Distillery: 恒松酒造 Tsunematsu Shuzō
Address: 1022 Taragi, Kuma District, Kumamoto 868-0501
Website: http://tsunematsu-shuzo.com
Additional Content: There is a short video on their production, which was more like a commercial for another Tessho another potato shōchū.
Name: 古酒王道楽土 Koshu Ōdō Rakudo (3yr)
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
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黄金千貫 Golden Sengen
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黒麹 Black Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 30%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Sweetness takes center stage on the nose—thick and prominent, with hints of candied fruit syrup and slightly damp hay. The profile feels full and mature, with black koji's influence evident in the pleasant pungency. Alcohol (30% ABV) is subdued, allowing these richer notes to dominate without interference. Overall, the aroma is heavy yet inviting, setting high expectations for that first sip.
On the rocks: Strong and sweet from the first sip, with black pepper prickliness, vanilla, caramel, and toasted rice delivering a full, rich mouthfeel. The back of the throat and tongue carry a gentle tingle that adds lift. Aging contributes impressive depth, though expected clay/earthy notes from extended storage remain subtle or absent. Sweet potato stays central and well-integrated, making this thick yet balanced and highly enjoyable over ice—perfect for contemplative sipping on cooler evenings.
水割り Diluted with water
4:1 ratio: Sweetness mellows considerably, resulting in a fresher, lighter mouthfeel while preserving vanilla, caramel, and toasted rice on the palate. An interesting bitterness emerges—reminiscent of spring greens—adding complexity and balance. The profile becomes smoother and more approachable without losing core character.
2:3 Ratio: Holds up surprisingly well at higher dilution. Intense sweet notes smooth down to a full-bodied but not heavy impression. Impact elements (especially black pepper) soften noticeably, but the overall drinkability remains solid—suitable for extended sessions or stretching the bottle, though lighter ratios better retain vibrancy.
Reflections on this shōchū
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This bottle carried a bit of a high price tag, but when compared to what one might spend on a decent bottle of Scotch, 2,500 JPY feels quite reasonable for a 3-year-aged potato shōchū genshu. The quality, depth, and maturity justify the cost—especially for an bottle that delivers genuine aging character without venturing into ultra-premium territory.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: かなた Kanata
Type: 米焼酎 Rice Shōchū
常圧蒸留: 減圧蒸留 (Vacuum Distillation)
Ingredients:
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米（球磨産）Rice
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米麹（球磨産米）Rice Koji
Alcohol: 21%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Incredibly sweet, and slightly pungent in all the right ways. Kanata breaths like a bottle of sake with all the aromas you would expect to find on the nose. This is especially true for the fruitier side as you get a mouthful of peach, lychee, syrupy fruits and just a hint of licorice which does a nice job of evening out the sweeter notes. While this is not a bottle of Sake kasu shochu it certainly comes across like one, Kanata packs a punch and really sets the stage for what is in the glass.
On the rocks: If you like sake-forward rice shochu then this bottle checks all the boxes, Kanata brings a strong side of sweet fruits just like on the nose with a nice balance of soft cacao and just a little hint of licorice to add a bit of depth to the overall profile. While this is not a Sakekasu or Kasutori shochu it certainly drinks like one, the only downside is that as the ice melts what makes Kanata an amazing rice shochu starts to get washed away quite quickly.
Straight: Super smooth with a light and refreshing vibe that backs a great range of sake-like notes with chocolate, vanilla and syrupy fruits the most prevalent. While I didn't try this chilled, the lower alcohol percentage (21%) puts this around 5-6 degrees from typical sake which and Kanata feels like it would drink very similar
Paired with Chocolate: Tonnys 70% dark chocolate, Kanata takes the cacao and greatly expands this with a beautiful background of vanilla and sake. The overall result is rich but not too sweet making this a great pairing and worth giving a try.
Reflections on this shōchū
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This bottle carried a bit of a high price tag, but when compared to what one might spend on a decent bottle of Scotch, 2,500 JPY feels quite reasonable for a 3-year-aged potato shōchū genshu.
Name: 球磨拳 Kumaken
Type: 米焼酎 Rice Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 減圧蒸留 (Vacuum Distillation)
Ingredients:
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米(国産) Rice (Domestic)
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米麹(国産) Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Wintergreen Lifesavers, again... While not the first time to find this interesting component, for Kumaken this is really front and center and makes me crave a cold autumn New England night, especially as it is still 38 degrees here in Hiroshima. Aside from that there are some really nice cherry tobacco, oak, toasted rice and candied vanilla notes that rise to the surface once this opens up a bit. Overall, this is perfect Kumamoto shochu (球磨焼酎) and I really can't wait to get this in the glass.
On the rocks: There is certainly something special in the glass, Kumaken is soft, fresh and again a bit wintergreen lifesaver forward. Once the ice melts a bit, a lot of what was on the nose and neat in the glass really start to rise forward, especially that cherry tobacco note and sweet vanilla that adds some nice balance to everything that is going on. A little deeper in, there are some interesting rice and almost Sake like flavors that develop, what is nice is that these carry over to the finish and really bring this entire expereince together.
Straight: Soft, delicate and still has that Wintergreen Lifesaver vibe to it, once you get past that, wow is this good, sweet vanilla, toasted rice, cherry, oak and bit of something that reminds me of baking spice or buttery cinnamon, absolutely amazing. Kumen is ridiculously smooth, especially after a few sips and while I have probably said this before, this is one of the best rice shochu I have ever had neat in the glass, hands down.
Paired with Chocolate: Malaysian single origin dark chocolate. Wow, that is like mint chocolate, with a side of dark chocolate ganache, so amazing. The shochu does a really great job of expanding the cacao by adding some interesting depth and, that wintergreen Lifesaver is something I never new I wanted in a finish before. The only thing that would make this better would be having this on a cold winter night, instead of a hot late summer evening, still quite amazing.