Distillery: 濱田酒造 Hamada Shuzō
Address: 17-7 Seisatsucho, Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima 896-0046
Website: https://www.hamadasyuzou.co.jp/
Additional Content: Hamada Shuzō has an active youtube channel with a range of content covering the process for making shōchū, commercials and some other local activities.
Name: 薩州 赤兎馬 Sasshū Sekitoba
Type: 芋焼酎 Potato shōchū
Potato: さつま芋 Sweet Potato
Ingredients:
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さつま芋(鹿児島県産) Sweet Potato
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白米麹 White Rice Koji
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: As soon as you open the bottle you are treated to a beautiful lavender scent that is light and up front without being overly perfumy; however, aside from the lavender there is not much other than some faint sweet potato shōchū notes. If you give this a bit of oxygen, some the floral notes fade a bit to the background which opens up some soft sweet potato, nothing overly strong but you can still find them.
On the rocks: Sasshū Sekitoba is very floral and bright on the palate, which makes this really easy to sip and enjoy. While not overly complex, the notes that are there, mostly lavender really stand out and are not masked the sweetness that often comes from the sweet potatoes. As the ice melts a bit, the floral side mellows out enough to give the potato a little more room to breath; however, while some toasted rice and vanilla rise to the top, this shochu stays quite dominated by the lavender.
水割り Diluted with water
4:1: The sweetness really comes out with a little water and settles at the back of the throat, leaving hints of toasted rice and vanilla. The floral notes remain on the nose but disappear on the tongue, the same with those nice bright notes were really up front on-the-rocks.
Reflections on this shōchū
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I thought I had this at an Izakaya in Fukuyama, but this bottle does not match the taste in my memory, that is not to say I don't like it, it just falls a little flat on my expectations.
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This is my first bottle to try and there are a number of other version to try, so I will add them to the ever growing list of bottles.
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At ~1800 JPY+, it is a medium priced bottle, but it is a pretty low-risk buy as it is very drinkable in a variety of settings.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: 極味の雫 Gokumi no Shizuku
Type: 芋焼酎原酒 Potato shōchū Genshu
Potato: さつま芋 Sweet Potato
Ingredients:
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さつま芋(鹿児島県産)Sweet Potato
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白米麹 White Rice Koji
Alcohol: 35%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Right out in front is a very fragrant nose of lavender, persimmon and candied fruits, this is a lot of what I observed on the regular Red Sekitoba, but much more intense. If you nose it a little too heavily the alcohol will make itself visible, this is no surprise at 35%. As this fades, you get some more typical potato shochu notes before swinging back to a more subdue lavender scent; very enjoyable.
On the rocks: Bright, crisp and clean, those beautiful notes on the nose hit with intensity, and purpose on the palate; you immediately know you are drinking something to be enjoyed at a slow pace. For 35%, this is just so smooth and never feels heavy in the mouth, and the floral lavender matches perfectly with the sweet fruit notes.
水割り Diluted with water
4:1: The sweetness really comes out with a little water and settles at the back of the throat, leaving hints of toasted rice, vanilla and candied fruit . The floral notes remain on the nose but disappear on the tongue, the same with those nice bright notes were really up front on-the-rocks. This remains highly drinkable with a little water but if you like a little more intensity then on-the-rocks is the best way to enjoy.
Reflections on this shōchū
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At 5000 JPY, this is an upper class bottle and while it is certainly a very nice shochu, not everyone will be ready to plunk down the cash on this.
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I really enjoyed the Sekitoba Red, and this is basically the same, only much more intense and that is certainly a good thing.
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The high price also gives you a really nice overall package as this looks really classy with the high-quality box, great labeling and presentation, certainly would make a nice gift or souvenir.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: 黒丸 Kuromaru
Type: 芋焼酎 Potato shōchū
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（国産）Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 27%
Enjoy on-the-rocks
In the bottle: Pure sweet potato out of the bottle with some soft and subtle vanilla and woody notes, overall very smooth with no real sharp edges. Once this opens up a little you find some additional sweetness along with a hint of alcohol, which in this case is 27% and does a good job of carrying some of the sweeter scents to the top.
On the rocks: What first hits the palate is a wave of freshness, not sure how else to describe it, in some ways it reminds me of fresh mint, just without the mint, really delicious. Intertwined in those fresh notes are some really nice vanilla, toasted rice and soft caramel that work really well and help to give Kuromaru some really nice depth. Once you let the ice melt a little, the sweetness stats to become more forward and the sweet potato flavors open up and Overall, this is dangerously drinkable, upon finishing my first glass I was pouring another, and almost another after that.
Straight: The freshness is still there but strangely not much else, it is amazing how neutral Kuromaru is neat in a glass. There is a nice bit of heat which much like on the rocks is incredibly smooth, the finish is quite nice as a lot of the softer flavors start to make an appearnace, especially the sweet potato and a little candied vanilla. Overall, not a bad to enjoy this, but considering how much this opens up with a little ice, on-the-rocks is the preferred way to enjoy this.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Picked this up at the duty free at Fukuoka airport as something to drink during the week in Taiwan, I had already tried all the other bottles in the shop so this was the last choice.
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I really enjoyed this bottle, nice and fresh and perfect glass to sip after a hot day in Taiwan.
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For the price, 3000 JPY it was a bit overpriced, while certainly a nice bottle of shochu, it just felt this was priced a bit too high.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
