Distillery: 研醸株式会社 Kenjo Co. Ltd.
Address: 830-1214 1089 Sakaeda, Tachiarai-cho, Mitsui-gun, Fukuoka
Website: http://www.e-kenjou.com/006_imo.html
Additional Content: There is not much additional content other than this short Fathers day commercial talking about a sweet potato and wheat shōchū gift set.
Name: こふくろう Kofukurō
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 減圧蒸留 (Vacuum Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
さつま芋 Sweet Potato
-
黒麹(国産米) Black Koji
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Intensely aromatic from the moment you crack open the bottle. To start, there is a deep, honeyed sweetness that sits at the front and is layered with subtle musty hay and gentle earthy tones. After this opens up a bit, you can find some dried fruit (fig and raisin), vanilla, and lightly toasted rice that rise to the surface. The overall experience is rich, slightly complex, and builds a nice anticipation for the first sip
On the rocks: The first sip opens with surprising intensity, not in a overly bad way, just quite in your face. Additionally, there is a pronounced spicy bite a bit like black pepper that appears at the back of the throat that is accompanies by some subtle sharpness that is hard to pin down. The down side here is that as the ice melts that sharpness dominates the overall experience, largely masking the dried-fruit and vanilla notes and lending a somewhat one-dimensional character. As the ice melts a bit more, the edge softens more and Kofukuro mellows significantly, unfortunately this does not add much to the experience.
水割り Diluted with water
3:2 ratio: A modest amount of water tempers the peppery bite and allows a portion of the underlying sweetness to resurface; however, the overall profile remains somewhat muted and lacks vibrancy, the end result is rather flat and underwhelming compared to the inviting nose.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Not every bottle needs to be exceptional to be still worth giving it a try, Kofukuro serves as a perfect example of that. While it lacks a lot of what I hoped for, this would still be a fine glass of shochu for an Izakaya or some cheap eats.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Distillery: 田崎酒造 Tasaki Shuzō
Address: 696 Ozato, Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima 899-2103
Website: https://tasaki-shuzo.jp/
Additional Content: There is not much additional content other than some youtube taskings.
Name: 碧酔譚 Hyakusuitan
Type: 芋焼酎原酒 Sweet Potato Shōchū Genshu
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
紅サツマ・サツママサリ・紅おとめ・白豊・黄金千貫 Sweet Potatos (Kagoshima)
-
白米麹(国産米) White Koji
Alcohol: 35%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Considering all of the types of sweet potatoes in this bottle, I expected a bit of a bigger nose, but with Hyakusuitan that is not the case; however, what is there is quite nice once it develops a bit. With a little swirling and oxygen you get a lot of dried sweet potato, a bit of sweet vanilla, dried fruits along with hints of floral notes that almost remind me a bit of jasmine and sakura. While this bottle started a bit on the neutral side, there is a nice build-up to a fragrant sweet potato shōchū that creates a nice excitement for what will be in the glass.
On the rocks: The sweet potato impact is amazing and intense, you need a sip or two to adjust thanks to the 35% ABV but once you do a lot of what Hyakusuitan has to offer really starts to shine. First is the blend of five different sweet potatoes which if you are familiar with some of them you can pick them out quite easily, especially the Beni Satsuma and Kogane Sengan both of which add a nice backdrop for the flavors to develop on. As the ice melts, there is a mash-up of vanilla, cereal grain and just a hint of the floral lavender side on the finish. Overall, this is an interesting bottle that has a lot going on and you need a few glasses to really figure out, which is fine as this is a nice puzzle to figure out.
Straight: Intense sweet potato coats the tongue in an explosion of flavor. There is so much going on that it is almost hard to focus on one specific thing until your palate adjusts. Once it does, the first thing you find is a fresh sweetness followed by a lavender floral and wild flower sharpness and to finish this moves toward some sweeter notes of vanilla, toasted rice and cereal grain. Even with that mash-up, Hyakusuitan works really well neat in the glass and makes for the perfect nightcap to sip on a cool spring evening.
Paired with Chocolate: Cafe Tasse dark chocolate. That is a match made in heaven. The imo shōchū massively expands the cacao while adding some nice liqueur notes that blend perfectly into a perfect chocolate ganache. The finish brings a bit of the cereal grain back in which gives this pairing a bit of a candy bar feel. Really enjoyed this pairing.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Hyakusuitan is an interesting multi-variety sweet potato shōchū using five different types, Beni Satsuma, Koganesengan, Satsuma Masari, Beni Otome, Shiro Yukata blended together to create one of the more interesting bottles I have had in some time.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
BackLabel
Distillery: 川越酒造場 Fuki Shuzōjyo
Address: 4415-1 Honjo, Kunitomi, Higashimorokata District, Miyazaki
Website: http://www.miyazaki-sake.or.jp/
Additional Content: There is not much available other this this short interview.
Name: 川越 Kawagoe
Type: 芋・米焼酎 Sweet Potato/Rice Shōchū
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
甘藷芋 (宮崎) Sweet Potato (Miyazaki), タイ米 (Thai rice)
-
米麹 (Thai rice koji)
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Slightly sweet and fragrant on the nose, opening with fresh notes of nectarine, watermelon rind, and a candy-like sour cherry (reminiscent of Jolly Ranchers). These brighter aromas gradually give way to a more earthy, damp-hay character which adds a nice bit of depth. A little bot of oxygen reveals subtle vanilla and toasted, along with just a faint whisper of alcohol. Overall, the nose is highly enjoyable and sets strong, positive expectations for the liquid inside.
On the rocks: The initial sip brings refreshing lightness, with a pleasant peppery (slightly spicy) kick at the back of the palate that’s nicely balanced by emerging soft sweetness. From there, it transitions smoothly into the fruit notes seen on the nose—offering flavors not commonly found in sweet potato shochu, which makes this one stand out. Holding it on the tongue reveals rich toasted rice, hints of vanilla, sweet potato, and a touch of baking spice for added depth. A very compelling way to enjoy it.
水割り Diluted with water
4:1 ratio: Adding water smooths everything out considerably, but in doing so, it mutes much of what makes Kawagoe interesting—resulting in a clean, easy drink without much real substance or character left behind. It’s far from bad, just noticeably less engaging. (Note: I didn’t try it neat at the time, which I’d now like to revisit for comparison.)
Reflections on this shōchū
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I really enjoy these sweet potato and rice blend shochu styles. While not quite as dynamic or standout as ?Naina (the well-known Miyazaki blend from Akashi Shuzo), this one still marries the two bases effectively, delivering particularly nice notes—especially when served on the rocks.
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Overall, it's a very enjoyable shochu, particularly in that on-the-rocks format, where it hits all the right notes for an easy, sessionable drink—you'll happily go beyond just one glass.
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Priced in the mid-range (I paid around 1,900 JPY, though I've seen it slightly cheaper or more expensive depending on the retailer), it feels fairly valued. I didn't find it overpriced for the quality and drinkability it offers.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Distillery: 松露酒造 Shōro Shuzō
Address: 〒888-0011 Miyazaki, Kushima, Terazato, 1 Chome−１７−5
Website: https://shouro-shuzou.co.jp/
Additional Content: I didn't find anything official on youtube but there is a good bartender video talking about a couple of the shochu types from Shōro Shuzō.
Name: 夏季限定松露 Summer Shōro
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
紅優 Purple Sweet Potato
-
米麹(タイ) Rice Koji
Alcohol: 20%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Fragrant, floral, and gently sweet right from the start, Summer Shōro immediately evokes the essence of a refreshing summer escape. The nose leads with bright, initial sweet potato character that quickly softens into mellow dried hay (a pleasant shift from the more common damp-hay profile in many shochu), accented by subtle vanilla and a delicate side note of fruit syrup. Overall, it's exceptionally light, fresh, and inviting, making it exactly what you want when reaching for a chilled glass on a hot evening.
On the rocks: Sweetness takes center stage from the first sip, supported by warm toasted vanilla and a touch of syrupy richness—sweet, yes, but far from cloying or heavy. The mouthfeel stays remarkably light and smooth, boosting its drinkability and making it easy to savor multiple glasses without getting bored. This upfront fruit-forward sweetness is beautifully balanced by grounding sweet potato earthiness and those dried-hay notes, adding welcome complexity and preventing it from feeling one-dimensional. At a lower ABV and with its bright, summery profile, it's an ideal choice for hot nights: refreshing, lightly sweet, and perfectly sessionable.
水割り Diluted with water
4:1 ratio: Water smooths it out nicely, but unfortunately it also causes the most appealing floral, fruity, and layered elements to fade too quickly, leaving a cleaner but noticeably flatter profile with less personality. It remains drinkable, but it loses much of the charm that shines so brightly on the rocks. (I didn’t sample it neat during this tasting, which I’d now like to try for a fuller comparison.)
Reflections on this shōchū
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Overall, this bottle was quite refreshing and perfectly lived up to its “Summer Shochu” description. I also really liked the vibrant blue glass bottle which further reinforced that summery, cooling vibe visually, making it feel like I should be sitting on the beach.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Distillery: 種子島酒造 Tanegashima Shuzō
Address: 13589-3 Nishinoomote, Kagoshima 891-3101
Website: https://www.tanegasima.co.jp/
Additional Content: A short interesting video on Tanegashima Shuzo
Name: 黒麹造り 安納 Kuro Korji Anou
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
安納芋 Anno Sweet Potato (Kagoshima)
-
黒米麹 Black Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Beautifully fresh and light, with a soft sweetness that really spreads out as you take it in give the sweet potato a lot of room to expand into. Once this settles down a bit some light vanilla and cereal grain notes start to rise to the surface, along with a touch of earthiness that does a great job of tying everything together. Overall Anou keeps things simple which is not a bad thing as what is there comes across really well and builds a nice anticipation for what what will be in the glass.
On the rocks: Incredibly bright and fresh sweet potato vibe with a subtle backing of chocolate, dried fruits and just a bit of that cereal grain for good measure, certainly a lot more going on than first expected. The finish has just a bit of the black pepper bite which much like on the nose brings a bit of balance and complexity to the overall the experience. As the ice melts a little more of the sweeter notes become a bit more visible, especially the chocolate and cereal grain which pair well with the mellowed sweet potato giving Anou a good range of tastes to enjoy.
Straight: High-impact sweet potato from the moment this hits the tongue. Annou starts with a slight sharpness for the first few seconds before moving to that characteristic sweetness that Annou sweet potatoes are known for. The second sip opens up a bit more as there is a bit of dark cacao, dried fruit, and a bit of black pepper bite on the finish, which makes this quite enjoyable neat in the glass.
Paired with Chocolate: Cafe Tasse dark chocolate. This was a very nice pairing. The cacao really opens up with Annou and the dried fruits/raisin notes blend really well, almost like an alcoholic Raisinets (chocolate-covered raisin). The finish had a bit of that black pepper bite which was a great balance to the sweetness of the chocolate and added quite a bit to the overall experience.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Picked this up in Tokyo, a bit on the expensive side but certainly a nice bottle to enjoy during the week.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Information
Distillery: 薩摩酒造 Satsuma Shuzō
Address: 26 Tategamihonmachi, Makurazaki, Kagoshima 898-0051
Website: https://www.satsuma.co.jp/
Additional Content: Nothing found other than some tastings.
Name: さつま白波原酒 Satsuma Shiranami Genshu
Type: 芋焼酎原酒 Sweet Potato Shōchū Genshu
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
さつまいも（鹿児島産） Sweet Potato (Kagoshima)
-
米麹（国産）Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy Straight or on-the-rocks
In the bottle: Shiranami Genshu opens with a beautifully pronounced sweet potato character right from the start, layered with a gentle, natural sweetness that effectively balances the sharpness of the 37% ABV alcohol. While the strength is noticeable, it remains well-integrated and never aggressive or overpowering. The nose provides a clear, accurate preview of what to expect on the palate—clean, sweet potato–driven, and promising.
On the rocks: The first sip delivers an intense, immediate wave of sweet potato that can feel almost overwhelming at the outset, but once the palate adjusts, Satsuma Shiranami truly begins to shine. As the ice melts slightly, the initial intensity softens, allowing softer, more balanced notes to emerge: warm vanilla, toasted rice, and subtle oat-like qualities that integrate seamlessly with the core sweet potato flavor. For a 37% genshu, the alcohol behaves remarkably well—never harsh, it serves primarily to lift and carry the subtler flavors through to a clean, lingering finish.
Straight: Surprisingly smooth for its strength, the neat pour brings a forward burst of sweet potato that feels noticeably less aggressive than on the rocks, though it still carries real weight and presence. The initial impact is controlled and never overpowering, even as a genshu. After the front-end sweetness fades, a pleasant black pepper spice settles in on the back of the palate and lingers gently. As that subsides, an extended, rewarding finish unfolds: interwoven notes of vanilla, toasted rice, and oats that persist beautifully. At 37% ABV, the alcohol stays firmly in the background throughout—only revealing itself subtly on the finish, where it helps transport the sweeter elements through to a long, harmonious close.
Reflections on this shōchū
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This bottle was a recent addition to the duty-free selection at Fukuoka Airport, so I grabbed it before departing for a week in Singapore. It proved to be a very enjoyable choice—I was able to share it with a colleague who is also enthusiastic about shochu, and we both appreciated the experience.
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Shiranami Genshu performed particularly well when enjoyed straight in the glass. The sweet potato character comes through prominently right from the first sip, delivering a clean, expressive core flavor. What stands out most is the finish: long, lingering, and satisfying, with the sweet potato notes holding beautifully without any harshness or fade. A strong, rewarding neat pour that highlights the quality of this genshu expression.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Distillery: 宮本酒造店 Miyamoto Shuzō Ten
Address: 〒923-1205 Ishikawa, Nomi, Miyatakemachi, I−７４
Website: http://www.mujou.co.jp/
Additional Content: Nothing found at this time.
Name: のみよし Nomiyoshi w/gold flakes
Type: 山の芋焼酎 Mountain Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
加賀丸いも（山の芋）Mountain Potato
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米麹（国産）Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy Straight or on-the-rocks
In the bottle: Nomiyoshi initially presents as strikingly neutral—almost silent on the nose right after pouring. With a little oxygen exposure (a gentle swirl or brief rest in the glass), subtle layers begin to unfold: light grain notes emerge alongside a soft, earthy quality reminiscent of the damp underside of moss. There’s also a delicate suggestion of black tea accented by a touch of sweet vanilla. As this is my first experience with a mountain potato (yama-imo) shochu, I was pleasantly surprised by the breadth and refinement of aromas already evident on the nose.
On the rocks: The palate is notably smooth, with a subtle, clean sharpness that recalls a high-quality vodka—more about flavor than heat or burn. Given that this is made from mountain potato rather than typical sweet potato, upfront sweetness is minimal, which allows other elements to shine. Pleasant sweet notes do appear on the mid-palate and carry through to the finish, likely contributed by the koji fermentation. The finish is impressively long and dynamic, ebbing and flowing between grain, toasted rice, and varying degrees of gentle sweetness. Visually, the gold flakes in the glass add an attractive shimmer, though they contribute nothing to the flavor profile.
Straight: Nomiyoshi drinks with remarkable smoothness when served neat. The entry brings an intriguing pineapple-like note—not the bright, juicy fruitiness, but rather the subtle, core-like character of the fruit. As that fades, the palate shifts toward grain and toasted rice on the finish, punctuated by short, welcome bursts of sweetness that lend a faint sweet potato shochu familiarity despite the mountain potato base. Overall, this expression operates on multiple appealing levels—clean, layered, and surprisingly versatile. It’s well worth seeking out and trying if you come across a bottle.
Reflections on this shōchū
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I honestly can’t recall exactly where I picked up this bottle, but I’m very glad I did. This was my first experience with mountain potato (yama-imo) shochu, and the bottle turned out to be thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.
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The inclusion of gold flakes adds a touch of elegance and sophistication. In the glass—especially on the rocks—the flakes create a striking visual effect, drifting like delicate gold snowflakes through the liquid and ice. Once the drink is finished and the glass dries, the remaining flakes adhere subtly to the interior walls, leaving behind an attractive, shimmering residue that enhances the overall premium feel.
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While not a mind-blowing revelation, this mountain potato shochu impressed me enough that I’d happily reach for another bottle made from the same ingredient in the future. It’s a solid introduction to the style and has left me curious to explore more expressions in this category.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Box
Back Label
Distillery: 白金酒造 Shirakane Shuzo
Address: 3526-10 Hiramatsu, Aira City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Website: https://www.shirakane.jp/
Additional Content: No specific content but the above website gives an overview of the products offered and how they produce their shochu, so it is worth a look.
Name: 薩摩白金 Satsuma Shirakane
Type: 芋焼酎ブレンド Sweet Potato Shōchū (Blend)
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
さつま芋 Sweet Potato
-
米麹（国産米）Rice Koji
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on the rocks
In the bottle: Soft and slightly sweet with hints of wet hay to start, overall more of a neutral nose with nothing poking out too far. Once this opens up a little, you can get a little bit of sweet potato freshness along with a subtle sharp notes that is a bit hard to identify. To close, Satsuma Shirakane is quite mild in terms of the alcohol and this certainly adds to its Izakaya drinkability..
On the rocks: The first sip is sharp and prickles the roof the mouth before opening up with a rich sweet potato sweetness that is smooth and very easy to drink. This is a nice contrast to the somewhat neutral nose and adds to the overall impact of the entire experience. Additionally, there are some nice earthy tones that linger on the finish and really remind me of steamed sweet potatoes. While nothing really stands out, the end results something that is quite drinkable and perfect for having a couple of glasses.
水割り Diluted with water
Ratio 4:1: The overall sharpness is cut way back as is the sweetness, which I think works better than just on-the-rocks, especially if you plan to have more than one glass. While it doesn't gain any additional depth in flavor it does increase the drinkability which is perfect for an evening at the local Izakaya.
Reflections on this shōchū
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I often see this in the izakaya and this drinks like what you would expect, in so far as you could easily drink a few glasses and not get bored.
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Where I live, you can find this at a lot of discount places, I think I purchased this from Wants for around 1100 JPY, so from a cost performance perspective, this is pretty good.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Cap Label
Distillery: 喜久水酒造 Kikusui Shuzō
Address: 395-0807 Nagano, Iida, 鼎切石4293
Website: https://kikusuisake.co.jp
Additional Content: There is not much on youtube other than an old CM, which is straight from the 80's
Name: 楽国信州 Rakkoku Shinshu
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 単式蒸留 (Pot Distillation)
Ingredients:
-
さつま芋（信州産）Sweet Potato (Nagano)
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米麹（国産米）Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 25%
In the bottle: At first you get a decent burst of fresh sweet potato that feels a bit young before switching gears to a much more floral lavender. Sadly, the best I can come up is that Rakkoku Shinshu comes across a bit like cheap perfume and while that sounds bad, it is more about the flavors not being fully developed more than anything. Swirling this around a bit to get some oxygen in gives this a bit more sweetness that helps to temper the other flavors a bit.
On the rocks: A bit to hard to describe, the floral aspects really dominate but they are balanced with the sweetness of the potato to give this an almost candy or very subtle bubblegum flavor. The finish here gets a bit grainy with some toasted oats, vanilla and a bit of bitter cocoa. Overall Rakkoku Shinshu is not bad, maybe not the best bottle I have picked up but certainly been an interesting ride.
Straight: Very interesting, there is a slight spicy quality, not spicy hot, but more like cinnamon with a side of lavender and some other wildflowers, overall very floral. Additionally, there is a subtle sweetness that weaves in and out, it never becomes too strong but it is certainly there with some soft vanilla there for good measure. Regarding the floral notes, these really stick around on the finish which is quite enjoyable, the vanilla also shows up here and there.
Enjoy on the rocks or straight maybe...
Reflections on this shōchū
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Picked this up while on business in Nagano, I think I picked this up at Matsumoto station at the small gift shop, took me a couple of years to drink it but was still a decent pickup.
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This was an interesting bottle, not something I would specifically recommend, but it did have some interesting flavors that I had not encountered before.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Distillery: 吉永酒造 Yoshinaga Shuzō
Address: 〒89 1-0403 Kagoshima, Ibusuki, 高之原645
Website: https://yoshinagashuzo.wixsite.com/
Additional Content: Not much from the distillery itself, but there are a few interviews and reviews that can be found on youtube.
Name: 亀五郎 Kamegorō
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
黄金千貫（鹿児島産）Golden Sengen (Kagoshima)
-
Rice Koji (Domestic)米麹
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy straight or
on-the-rocks
In the bottle: At first Kamegorō is a bit sweet with some very subtle floral and grain notes; once this opens up a bit more you can catch some fresh potato shochu and a bit of candied vanilla that lingers around for a bit. Overall, while this is a bit on the neutral side, this is often not a bad thing as it leads to a nice surprise in the glass.
On the rocks: Right off the bat, there is a soft sweetness that balances really well against the vanilla, toasted rice, and sweet potato notes which are typically on the sweeter side; however, here they are a bit less intense in that regard. Also I could find some toasted grain which reminds me a bit of Oh's cereal with a bit of caramel. Overall, Kamegorō excels at being mellow, which in this case really makes this something you can go back for a second (or third) glass.
Straight: Now this is where Kamegorō really starts to shine, there is a bit more floral character to it at the start before fading into more typical potato shochu flavors as well as some earthyness. Like when enjoyed on-the-rocks, you get some toasted grain/rice, a bit of vanilla just a bit more intense this time around.
水割り Diluted with water
Ratio 4:1: While Kamegorō holds up well with a bit of water, you unfortunately lose a lot of the higher impact flavors you get neat in the glass or on-the-rocks, which is fine you are planning on drinking more than a few glasses or looking to stretch the bottle. Best neat or on-the-rocks.
Community Tasting Submission: Tried this one neat for the first taste. Kamegoro is crystal clear and shows a little viscosity when swirled In the glass. Quite gentle on the nose for a sweet potato shochu. Deep and full smell with what I'd call earthy and sweater tones. For me the defining characteristic of Kamegoro was a very balanced palette. It's definitely a full sweet and smooth taste. It doesn't bite at all on first impression. The warmth and earthy creaminess of the sweet potato that can sometimes be lost, is very well retained. I thought the depth of flavour could be be attributed to a Kurokoji, but in this case it is in fact Shiro. After having said that the mid taste is very warm and smooth and earthy, with a little air the finish is dryer and the earthy notes lighten up. At 25% this was a lovely shochu to enjoy with and after dinner. Given the overall taste I felt like it would do well warmed although I didn't drink it atsukan this time.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Picked this bottle up at a small shop in Osaka that I found on my way to visit a supplier, this was one of the bottles the shop owner suggested, overall it was the best of the three suggestions.
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Really enjoyed this bottle overall, it his all the beats you want in a good imo shochu, at a reasonable price, I think I paid around 1400 JPY which I felt was a fair price after finishing the bottle.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Bottle Label
Distillery: 稲田本店 Inada Honten
Address: 325-16 Yomicho, Yonago, Tottori 683-0851
Website: https://www.inata.co.jp
Additional Content: None at this time.
Name: なまけ者になりなさい Namakimononarinasai
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shōchū
蒸留方法: 減圧蒸留と常圧蒸留のブレンド
Ingredients:
-
芋(国産) Sweet Potato (Domestic)
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米麹 Rice Koji (Thailand)
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on-the-rocks
In the bottle: Sweet and fragrant, with hints of lavender, caramel and wet hay, there is also a nice splash of vanilla in there as well which reminds me of those vanilla tootsie rolls. Maybe I am a bit influenced from my breakfast in Taiwan this morning, but I also find a little brown sugar, like a steam bun (matun). Overall, Namakimononinarinasai comes across as quite sweet at least on the nose, and makes me feel like this is more of a dessert shochu which is certainly not a bad thing.
On the rocks: The sweetness really pops as it hits the tongue before spilling over into some of the mature brown sugar and vanilla, along with the sweet potato to round things out. The wet hay also makes an appearance and adds some much needed depth to the sweetness, which is good because the sweetness stays with really up front even on the finish. Fortunately, as the ice melts a bit the sweetness mellows out quite a bit and gives the accompanying notes a bit of room to open up, especially the contrast between the earthy hay and the vanilla. Overall, Namakimononinarinasai is very much a comfort drink (hence the be lazy).
水割り Diluted with water
Ratio 4:1: I think I was too lazy to write down what I felt when diluted with water, what I remember was basically a smoother version of what was on the rocks, nothing new popped out with a little water.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Like comfort food, this bottle gives great comfort when enjoying this on the rocks, maybe just due to the name which Namakimon means sloth, so good for a slow day.
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Picked this up at my normal go to shop in Nagoya station, this place is on B2 of Takashimaya and often has some interesting bottles and while not spectacular, this one did not disappoint.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Distillery: 小牧醸造 Komaki Jōzō
Address: 12 Tokiyoshi, Satsuma, Satsuma-ku, Kagoshima 895-1816
Website: https://komakijozo.co.jp/
Additional Content: Unfortunately could not find anything directly from the distiller, there are some reviews available on youtube
Name: 夏の小牧 Natsu no Komaki
Type: 芋焼酎 Sweet Potato Shochū
蒸留方法: 常圧蒸留 (Atmospheric)
Ingredients:
-
さつまいも（鹿児島産）Satsuma (Kagoshima)
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米麹（国産）Rice Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 25%
Enjoy on-the-rocks
In the bottle: You are treated to a nice and clean potato shochu nose, with all the flavors you expect for a summer shochu (i.e, not heavy and sweet). At first Natsu no Komaki starts off with a fresh, well balanced sweetness that has hints of vanilla and fruit (if I close my eyes I can easily imagine watermelon) which really adds to the summer shochu appeal. Overall, this is exactly what you are looking for when you open a bottle on a hot and humid summer night.
On the rocks: Natus no Komaki strikes the perfect balance of fresh sweet potato and subtle sweetness to make this something you can easily drink all night. However, this easy drinkability does come with a cost, once the ice melts, the flavors really fade to the back, you can still catch enough to enjoy, but there is not much left. I had much better results with my stone cubes which really helped to maintain the richness of the sweet potato and let some of the earthier notes come through. The finish carries through some of the vanilla and fruit found on the nose; unfortunately, nothing sticks around very long, which I suppose pulls you to the next sip.
Straight: Almost too smooth, while certainly more impactful on the sweet potato notes, there is not enough here to make it enjoyable; which in reality should comes as no surprise since most would want to drink this on-the-rocks. The finish is quite nice and definitely sticks around a bit longer than on-the-rocks, especially the sweetness which ebbs and flows quite nicely.
Reflections on this shōchū
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Last summer I tried a couple summer shochu and overall they were quite good, this year due to work, the summer kind of snuck up on me and was nearly done before I finally got around to opening this bottle
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I know very little about this distillery and it is clear I need to learn more and find out what else they offer, just need to clear some room on the shelf for more bottles.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
