Distillery: 吹上焼酎株式会社 Fukiage Shochu Co.
Address: 1806 Kasedamiyahara, Minamisatsuma, Kagoshima 897-1124
Website: http://www.fukiage.co.jp/
Additional Content: Not much from the distillery itself, but there is an interview that gives some nice information on what they are doing
Name: 吹上デコ Fukiage Deco
Type: 芋焼酎 Potato shōchū Genshu
Potato: さつまいも（鹿児島産）Satsuma (Kagoshima)
Ingredients:
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さつまいも（鹿児島産）Satsuma (Kagoshima)
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米麹 Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 36%
Enjoy straight or
on-the-rocks
In the bottle: Soft and subtle lavender opens the nose, followed by delicate perfume-like notes that give an overall very floral impression. Sweetness arrives lightly toward the end. With a bit of air exposure, fresh sweet potato emerges more clearly, along with a gentle increase in sweetness. Remarkably neutral on the nose despite the relatively high alcohol content—clean, understated, and inviting.
On the rocks: The first sip delivers an impressive combination of richness, sweetness, and surprising freshness. It initially feels like it should be heavy in the mouth, yet the rich, sweet elements arrive light and lively. Floral notes become prominent near the finish, enhancing the fresh sensation and neatly balancing the upfront sweetness. As the ice melts, sweet potato and lavender sweetness gain prominence, adding noticeable depth and making Fukiage Deco even more drinkable—ideal for enjoying multiple glasses without fatigue.
Straight: Silky smooth and richly textured, yet it drinks with remarkable lightness and ease. Everything lands evenly: sweet potato leads upfront, followed by sharper floral notes that provide contrast and lift. The higher ABV carries these flavors gracefully into a long, beautiful finish that lingers cleanly. This expression truly shines when served neat—fresh, balanced, and rewarding from start to close. A standout pickup, recommended by a small shop in Kagoshima and well worth seeking out.
Community Tasting Submission: This shochu really flowers in the mouth. Whether it's the higher at alcohol (around 35%) or something else in the production process I don't know, but the tanegashima Anno sweet potatoe flavour beautifully transforms. When swirled in the glass, the tears were quite long for a shochu so the alcohol content could be key. It's a ridiculously hot summer in Japan this year, so I had this on the rocks. Fukiage has a a mild but fairly floral smell for a potatoe shochu. On tasting, those were the two things that stick with me about Fukiage Deco; a soft, full mouth feel that attacks and deepens quickly, and the flavour transforming to lighter floral melodies. On the rocks as the ice melted, the one-two was little less distinct but the longer arc of the flavours development was its own delight. Another great shochu with a flavour landscape that taught me more about how to enjoy a good drop.
Reflections on this shōchū
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I picked up this bottle at Yamamoto Saketen, a small but well-stocked shop near the Sheraton in Kagoshima. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable—we spent a good amount of time circling the shelves, discussing different expressions, and this was one of their recommendations. It proved to be an excellent choice.
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Fukiage Deco stands out for its remarkable balance: floral and fresh on the nose, silky and richly layered on the palate, yet never heavy despite the higher alcohol content. It delivers vibrant sweet potato character with elegant lavender and subtle sweetness, making it versatile across serving styles—particularly rewarding when served neat.
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This experience reinforced something I’ve been realizing more lately: I should have been exploring shōchū neat in the glass far more often. With good Scotch or whiskey, neat is my default, but I’ve tended to overlook it with shōchū—usually defaulting to on the rocks or diluted. Fukiage Deco highlighted just how much nuance and refinement can emerge when given space to breathe without ice or water. A valuable reminder, and this bottle was a perfect catalyst for paying closer attention going forward.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Cap Label
Name: 天使の秘蔵酒 Tenshin no Hizoshu 12-yr
Type: 芋焼酎 Potato shōchū aged in oak for 12 years
Potato: さつまいも（鹿児島産）Satsuma (Kagoshima)
Ingredients:
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さつまいも（鹿児島産）Satsuma (Kagoshima)
-
米麹 Rice Koji (Thailand)
Alcohol: 27%
Enjoy straight or
on-the-rocks
In the bottle: Warm and inviting from the first whiff, with beautiful fresh oak leading the way. Underneath lies a harmonious blend of vanilla, milk caramel, and subtle sweet potato on the back end—all tying together seamlessly and building strong anticipation for the palate. The 12 years in oak impart rich, layered flavor; sweet potato is present but somewhat subdued behind the dominant oak character, which clearly takes center stage here.
On the rocks: From the initial sip, this is something truly special—particularly for fans of oak-aged shōchū. Creamy texture arrives with a bold rush of oak, vanilla, cream soda (or birch beer for New Englanders), and a touch of chocolate toward the close. The long maturation delivers perfectly balanced, exceptionally smooth notes. Sweet potato recedes noticeably, which is fine given how outstanding the oak-driven profile is. As ice melts, oak intensifies slightly while mature vanilla opens up and carries through. The finish lingers enjoyably with oak, mature vanilla, and subtle sweetness—making this highly rewarding over ice. (A genshu version would be fascinating to compare.)
Straight: Pure oak dominates upfront, almost overwhelming at first, but the initial wave quickly reveals sweet potato on the back end that anchors and unifies everything. Incredibly drinkable straight: smooth, full of vanilla, chocolate, and dried fruit that flow gracefully into a long, satisfying finish. The higher ABV supports the richness without heat interfering.
Paired with Chocolate: Kaldi 70% chocolate. Not the absolute pinnacle of pairings, but still worthwhile. Oak and vanilla integrate well with the chocolate, adding noticeable depth once the initial intensity settles. The finish stands out most: chocolate blends smoothly with mature vanilla for a refined, after-dinner quality that lingers pleasantly. A solid combination worth exploring, especially for oak-aged shōchū enthusiasts.
Reflections on this shōchū
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I picked up this bottle at a small shop just past the ferry terminal on Sakurajima. I had been hoping to find a bottle of Sakurajima shōchū, but they only had large formats, and my backpack had no space left. This turned out to be an extremely fortunate alternative—rare enough that I immediately wished I could have grabbed two bottles.
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The label caught my eye first and sealed the deal; it was a beautiful design, though admittedly hard to remove cleanly later. In this case, the label won me over, and I’m glad it did.
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For anyone who enjoys oak-aged shōchū, this is a standout. The sweet potato character is initially subtle and somewhat overshadowed by the rich oak influence, but once you tune into it, the imo foundation comes through clearly and adds meaningful depth to the overall profile. The 12 years of maturation deliver exceptional smoothness, layered vanilla, cream soda, chocolate, and mature oak notes that make it highly rewarding across serving styles—particularly neat or on the rocks.If you come across a bottle (and it does seem fairly rare), don’t hesitate. This is one of those special finds that justifies the hunt—well worth seeking out for fans of aged expressions.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Bottle Label
