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 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留と減圧蒸留のブレンド
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
Ratio 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 Sweet Potato Shōchū Genshu
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
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. As the ice melts, a bit more of the floral notes subside and Gokumi no Shizuku mellows out allowing the sweet potato to rise more to the surface. 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. Overall, this bottle has been a nice way to experience Sekitoba in a more concentrated and intense setting, and while a bit heavy on the floral side, once this opens up there is a nice balance between fresh and sweet.
水割り Diluted with water
Ratio 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 5,000 JPY this is quite an expensive pickup, it is quote good but not that good.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: 黒丸 Kuromaru
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
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: Right from the crack of the bottle there is an intense sweet potato vibe that comes pouring through and layered with soft, subtle vanilla and interestingly some gentle woody notes that feel nice and fresh. Overall, Kuromaru is quite smooth aside from that initial impact, with no harsh or sharp edges. As it opens up a bit, you can find a touch more sweetness that emerges alongside a mild hint of alcohol warmth (at 27% ABV), which nicely lifts the whole experience and builds a good anticipation for what will be in the glass.
On the rocks: The first sip delivers a beautiful wave of freshness, almost like cool mint without any actual mint, making Kuromaru feel incredibly refreshing and quite delicious. On top of this there are some excellent vanilla, toasted rice, and soft caramel notes that add real depth and balance to the overall experience. As the ice melts slightly, the sweetness becomes a lot more up front and the sweet potato character really opens up. I have to say that this is dangerously easy to drink; I finished my first glass and quickly found myself reaching for a second (and nearly a third).
Straight: Smooth and refreshing a lot like in the bottle and on the rocks; however, this drinks surprisingly neutral overall. There is a pleasant warmth that feels like a build up to something and the finish brings out some of softer elements like sweet potato and a touch of candied vanilla, but I was kind of expecting a bit more.
Reflections on this shōchū
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I picked up this bottle of Kuromaru at the duty-free shop in Fukuoka Airport as my option for the week in Taiwan, having already tried everything else on the shelves, this was the one left standing.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: 特上 大魔王 Tokujō Daimaō
Type: 芋焼酎原酒 Sweet Potato Shōchū Genshu
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atomospheric)
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: 36%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: As soon as you pop the cork, Tokujō Daimaō is incredibly fragrant and leads with subtle sweetness. The higher alcohol content does a fair job of carrying a nice range of oaky sweet potato along with mature vanilla notes and a bit of dried fruits (dates, cherries, and apricot) to really round things out. After getting a bit of oxygen in (not easy with the square bottle), the alcohol becomes a bit more present along with a sharpness that feels a bit more fresh than sharp, but still masks a bit of what was observed the first time around.
On the rocks: I tried this after the ice had melted a fair amount, and what stood out the most was how much the sweetness had opened up, not sickly sweet, but smooth sweet potato followed by that really beautiful mature vanilla and cherry from the oak. On the finish there was a bit of Japanese milk caramel which added a really nice dessert vibe to the whole experience. Tokujō Daimaō mellows out surprisingly well while maintaining a lot of the strong impact notes that make this a pretty standout bottle of oak-aged sweet potato shōchū.
Straight: Surprisingly smooth and beautifully textured. Tokujō Daimaō hits all the marks you are looking for in a genshu sweet potato shōchū aged in oak. Right from the start, the sweet potato leads the way and comes across in waves of sweet and sharp. The sweet side has a bit of mature vanilla, buttery brown sugar, and dried fruits (a lot of which were very visible on the nose); the sharp side has an interesting black tea vibe that creates a perfect counterbalance and prevents this from getting a bit too sweet. Overall, this is an excellent bottle to enjoy neat in the glass.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Did a shochu tasting event at my company and this was one of the bottles, very intense and was much better than I had expected.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
