Distillery: 高田酒造場 Takata Shuzōjyo
Address: 28-2 Tamachi, Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture
Website: https://www.takata-shuzohjyo.co.jp/recommended/asagiri/
Additional Content: There is a short introduction from JETRO Global Channel on Takata Shuzojyo distillery that gives a nice behind the scenes view of the process of making rice shōchū,it is in Japanese with English subtitles.
Name: あさぎりの花 Asagiri no Hana
Type: 米焼酎 Rice shōchū
Ingredients:
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米ヒノヒカリの新米100％ Hinohikari new rice
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米麹(熊本産) Rice, Rice Koji (Kumamoto)
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Special Ingredient:ナデシコの花酵母 Dianthus Flower Yeast
Alcohol: 25%
In the bottle: Asagi no Hana's nose is floral but not overpowering which matches perfectly with a smooth rice scent that is slightly that ebbs and flows with a sweet and warming vibe to it. The fragrance coming out of the bottle is incredibly inviting and gives off refined impression that this bottle of shochu was produced with great effort and care.
On the rocks: This is where Asagi no Hana really opens ups, the first taste that comes to mind is rum raisin, followed by a subtle chocolatey licorice (very subtle) which then gives way to the more floral and rice notes. As the ice melts a bit a lot of the initial impact flavors meld together in a really perfect balance, creating a range of different tastes to emerge over the course of one glass. However, a word of warning, this shochu drinks so smooth and light, that you need to be a little careful not to over indulge.
Straight: Surprisingly smooth, but there is a little sharpness at the edges which prevents some of the more subtle notes from shining. There is a hint of alcohol on the finish is warming pleasant and does a great job to carry some of the softer floral and toasted rice notes through to the end. While I prefer it on the rocks, straight is certainly a nice way to enjoy Asagiri no Hana.
水割り Diluted with water
Ratio 4:1: Asagiri no hana really holds up well here, while it loses some of the intensity; that beautiful combination of floral and rice stays up front making for a very enjoyable drink to sip.
Enjoy straight or on the rocks
Reflections on this shōchū
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A very accessible entry into the world of Kuma shōchū (球磨焼酎) that is soft, refined and very unique.
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This bottle was so enjoyable on the rocks and perfect for sipping on a hot summer night.Asagiri no hana has a mid-range price point, I think I paid around 2000 JPY, so, it's a bit more than a typical bottle but really worth it. (Monogatari has a 105 ml bottle)I look forward to trying a few other bottles from Takata in the coming months.
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
Back Label
Name: オークロード Oak Road
Type: 米焼酎 Rice shōchū
Aging: White oak, Limousin oak, Cognac, Sherry, and Scotch
常圧蒸留: 減圧蒸留 (Vacuum Distillation)
Ingredients:
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米 Rice Domestic
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白麹(国産) White Koji (Domestic)
Alcohol: 37%
In the bottle: The nose comes across very much like a whisky or a cognac with the oak providing a warm backdrop for the full aroma to spread. Once you get past the impact notes, there is a subtle sweetness that ties in well with the oak which at times appears fresh and supple before moving to rich and earthy side, this adds a nice bit of complexity. As the name implies, everything here is about the oak, that does not mean that this bottle is one dimensional by any means, with this being aged in 5 different barrels, there is certainly a lot going on and in this case that is a good thing.
On the rocks: So smooth and really just beautiful, especially if you are into oak-aged rice shochu. The oak from all 5 barrels really creates an interesting blend that does not feel heavy on the palate even with the base sweetness from the rice shochu. This freshness gives Oak Road a lot of drinkable if you are interested in going for more than one glass or just want to sip is slow and see where the melting ice takes you. What I really liked on this was that you could identify quite easily which notes come from the Sherry, Cognac and Scotch barrels, for the White oak, and Limousin oak I might not be familiar enough to pick them out specifically other than the bit of cherry that follows through on the finish.
Straight: While there is a lot going on here due to the 5 different barrels that make up this blend, what really stands out at least neat in the glass is the cognac which reminds me of Ohishi another really amazing Kuma shochu. Aside from that this drinks exactly like you would expect it to, which is damn near perfect, from the sharpness and warmth of the oak to the slightly sweet finish, this hits on all levels.
Paired with chocolate: Tonny's chocolate 70% dark. EMy expectations was that this was going to be a good pairing and while not bad, I feel this would work better with a slightly sweeter chocolate. One thing is for sure, Oak Road does a great job to expand the cacao and add just a bit of warmth, unfortunately, this is just a bit too bitter to be a perfect match.
Enjoy straight or on the rocks
Reflections on this shōchū
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Oak Road i
Bottle label and Information
Front Label
