[New product] “Spirits AWARD 2022” released

``Beautiful sake from ancient times'' that has won awards at numerous international competitions. On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, a new product "Spirits AWARD" will be released, which is a set of "2010 Kana" and "1984 Outstanding", which won gold and silver awards in the Japanese distilled spirits category at the Feminaries World Wine Competition 2022. 2022” has been released.

What is Feminalise World Wine Competition?

This competition is said to be one of the top five in France, the home of wine, and is highly recognized worldwide. One of the characteristics of the Feminaries World Wine Competition is that the judges are female wine experts. Every year, around 600 female sommeliers, female brewers, and female journalists gather from around the world to evaluate wine through a blind tasting process.

(Reference: Feminaries World Wine Competition | Feminaries Japon )

“Spirits AWARD 2022” Brand Introduction

“2010 Kana” [Gold Award Winner in the Japanese Distilled Alcohol Category]

・Genuine brown sugar shochu unprocessed sake ・Main ingredient: brown sugar
・Koji: Rice malt (domestic rice/white malt)
・Distillation method: Normal pressure
・Storage method: Storage in oak barrels at room temperature
・Alcohol content: 41 degrees

``Kana'' is a series aged in oak barrels.
It has a gentle, sweet and floral aroma, a refreshing taste, and a pleasant, enveloping soft smoky flavor. The smokiness from oak barrels and brown sugar go well together.

・Brewer: Nishihira Sake Brewery (founded in 1927, Naze, Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture)
The Nishiheike family originally started producing awamori in Shuri, Okinawa, but due to the turmoil during the war, they moved to Amami Oshima and began producing brown sugar shochu. Serena Nishihira, the great-granddaughter of the first chief brewer, Tomi Nishihira, currently takes over the role as female chief brewer. "Kana" is a dialect word that means "beloved person." A brand name typical of this brewery, aged in oak barrels.

“1984 Outstanding” [Silver Award Winner in the Japanese Distilled Spirits Category]

・Honkaku barley shochu unprocessed sake ・Main ingredient: Domestic barley
・Koji: Rice malt
・Distillation method: Normal pressure
・Storage method: Tank storage
・Alcohol content: 38 degrees

Although the original sake has an alcohol content of 38%, it is surprisingly sweet at first. Due to the ultra-long aging process, the richness of the original sake changes into richness and aroma, giving it a mellow taste.

・Brewer: Prefectural Sake Brewery (founded in 1923, Taragi-cho, Kuma-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture)
``Kuma Shochu'', which has been recognized as a geographical indication worldwide, is characterized by the use of rice, which is more expensive than other shochu raw materials. An outstanding sake brewery that was founded relatively young in the 500-year history of Kuma shochu. This young brewery once took on the challenge of producing barley shochu by atmospheric distillation. That young soul is now resurrected after 35 years.

"Spirits AWARD 2022", where you can enjoy distilled spirits approved by female wine experts from around the world, is limited to 190 sets. How about a birthday or celebration for someone who loves shochu?

You can purchase “Spirits AWARD 2022” here.