying my next bottle, there seems to be a few more that I have not tried and I never did get the chance to review the original Mogura, so i'll add that to the list.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: レンブランサもぐら Lembranca Mogura
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
えい紫 (鹿児島県産) Ei Sweet Potato (Kagoshima)
-
白米麹 White Rice Koji (Kagoshima)
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Strong sweetness followed by wet hay, candied fruits and something that is a little woody or oaky, overall, really fragrant and is really enjoyable in the bottle and in the glass. Once this opens up with a little oxygen the sweetness mellows out nicely which gives some of the lighter woody notes a chance to come to the surface. Overall, Lembranca Mogura is really quite inviting and I feel like before trying this that it would be a great dessert shochu.
On the rocks: Wow, Lembranca is absolutely thick, rich and full of sweetness; this version of Mogura really drinks like a dessert shochu and would pair well with something not overly sweet like dark chocolate. Over ice this is smooth and easy to drink with more of the sweet potato notes coming to the surface as the ice melts which helps give this a bit more character than just an overly sweet, sweet potato. Personally, while I do like the sweetness, it was a bit too much to have more than one glass. This is one of the shochu bottles that I would like to experiment with for making desserts as I think this would add some nice flavor to chocolate and dark fruit sweets.
Straight: Didn't try this time...
Reflections on this shōchū
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This limited release is well worth picking up if you can find a bottle, as this is the first release in a few years due to a lack of Ei purple sweet potatoes.
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Mogura never seems to miss, which speaks to the quality of the ingredients and the care that goes into making their shochu.
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I have one last bottle of Mogura to review, the original and while not the first time to enjoy it, the last time was long before I started this site, so looking forward to comparing against all of the other bottles I have tried over the past couple of years.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: ベルカントもぐら Bel Canto Mogura
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
さつま芋(鹿児島県産) Sweet Potato (Kagoshima)
-
黄米麹 Yellow Rice Koji (Kagoshima)
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Sweet vanilla, fragrant fresh cut flowers and toasted rice notes beautifully meld together into some that is just begging to be poured in a glass. What really stands out with Bel Canto is how bright it feels, and how well it is matching with the warm late summer night outside (even though it is the end of September). There is also a fruity note there that reminds me of a cherry Jolly rancher or some kind of watermelon candy, very interesting experience and really pushes you to get this in the glass and take that first sip.
On the rocks: Just like the nose, this just feels so fresh in the mouth. It's bright, smooth and drinks almost a little too easily. The vanilla, toasted rice and sweet potato that I find in most of the Mogura offerings is still takes center stage; but even more delicious that I remember; I only wish I had another bottle of Mogura to compare it to. Overall, this was a solid bottle in this series, leaning on a nice balance between fresh and sweet making Bel Conto Mogura a good bottle to introduce people to sweet potato shochu.
Straight: On the rocks is nice, but Bel Canto really shines just straight out of the bottle, there is a pleasant sweetness that joins with the vanilla, rice and sweet potato that just makes this the perfect drink to sip. I also found the more fragrant floral notes found on the nose come through better as well making this something you can enjoy a vareity of ways.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Mogura just never seems to disappoint, another great offering and worth checking out.
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This was one of the first times to try Mogura straight, certainly reminds me of the importance of trying new things, especially outside my normal pattern of enjoying shochu.
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From a price standpoint, this is well worth the price paid, which was somewhere just south of 2000 JPY
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: 悪魔の抱擁 Akuma no Hōyō l'etreinte du Diable
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
さつま芋(鹿児島県産) Sweet Potato (Kagoshima)
-
米麹 Rice Koji (Kagoshima)
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Incredibly light and neutral, there is a slight sweetness that reminds me lychee and vanilla as well as some candied fruit notes that carry over from the oak. Overall, Akuma no Hōyō is incredibly inviting in the bottle as in the glass and immediately feels like a great pick up even for the the first taste.
On the rocks: Fresh, vibrant, and full of impact notes that are very reminiscent of brandy or cognac, not as much as Ohishi but still adds a really nice layer of flavor and depth right from the start. The oak starts out smooth and imparts some nice cherry, vanilla and raisin notes before a nice bit of prickly black pepper comes in on the back end. This is the type of shochu you can just keep going back again and again without being disappointed. To that end, after finishing this bottle, I returned to the bottle shop and purchased a second to keep on the shelf for another day.
Straight: It's not quite as bright as on the rocks; but, it does have a deeper sweetness, reminds me a bit of raw Okinawa brown sugar. Once the first burst of sweetness subsides you get a nice prickly black pepper finish that slowly fades into some very slight vanilla and raisin notes. In the end, this drings a bit better on-the-rocks, but still worth trying if you pick up a bottle.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Immediately bought a second bottle, no further comment needed.
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Oak-aged rice shochu has quickly become one of my preferred categories, likely due to its notable similarities to whiskey or simply its inherent excellence.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: あやかし福助 Ayakashi Fukusuke
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
黄金千貫 Golden Sengen (Kagoshima)
-
米麹 Rice Koji (Kagoshima)
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Pure sweet potato shochu bliss in a bottle, although a little soft at first, once this opens up, it really shines. On the nose, Ayakashi Fukusuke blends everything together perfectly, and the alcohol does a great job to carry the pureness of the sweet potato aroma as well as some of the sweeter notes without ever getting in the way. Interestingly, the vanilla that was so forward when I tried this on-the-rocks is not detectable in the bottle, usually something so strong at the start finds it way into those initial vapours.
On the rocks: The first sip is an intense candied vanilla before the sweet potato comes pouring in; this results in an excellent balance that would have been a bit heavy if one way or the other. One of the best features of Ayakashi Fukusuke is that it drinks so fresh and smooth, there is nothing weighing this down which really adds to the drinkability. On the finish, you end up with a wave of black peper and several waves of sweet potato sweetness and flickering hints of vanilla. Once the ice mets a fair amount you lose a lot of what makes this shochu so amazing, this gives me a lot of hope for my next tasting, which is neat in glass.
Straight: Soft, smooth and subtle at first before the sweet potato hits, once it does you are treated to a pure sweet potato flavor that reminds me of that first taste after removing the sweet potato from the BBQ grill. The finish starts with a bite of black pepper with a bit of alcohol that carries a slight sweetness with hints of vanillia that pleasantly hangs around for quite some time.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Looking back on this bottle, I feel that Ayakashi Fukusuke should have been in my top bottles for 2024, it certainly checked all the boxes from what was in the bottle to the really nice aesthetic on the label designI enjoyed this on-the-rocks quite a bit over the hottest month of the summer.
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Neat in the glass was also nice, especially with some nice snacks, worth giving this a chance
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: 白原酒 Shiro Genshu
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū Genshu
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
さつま芋(鹿児島産) Satsuma Sweet Potato
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米麹 Rice Koji (Kagoshima)
Alcohol: 37%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Beautiful potato shochu, floral, with hints of lavender and vanilla, there are some earthy notes that come in mid-way through which I really enjoyed. Additionally, there is a subtle sweetness that hangs around until the end which binds everything together perfectly. Clocking in at 37% alcohol, you would expect a bigger hit but no matter how deep I went in, there was nothing to be found.
On the rocks: It starts with a measured sweetness that soon fades into an amazingly floral potato shochu that is fresh and smooth on the palale. Shiro Genshu reminds me a little of shochu made with potato koji, it has a slightly prickly black pepper effect at the back of the throat that adds a little extra complexity. The finish is really nice, with those lavender notes sticking around giving you something to sip slowly and savor.
水割り Diluted with water
Ratio 4:1: A little water takes everything down a notch while retaining a lot of what makes Shiro Genshu something special, which should not really be a surprise given the alcohol is 37%. One thing that really stood out was that the sweetness really opens up and gives the black pepper notes a chance to tone down and bring out the lavender I found on-the-rocks. Overall, I enjoyed this both on the rocks and with a little water, especially if I wanted to go back for a second glass.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Picked this up in Kagoshima in the hotel gift shop, probably paid a bit more than I should, but after you have had a bit to drink and then suddenly stumble upon a massive selection of shochu, anything can happen.
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I certainly wish I took a better photo of the bottle...
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Bottle Label
Name: 薩摩安納 火焔山 Kaensan
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
安納芋(鹿児島産) Satsuma Sweet Potato (Anno)
-
黒米麹 Black Rice Koji (Kagoshima)
Alcohol: 30%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Absolutely delicious, right from the start you get a blast of fresh sweet potato along with some dried fruits (a bit like apricot and raisin), both of which blend together to create a really inviting shochu. After letting a little oxygen in, Kaensan starts to develop some soft and subtle floral notes, certainly a little lavender but also some wildflowers and honeysuckle. At 30%, the alcohol is still hard to find, instead of being up front, it plays a more complimentary role in bring these flavors forward.
On the rocks: It's a bit like heaven in a glass, at first sip there is a bit of a thick sweetness, nothing that overpowers and gives the perfect amount of warmth to let the next wave come through. From here you can find a nice arrangement of sweet potato, dried fruits, grainy cereal notes (another one that reminds me of Oh's) and a bit of vanilla and custard. As the ice melts, the sweetness actually increases a bit, giving Kaensan an almost a brown sugar taste; additionally the grain notes become a lot more pronounced, which for me makes a nice nightcap. The finish here is also something to enjoy as the sweetness weaves in and out between sweet potato, vanilla and those nice dried fruits, overall, this is very enjoyable on the rocks.
Straight: A fair bit softer than I was have expecting, especially on the sweetness, it is certainly there; however, not as up front as I would have thought considering how this drank on the rocks. The finish is quite nice as well as the alcohol does a great job of carrying the sweet potato and some of the softer notes through to the end.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Picked this up while traveling, not sure exactly where but as with most bottles, I am certainly glad I did. This bottle hits on all levels, especially in the bottle and on the rocks.
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This has been one of my favorite nightcaps, perfect balance of sweetness and not just sweet but a range of flavors come pouring out in each glass, well worth the investment, which like the location I am not sure what I paid.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: 竈 Kamado
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留（高温蒸留）(Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
黄金千貫 Golden Sengen (Kagoshima)
-
白米麹 Rice White Koji (Kagoshima)
Alcohol: 30%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Slightly floral with nice round potato notes; however, as you go a bit deeper, there is a slight sharpness that is a bit hard to place at first, but as it develops a bit it reminds me of those slightly sour raspberry hard candies. Usually, for these bottles that are aged in the clay kame, they take on a bit of an earthy vibe, not so much here as this one is nice and fresh. Overall, Kamado is quite subtle on the nose but what is there is quite inviting and worth giving it a go.
On the rocks: Super smooth, especially after the ice melts a bit; Kamado mellows out completely, which gives this a very soft-edge feeling and while nothing really jumps off the page in terms of a leading flavors, what is there is very drinkable. Trying this again after having this straight, I really miss the intensity of the vanilla and toasted rice/grain notes, they are there, just not as up front as I would like. Additionally, for a potato shochu that is aged for 3 years, there is very little impact from the clay pot storage; usually you get a bit of earthiness or dryness but here this is really clean and fresh, which is not a complaint, just an observation.
Straight: At first you get a burst of vanilla and fresh sweet potato, it comes in hot and leaves quite quickly; however, that nice vanilla and a bit of toasted rice/grain stays through on the finish and does it's best to hang around at least for a little while. Eventually the alcohol creeps a bit and adds some sharp edges to Kamado, but is never becomes distracting and overall, neat in the glass is a nice way to enjoy this shochu.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Overall, I really enjoyed this bottle, Kamado has a great nose which really gives you a sense that what is in the bottle will be worth the wait.
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On-the-rocks works really well here but, the real standout notes do not really stick around much, especially on the finish but what is there works really well.
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The lack of staying power is similar as a neat pour, again, a lot of intensity with some really nice flavors but just fades out a bit to quickly.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: 坐忘 Zabou
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
さつま芋 Sweet Potato (Kagoshima)
-
米麹 Rice Koji
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Incredibly neutral at first, almost like nothing's there, until finally you catch a bit of sweet potato freshness which opens up with a bit of swirling in the bottle; what's there is nice, it is just not so pronounced. Other than that, there is not really much to say on this one, and this might the lightest bottle I have opens from Satsuma Musou, so hopefully it is hiding a big surprise in the glass.
On the rocks: Really mellow right from the start and there is a good level of sweetness that stays through to the finish. The sweet potato notes, while not overly strong or clear are present with a decent freshness that has a little bit of sharpness that helps balance the ride. As the ice melts a bit you get a bit more of that sweetness, but not much else, overall, Zabou is decent on the rocks and feels like it would great in an izakaya setting.
Straight: Soft and subtle with a nice bit of black pepper that hits the tongue and back of the throat, there is a nice sweetness that runs throughout, it never steps into the spotlight but follows through to the finish. Aside from being a nice shochu to sip, there is not much that really stands out here, the finish is a bit short lived as well.
Paired with Chocolate: 70% cacao from Kaldi, shochu and chocolate pair so well with each other, especially not overly sweet chocolate. Zabou works perfectly here, taking the rich cacao and adding a perfect amount of sharpness that give this a feeling of a chocolate cherry cake with a smooth round texture, almost creamy, note to self, need to try shochu in hot cacao, feels like a match made in heaven.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Not a bad shochu, but after having enjoyed many bottles from Satsuma Musou, this one falls a bit flat, of course my expectations could be a bit off but from past bottles.
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Same as Mogura and others, this is a really classy bottle, I love the label and the simplicity, would make a nice bottle to bring back home as a souvenir.
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On the plus side, this really pairs well with chocolate, certainly an area to explore if was into making desserts.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: もぐら Mogura
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
さつま芋 Sweet Potato (Kagoshima)
-
米麹 Rice Koji
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: There is a nice bright sweet potato that right up front on the nose and balances perfectly between subtle sweetness and rich earthiness. Buried in the back behind the sweet potato is a bit of vanilla and dried fruits, mostly apricots, with the earthy side more wet hay and a bit of grain. Overall, these notes are the real staple of the Mogura line of shochu, and just makes this something you can continue to enjoy glass after glass.
On the rocks: Mogura really opens up nicely with some ice, especially in regards to the sweetness which blends sweet potato, vanilla, a bit of custard, cacao and the dried fruits which I notice a bit more toward the finish into something that is incredibly drinkable. Additionally, there is little bit of sweet grains in the background, reminds a bit of sweet cereals like Oh's, this gives Mogura a nice balance and is a clear reason why this brand is so consistent, and a perfect Izakaya shochu.
Straight: Like a lot of bottles in this series, this drinks really smooth, nothing sticks out too strong in any direction aside from a bit of dry earthy tones that dominate on the back end. The finish here is also a bit on the soft side as not much of the sweetness comes through, and neither does the vanilla, custard or dried fruits, what you mostly get is a bit bitter cacao of black pepper that hangs out through to the end.
Paired with Chocolate: 70% cacao, Kaldi chocolate, overall quite nice, you get a nice intense chocolate with a bit of cherry on the back end.
Reflections on this shōchū
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This was the bottle that started my journey with Mogura, and revisiting it a few years later, it certainly does not disappoint.
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Certainly worth picking up as shochu you are planning to drink more than one glass, perfect matches with what you would find in a typical Izakaya.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: もぐら10年 Mogura 10-year
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
さつま芋 Sweet Potato (Kagoshima)
-
米麹 Rice Koji
Alcohol: 30%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Right from the start you get a big dose of rich sweet potato that, at first, comes across as heavy but soon feels light and fresh. This initial onslaught is followed by some mature vanilla and a little bit of fresh butterscotch; I was expecting to find some earthiness but, there is nothing really here that gives you a strong feeling this has been aged for 10 years. Additionally, if you nose it deep enough, you can also find a bit of young maple which really adds to the freshness and the anticipation for the first sip. The alcohol is 30%, so not as high as typical genshu, but you can find it if you try, overall, Mogura 10-year gives the impression of a well refined sweet potato shochu.
On the rocks: Mogura does it again, just beautiful. As soon as the first sip hits your tongue, you almost feel overwhelmed as this has so much going on, not too much to make this uncomfortable, but enough to keep you guessing on what is next. This 10-year bottle of Mogura starts off very sweet potato forward due to the intensity but once you adjust, you can are treated to a range of floral-esk lavender notes, mature vanilla and a little bit of cereal, as the ice melts all of these flavor notes meld together into some that that is really worth taking the time to enjoy. Finally, the lavender really hangs around for the finish, which feels fresh and something to enjoy until the next sip.
Straight: So smooth, never gets hot, even at 30% alcohol, Mogura 10-year drinks a bit too easy neat in the glass. To start, the initial impact notes from the sweet potato come across with a beautiful sweetness that runs underneath a somewhat fresh floral side, less lavender than on the rocks, but clearly there. The finish flows in and out with vanilla and what reminds me of baking spices, a bit like nutmeg and cinnamon, really enjoyable.
Reflections on this shōchū
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I was happily surprised to find this bottle, I really enjoy trying aged potato shochu which is not as common as rice or barley, especially a 10-year, well worth picking this up.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: もぐら群青 Mogura Gunjou
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
紅はるか Beni Sweet Potato (Kagoshima)
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白麹 White Koji
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: An interesting balance between sharp and sweet, with the alcohol quite forward and adding to that initial sharpness. Much like most bottles of Mogura, once this opens up, there is a beautiful sweet potato warmth that spills from the bottle with splashes of sweet vanilla, dried fruits and a fresh almost woody note that really brings everything together nicely. That warmth carries over well as the bottle with its aquamarine (Gunjou) hue gives off the right vibes to match this summery night. Overall, Mogura Gunjou brings a bit more at the start than a lot of the other bottles I have opened in this series, quite interested to see what this will bring in the glass.
On the rocks: Bright and fresh with just a bit of sharpness on the back end, nothing too heavy but makes itself known. Once this settles in and opens up a bit more, Mogura Gunjou becomes mellow very quickly which gives the softer more subtle notes a chance to rise to the surface. What really stands out are the warmer, sweeter notes that carry the vanilla, cereal grain and smooth sweet potato through to the finish and tie everything together quite nicely. Unfortunately, as the ice melts a bit more, Gunjou really mellows out and sadly loses a lot of what makes this a nice glass to sip.
Straight: Super smooth and surprisingly chocolatey to start with a fresh sweet potato that adds a good contrast to balance everything out. The cacao vibe is a bit dark and warm with some interesting dried fruit notes that carry through on the finish making this quite a nice experience. The finish is also a standout as that sweet vanilla and cereal grain carries on long after the last sip.
Paired with Chocolate: Tonny's Chocolonely 70% Dark chocolate. Surprisingly not the best match but interestingly comes across a lot like chocolate covered almonds, other than that not a lot going on.