Distillery: 秋田清酒 Akita Seishu
Address: Amagasawa-83-1 Tochiya, Daisen, Akita 014-0801
Additional Content: They have a youtube channel, but, there is not a lot of content and it is mostly focused on producing rice and sake but still something interesting to watch.
Name: なまはげ Namahage
Type: 粕取り焼酎 Kasutori shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
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清酒粕 Sake Lees
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清酒 Sake
Alcohol: 25%
In the bottle: Aromatic and fruity right from the start, with strong hints of peach and nectarine, plus subtle notes of licorice and slightly unripened strawberries. Namahage captures all the key sake notes—bright, elegant, and floral—while the distillation process adds a bit more depth and focus. The result feels both familiar (like a good ginjo sake) and completely unique. The nose is clean, layered, and very inviting.
On the rocks: Bright, sweet, and really smooth. Aside from a mild alcohol warmth on the back end, it drinks almost exactly like a beautiful sake. There’s a nice balance between sweetness and acidity that lets the floral notes shine through clearly. Flavors range from fruity to creamy, all melding together into something cohesive and enjoyable. The ice keeps it refreshing while letting the sake-like character come forward fully—very easy to sip and keep coming back to.
水割り Diluted with water
4:1 ratio: The key impact notes take a bit of a backseat with dilution, but the core sake-based flavors (peach, nectarine, floral) remain present and pleasant. Surprisingly, the licorice from the nose becomes more noticeable on the finish, adding a gentle bitter edge that works well. The shōchū stays light and drinkable—good for extending the glass without losing too much character.
Enjoy on the rocks
Reflections on this shōchū
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This was my first chance to enjoy Akita shōchū, thanks to a nice suggestion from the shop owner. It made for a great introduction to the region’s style.
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Namahage on the rocks is just sublime. It hits on multiple levels—bright fruit, subtle floral notes, and that clean, sake-like elegance—and it’s the perfect nightcap on these hot summer nights. The way the peach, nectarine, and light licorice weave together with the distillation’s smoothness makes it refreshing yet satisfying, without ever feeling heavy.
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A great bottle to start with if you haven’t tried kasutori shōchū before. It drinks like a condensed sake—concentrated, flavorful, and full of that familiar ginjo/daiginjo vibe—but in a more controlled, sippable form. Delicious, yes, but also a little dangerous because it goes down so easily.
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Namahage captures the essence of premium sake lees distilled into shōchū: fruity (peach/nectarine), floral, and balanced with just enough structure to keep it interesting. On the rocks is the sweet spot—bright, layered, and endlessly drinkable.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
