Tag Archives: Shizuoka Shochu

Fuji-Takasago Brewery, Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka Shochu, Shochu

Shizuoka Shochu Tasting: Fuji takasago Brewery (Fujinomiya City) Coffee Spirits Takasago

April 5, 2020 dragonlife Leave a comment

Fuji Takasago Brewery in Fujinomiya City has for some time now venturing in making shochu out of the ordinary!

Their latest creation is anlend of fine rice lees and rice shochu and high quality coffee called Coffee spirits Takasago!

ingredients: rice shochu, rice lees shochu, coffee
Alcohol: 255
Contents: 500m
No 1302 (very limited edition!)

Tasting: strong and pleasant alcohol attack. beautiful dark black coffee.Roasted coffee beans, almost expresso coffee.
Alcohol pleasantly lingering on tongue and back of the mouth.
Tends to somewhat sweeten with the second sip.
lingers for a while before disappearing with a strong and pleasant dark coffee note at the back of the palate.
Strong and dry coffee attack with every new sip.

Comments: very dangerous shochu as it constantly invites/entices you to the next sip making you forget this is indeed a strong spirit!
Best appreciated on the rocks, but still very pleasant on its own at room temperature!
Easily becomes a bad habit. Can actually make for the perfct disgestif without a push coffee!

Recommended pairings: cheese, choclate, ice creams.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pie
rre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Bandai Brewery, Orange liqueur, Oranges, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka Shochu, Shuzenji

Shizuoka Shochu Tasting: Umeera by Bandai Brewery!

February 10, 2018 dragonlife Leave a comment

This is another schochu by Bandai Brewery in Shuzenji, Izu City in the Izu Peninsula and is the more interesting for using another famous local farm product!

It was also awarded the Izu Peninsula Geopark label!

The name, “Umeera” means “very tasty”!

It is made with fresh water collected in deep sea water currents of the Izu Penisula and New Summer Ornages cultivated in Izu Prefecture!

Classified as liqueur in Japan
Rice white lees shochu, pure rice alcohol, Izu Peninsula New Summer Oranges, sugars, deep-sea fresh water
Single distilling method
Alcohol: 25~26 degrees

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. strong summer oranges
Body: very fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack. Deep new Summer oranges
Lingers for quite a while on the palate with more soft of the same oranges and rice spreading over the palate.
Changes little with food if for a slightly sweeter turn.

Overall: another rare, elegant and intriguing shochu!
Drinks like a fine strong aperitif distilled alcohol or liqueur.
Very elegant liqueur, but low enough in alcohol to enjoy at ease.
Would well poured on a cassata ice cream!
Will do very with asparaguses, salads, and seafood in Western gastronomy!
Another splendid gift to offer anywhere in Japan and overseas!

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

Bandai Brewery, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka Shochu, Shuzenji, wasabi, Wasabi Shochu

Shizuoka Shochu Tasting: Wasabi Shu by Bandai Brewery

February 7, 2018 dragonlife Leave a comment

It has been quite some time since I enjoyed the only true shochu made with wasabi in Japan, namely Wasabi Shu (can also be pronounced “Wasabi sake”)!

it is made by the only sake brewery/shochu distillery in Izu Peninsula in Shuzenji, Izu City!

Although made with rice shochu and wasabi essence it is sold as a liqueur for various lawful reasons!

Classified as liqueur in Japan
Rice white lees shochu, wasabi essence (20%)
Single distilling method
Alcohol: 20 degrees

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: dry and fruity. mild wasabi
Body: very fluid
Taste: dry and fruity attack.
Soft and mild wasabi
Lingers for quite a while on the palate with more soft wasabi and rice spreading over the palate.
Changes little with food if for a drier turn.

Overall: A rare, elegant and intriguing shochu!
The rare kind that even ladies would drink straight at any time of an evening or of a celebration.
Thoroughly enjoyable at any temperature or on the rocks, although best on its own.
Probably best enjoyed on its own as a nightcap but will go with any Japanese food, especially sashimi and light vegetables dishes.
Will do very with asparaguses and oysters in Western gastronomy!
A splendid gift to offer anywhere in Japan and overseas!

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Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

美食, Drinks, 酒, 静岡県, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Sake Brewery, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shochu, Tourism

Shizuoka Shochu Tasting: Takashima Brewery-TBL Eau-de-vie Rice Shochu

November 12, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

Takashima Brewery, which is primarily a sake brewery in Numazu City, Eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, Is making itself another name with its superlative shochu. Using thier sake white lees, they have already put no less than four different brands on the market!
TBL stands for Takashima Brewery Limited and Eau-de-vie (“Life Water”) is French for Life Spirits!

At 255 alcohol (not 25 degrees) it is pretty heady but normal as far as alcohol content is concerned!
My dear friend Sissi will be glad to hear about another shochu from Shizuoka Prefecture!

Rice Shochu made with ginjo sake white lees as well as rice and rice kouji.
Yeast: Shizuoka NEW-5
matured for 1 year
Alcohol: 25%

Clarity: Extremely clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Comparatively mild and discreet. Dry. Fruity: notes of bananas and custard.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Strong well-rounded dry attack warming up back of the palate.
***Tasted at room temperature: Dry and fruity.
Complex. Faint bananas and dry almonds.
Strong and pleasant alcohol.
very elegant approach. Disappears quickly on a softer note with more dry almonds.
***Tasted on ice: Reveals new facets as it gradually warms inside the mouth.
Bananas, macadamia nuts, hints of dark chocolate.

Overall: Extremely elegant sake white lees (riceis a different license!), typical of Takashima Brewery!
Can be thoroughly enjoyed on its own or poured over plenty of ice.
Great with Perrier or any high quality mineral water.
No need to mix it with anything else!
A shochu for all seasons and both genders! Shochu loving ladies will find it very elegant!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

美食, Drinks, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Iwata City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shochu

Shizuoka Shochu Tasting: Senju Brewery/Distillery-Ginjo Shikomi Honkaku Shochu 37

September 9, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Once again Sissi should be interested with this shochu made in Shizuoka!

it is a shochu made by Senju Brewery/distillery in Iwata City with sake lees.
Apparently making shochu directly from rice requires a different license! Otherwise it still can be called a rice shochu although by law it is a sake white lees shochu!

Sake (rice) white lees
Yeast: Shizuoka yeast
alcohol: 37 degrees

Clarity: very clear
Color: transparent
Aroma: distinctly fruity and extremely complex. Pears, nuts, vanilla, custard, almonds, umidofu (tofu variety)
Body: fluid
Taste: Very well-rounded and fruity attack.
Strong alcohol but very elegant and easy to drink.
Complex and very difficult to catch.
Dry chestnuts, dry custard, pears, fresh cream.
Stays very dry on the palate but tends to disappear on a sweeter note, this being certainly due to the variety of yeast used to make the sake whose white lees have been distilled into that shochu.
Extremely sophisticated for a shochu!

Overall: Best enjoyed on its own despite the strong alcohol at room temperature.
The distillers advise to enjoy it straight on plenty of ice.
At the most could be mixed with water.
Anything else would be tantamount to infanticide!
Drink it away or before/after a meal!
The perfect nightcap? Mind you it is strong so better use a chaser before hitting the sack!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

焼酎, 美食, 酒, 農業, Fujinomiya City, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shochu, Tourism

Shizuoka Shochu Tasting: Fujinishiki Brewery-Kaguyahime no Sasayaki Mugi/Grain Shochu

August 7, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Fujinishiki Brewery in Fujinomiya City at the foot of Mount Fuji distills the only “Mugi Shochu”, that is a shochu made from grain/barley in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Extremely-reasonably priced but nonetheless extravagant mugi shochu, it makes for a nice present with its box!

Grain; Barley
Yeast: grain yeast
Alcohol: 25 degrees

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Rich and fruity. Faint banana, almonds.
Body: Fluid
Taste: Solid and fruity attack.
Complex and sophisticated: bananas with a late appearance by almonds.
Very refreshing in spite of the the strong alcohol.
But for a beginning on an almost sweetish note, it will abandon you on a drier note with hints of nuts.

Overall: There is no need whatsoever to mix it with water!
Pour it on plenty of ice and sip it slowly!
Can be enjoyed at any time in the afternoon and evening as an aperitif or as a digestif.
Drinks most splendidly on a warm summer night!
Drink it slowly as it is dangerously tempting!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

焼酎, 美食, 酒, 観光, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Numazu City, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shochu, Tourism

Shizuoka Shochu Tasting: Takashima Distillery-Brewery: Dai Ippoh

June 7, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Takashima Brewery in Numazu City does not brew only superlative Japanese sake but also distill some incredibly extravagant rice shochu as well!
Their latest jewel is Dai Ippoh!

When you look at the simple calligraphic design you will understand it represents the nearby Mount Fuji!

Dai Ippoh/第壱峰 (old-style calligraphy) means “The First Peak”!

Alcohol: 25 degrees
Ingredients: Rice and rice malt

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Transparent
Aroma: Almost sweetish and spicy. Alcohol. Rice.
Body: Fluid
Taste: At first sweetish and complex attack.
Dry dark cherries.
Turns quickly drier.
Does not linger long in mouth or under palate.
Very clean, elegant and fruity approach.
Alcohol impact relatively soft with fruits appearing with each new sip.

Overall: A very elegant rice shochu which should be drunk on its own first at room temperature without ice or water for a true appreciation and taste discovery.
All the qualities and more of a superlative rice shochu.
Varies little with food.
At the most pour it over a lot of ice but there is no reason to mix with anything!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,