Distillery: 繊月酒造 Sengetsu Shuzō
Address: 1 Shinmachi, Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto 868-0052
Website: https://sengetsu-shuzo.com
Additional Content: There is a short interview video with Sengetsu's managing director/president talking about the distilleries recovery after damage from the heavy rain in July 2021.
Name: 大古酒繊月(30年+) Ōkoshu Sengetsu 30yr+
Type: 米焼酎 Rice shōchū
Ingredients:
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米 Rice
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米麹(国本産) Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 40%
In the bottle: The aroma is dominated by intense burnt caramel and vanilla, evolving into a pronounced, appealing sweetness reminiscent of cherry vanilla cola. This transitions seamlessly into a classic rice shochu character on the finish. For a spirit aged this extensively, the bouquet is remarkably distinctive and compelling and builds a strong anticipation for what is in the glass.
On the rocks: The prominent notes detected on the nose translate explosively to the palate, evoking the rich flavor of Japanese pudding drizzled with burnt caramel sauce—an association that proves surprisingly delightful rather than off-putting. At 80 proof, a subtle alcohol presence emerges toward the finish, accompanied by a nuanced black pepper spice that enhances the overall complexity. This delivers an exceptionally rewarding and dynamic drinking experience.
Straight: Upon opening a second bottle a year later, tasting it neat revealed a more focused intensity. The burnt caramel is tightly integrated, fading gracefully on the finish alongside smooth vanilla and subtle cocoa notes. This serving style highlights the elegance and balance of this beautifully aged rice shochu.
水割り Diluted with water
4:1 Ratio: The addition of water softens the bold primary notes, yielding a markedly smoother profile. However, this dilution diminishes the distinctive intensity that defines the spirit's unique character.
Paired with Chocolate:
Paired with Tony's Chocolonely pretzel and toffee milk chocolate, the shochu's flavors amplify and intensify those of the chocolate. The moderate sweetness of the bar allows the shochu's caramel and vanilla notes to harmonize seamlessly, expanding the palate without overwhelming heaviness. This combination proves highly complementary and balanced.
Enjoy straight or on the rocks
Reflections on this shōchū
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Quite possibly the best bottle I have opened in a long time, the quality of the whole package, box, label, accompanying information, are all there to give justice to what is in the bottle, which was amazing.
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At 8800 JPY, this is an absolute steal for something 30+ years old and not a blend of other years, it was so good, I bought two more bottles to keep in the vault.
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If you were ever looking to give the perfect gift to a shochu lover, then this would be it, hands down, no further questions needed.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: たる繊月(６年以上) Taru Sengetsu (6yr+)
Type: 米焼酎 Rice shōchū (樫樽貯蔵古酒 Aged in Oak Barrels )
Rice: ヒノヒカリの新米100％ Hinohikari new rice
Ingredients:
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米 Rice
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米麹(国内産) Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 25%
In the bottle: Woody with hints of cherry hard candies, and vanilla, reminds me of Dr Pepper, and cream soda; the oak notes remind me of freshly mulched wood in summer. The sweetness on the nose is not overpowering but certainly makes its presence felt the longer you spend with it. Overall, Taru Sengetsu gives a great impression for oak-aged rice shochu, especially with the beautiful golden hue; this really builds a nice anticipation for what is in the bottle, which absolutely does not disappoint.
On the rocks: Smooth, rich and bit creamy, the first thing that comes to mind is cream soda and birch beer, as the first sip is full of amazing impact notes that are quite surprising if you have not had an oak-aged shochu before. In general, Taru Sengetsu is slightly sweet, with those beautiful cherry, vanilla, and oak notes spreading across the palate which gives this the feel of a shochu that fits well after a nice meal. The finish is really a standout here as well as Taru Sengetsu is aged to perfection, never feels too oaky and hits on so many levels which makes this something to sip and enjoy slowly.
水割り Diluted with water
4:1, 3:2 ratio, The sweetness really opens up with a little water, with the cream soda and vanilla notes staying nice and up front; however, not much lingers on the tongue, resulting in an unfortunately short finish.
Enjoy on the rocks
Reflections on this shōchū
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Amazing, just amazing, and on my list for buying a second bottle.
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Everything I have had from Sengetsu Shuzo has been top class, looking forward to opening up the last two bottles I have.
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This hits all the notes you want with something that has been aged in oak, along with the more typical rice shochu notes, there as some creme soda, and cherry notes that are just sublime.
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The price is very low for such a high quality shochu, you can pick it up on their website for under 1800 JPY, which makes this a completely low risk buy.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Cap Label
Name: 川辺 Kawabe
Type: 米焼酎 Rice shōchū
Ingredients:
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米(相良村) Rice (Sagara Village)
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米麹(相良村) Rice Koji (Sagara Village)
Alcohol: 25%
In the bottle: Soft and subtle, with some light floral & fruity notes, it reminds me a little of sake without any heavy sweetness on the front-end. After letting it open up, you can also find some really nice hints of vanilla, slight citrus and peach, all of which are incredibly inviting.
On the rocks: For me, at least, the first sip was a where have you been all my life sip, just like the nose, it is soft and subtle and if you drink it too fast, you will miss what makes Kawabe so special. In the mouth it feels light but there is a slight thickness with some absolutely beautiful rice shochu notes that weave in and out. Overall, Kawabe drinks a bit like a kasutori/sake kasu shochu as there are a lot of those light fruity notes of peach and apricot that really give this a sake vibe. The finish plays a nice part as well as you continue to get hints of what is in the glass for a good while and while the alcohol is not high, it does a great job of carrying the softer notes through to the end. For me at least, this was an all around just an amazing experience.
Diluted with water:
4:1, 3:2 ratio, don't bother, this is just so perfect on the rocks. Unbelievably, I did not try this neat in the glass, if I ever pick up another bottle I will update this tasting.
Paired with dark chocolate: The chocolate, 70% dark chocolate, single origin from Vietnam, three ingredients, cocoa mass, sugar and cocoa butter. The pairing, the bitterness of the chocolate balances perfectly with the slight sweetness and the vanilla found on the nose makes an appearance as it blends with the chocolate.
Enjoy on the rocks
Reflections on this shōchū
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After sitting on my shelf for a year, I opened this up and just as stated above, it was a where have you been all my life first sip, definitely a top 3 desert island shochu for sure.
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For this, I broke my 1 glass per night rule, just too good...
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Kawabe might replace my go to gift shochu, ?nanina, this is just so accessible and enjoyable to drink, don't hesitate, try it, gift it, share it.
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Sengetsu Shuzo knocks it out of the park again, after enjoying a range of what they had to offer in 2023, it was clear they are producing some world-class shochu.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Name: 霧の封印(30年以上) Kiri no Fūin (30yr+)
Type: 米焼酎 Rice shōchū
Ingredients:
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米(国産) Rice (Domestic)
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米麹(国産) Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 25%
In the bottle: What comes out of the bottle is subtle but very refined, at first there is a wave of cherry, vanilla and fresh cut wood that is still green, simply beautiful. As you nose it a little deeper the alcohol starts to make is self known before calming back down into a bit heavier vanilla both in depth and sweetness.
On the rocks: I was going to use the word refined again, but I feel elegant (上品) just fits better, especially at 30+ years old. Kiri no Fūin is smooth, clean and almost too drinkable. Everything that was on the nose is on full display; however, I would say that the vanilla notes are even stronger on-the-rocks, especially before it starts to dilute from the ice.
Straight: Decided to try this neat and all I can say is Wow. On-the-rocks is nice, especially on a hot night, but this drinks so smoothly with all of the what I found on the rocks right there, just at room temp. Interestingly, I found some nutty and slightly clay notes which add to the complexity of this amazing shochu.
水割り Diluted with water
4:1, 3:2 ratio, While not as much impact as on-the-rocks or straight, Kiri no Fūin just works on all levels, and with a little water opens up into a perfectly balanced aged rice shochu. Just buy it and enjoy it.
Enjoy straight or on the rocks
Reflections on this shōchū
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Sengetsu Shuzō is like the gift that just keeps on giving, everything I have had from them is just top shelf and Kiri no Fuin is not different, just amazing.
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At 30+ years old, this was fresh, bright and extremely drinkable; hard to image this is only slightly over 3000 JPY, just amazing.
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I decided to pick up Sengetsu's 12 bottle set (which is an incredible deal) so I can try the rest of what they have to offer, and the best part is I will get 4 bottles of what I have already tried and would love to have another bottle on the shelf.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: 無言(10年以上) Mugon 10yr+
Type: 米焼酎原酒 Rice shōchū genshu
Ingredients:
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米(国産) Rice (Domestic)
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米麹(国産) Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 40%
In the bottle: The initial impression is dominated by strong alcohol (this could also be due to the bottle shape and nosing this with only the bottom third left), but this quickly subsides to reveal an inviting bouquet of warming oak, dried fruits, toasted rice, and mature vanilla sweetness. As the alcohol integrates, it serves to lift subtler notes, including raisin, baking spices, and a touch of bitter chocolate. Overall, the aroma is complex, balanced, and highly inviting.
On the rocks: The addition of ice tempers the sharper alcoholic edges while preserving a pleasant warmth, with prominent notes of oak and dark chocolate emerging upfront. As the ice melts some of the warmth recedes, allowing sweeter elements—such as cherry, vanilla, and dried fruits—to develop and harmonize. While enjoyable, this serving style is merely satisfactory; it mutes some complexity compared to enjoying Mugon neat.
Straight: Exceptionally smooth from the first sip, Mugon displays a robust foundation of oak and chocolate that defines its character. It drinks remarkably like a fine aged whiskey, with a dynamic and well-structured flavor profile that evolves beautifully on the palate. The finish is warming yet refined, with the alcohol elegantly carrying forward softer notes of dried fruit and a subtle cacao bitterness into a beautiful finish that pulls everything together perfectly.
Paired with Chocolate: The rich, intense cacao of Tonny's 70% dark chocolate pairs with Mugon in a bold manner. After the initial alcohol impact fades, the cacao takes center stage and expands across the palate. However, the combination does not achieve the synergy anticipated, resulting in a less harmonious pairing than expected.
Enjoy straight or on the rocks
Reflections on this shōchū
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Quite possibly the best bottle I have opened in a long time, the quality of the whole package, box, label, accompanying information, are all there to give justice to what is in the bottle, which was amazing.
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At 8800 JPY, this is an absolute steal for something 30+ years old and not a blend of other years, it was so good, I bought two more bottles to keep in the vault.
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If you were ever looking to give the perfect gift to a shochu lover, then this would be it, hands down, no further questions needed.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Top Label
Name: 葦分 Ashikita
Type: 米焼酎 Rice shōchū
Ingredients:
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米(芦北町産米) Rice (Ashikita Town)
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米麹(芦北町産) Rice Koji (Ashikita Town)
Alcohol: 25%
In the bottle: Ashikita opens somewhat neutral at first, yet there’s an immediately intriguing fresh quality that feels welcoming and clean. With a little oxygen exposure—through a gentle swirl or brief rest in the glass—a faint, delicate sweetness begins to emerge, accompanied by very light vanilla and subtle earthy undertones. While not overloaded with bold, explosive notes, the nose builds a refined sense of anticipation, promising elegance and balance in the glass.
On the rocks: Sengetsu delivers another excellent bottle with Ashikita, staying true to their signature style without straying far from previous releases—yet perfectly capturing what a high-quality rice shochu can be. It arrives bright and refreshingly fresh on the palate, quickly giving way to a smooth wave of sweet vanilla and creamy custard. The balance is impeccable: as the ice melts, the finish drifts into rich burnt caramel and a gentle touch of earthiness, creating layered depth without heaviness. This feels tailor-made for warm evenings—ideal for sipping slowly on a hot summer night rather than a cold February one, where its bright, uplifting character shines brightest.
Straight: Surprisingly fruity to start, with a beautifully fresh cacao-like backdrop that provides excellent contrast to the gentle bitter-caramel edge on the finish. The result is an exceptionally smooth rice shochu that remains dynamic and engaging from start to long finish. Everything integrates with remarkable clarity and refinement—making Ashikita a standout candidate for enjoying neat, where its complexity and polish truly come forward.
Paired with dark chocolate: Venchi 80% dark chocolate, At first glance, pairing with an 80% dark chocolate might seem mismatched—higher-cacao chocolates (above 70%) often overpower shochu—but Ashikita handles it beautifully. After the initial sharp bitterness of the chocolate subsides, the rice shochu expands and elevates the entire experience, amplifying the cocoa intensity while layering in its own vanilla, custard, and burnt-caramel notes on the finish. The result is an overwhelmingly chocolate-driven moment, yet one that feels richer, more rounded, and surprisingly harmonious. A very successful and indulgent pairing that turns the combination into a cohesive, luxurious ride.
Enjoy straight or on-the-rocks
Reflections on this shōchū
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Quite possibly the best bottle I have opened in a long time, the quality of the whole package, box, label, accompanying information, are all there to give justice to what is in the bottle, which was amazing.
-
At 8800 JPY, this is an absolute steal for something 30+ years old and not a blend of other years, it was so good, I bought two more bottles to keep in the vault.
-
If you were ever looking to give the perfect gift to a shochu lover, then this would be it, hands down, no further questions needed.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
