Let’s see the Satsuma shochu warehouse in Kagoshima.

[shochu Kingdom] Kagoshima. The reason is?

Satsuma shochu is a very famous product of Kagoshima.
Especially since the shochu trend started in the 2000s, it has Satsuma shochu became a standard.This liquor is often found in liquor stores and Izakaya restaurants throughout Japan as much as japanese Sake or Beer.
Shochu is a kind of distilled liquor that has been made for a long time in every place in japan.
It is made with various raw materials such as wheat, rice, and Koji, but depending on the distillation method, it can be divided into [Authentic shochu] that retains the aroma derived from the raw materials.
Satsuma shochu generally refers to Authentic shochu with a rich sweet scent.

Special product [Satsuma shochu] representing Kagoshima
[Shoko Shuseikan]

The creater of Satsuma shochu is [Nariakira Shimazu]

The Satsuma shochu was created in Kagoshima in the mid 19th century.
Shimazu Nariakira became the head leader of Satsuma pass (Current kagoshima ken) in 1951, and promoted a western style industry called the [shuseikan project] as part of the [Fukoku kyohei] .
Among them was the development of western style guns, especially as a means of securing a large amount of alcohol necessary for the production of gunpowder explosives. Therefore, they developed a shochu made of potato rather than the original rice shochu.
Originally, it was produced for industrial use, but later it became popular as a special product of Satsuma due to quality improvements.

The machine factory of the Shuseikan business that currently exists as [Shoko Shuseikan] 

Satsuma shochu made from high quality sweet potato

Kagoshima's abundant natural bounty is the reason behind the low cost production of soy shochu in Satsuma (Kagoshima). 
It’s said that the sweet potato originates in South America, but it was transmitted to Southeast Asia after the Great Voyage era, and it came to Kagoshima and ended up in Okinawa. 
Kagoshima's land contains well-drained volcanic ash, which is very ideal for sweet potato production, and over 30% of the domestic sweet potato production is still from Kagoshima Prefecture.
Sweet potatoes are made in an ideal environment that has very high quality and can be eaten as they are for regular cooking. It can be said that Kagoshima has developed as the shochu Kingdom.

Sweet potato field on the Huge land of Kagoshima

Let’s Visit the Brewery of Satsuma shochu

There are currently 114 breweries in Kagoshima. Many facilities are accepting tours all the time, but now we are going to introduce three breweries spots that have permanent facilities.

Satsuma Brewery Hanatagawa Distillery [Meijizo]

Satsuma Sake Brewery is a Brewery in Makurasaki city in the southern part of the Satsuma Peninsula. 
The Shochu brewery has continued since the Meiji Era, and is still used as an active factory, and at the same time it’s open to the public as a museum called [Meijizo] with the facilities for visitors.

[Meijizo] a series of shochu breweries from Meiji era 

The facility also displays a wealth of antique tools that were actually used to make shochu, including a diorama describing the making of shochu. 
Above all, the huge coal boiler that reminds us of that head of the steam locomotive is very impressive.
This is a valuable historical document created by Fukumatsu Kanemoto, who was called [ japan’s first welder]

Coal boiler like staem locomotive

In addition, the large distiller that makes you feel the huge historical feeling is an active distiller.
Meijizo’s unique hand-made shochu is created by using these special tools.

Kiso distiller and pots indispensable for the hand made shochu

Huge pots are embedded in the floors in the large hall by artisans from the Meiji era.
Also, during september to december, you can see the actual preparation by artisans up close.

If the timing is right, you can see the preparation work up close

■Recommended brands of Satsuma Brewery

[Satsuma shiranami] is the representative of Satsuma sake brewery. This one has a firm and deep sweetness and strong potato fragrance. This is recommended for those who want to enjoy the unique addictive flavor of shochu. The Meijikura store also has original brands sold only here.

Satsuma Sake Brewery’s main brand [Satsuma shiranami]

Satsuma sake brewery manufactures barley shochu and soba shochu along with the traditional satsuma shochu.
The most unique one is a sweet potato beer ( Happoshu under the liquor Tax law). There are three types of products, including the pilsner type beer and a black type beer.

They also have  [Satsuma Red] [Satsuma Gold] [Satsuma Black]

Satsuma kinzangura Distillery［Hamadasyuzou Group］

Kagoshima ken (prefecture) has many gold mines and gold is still mined on a commercial scale here. Hamada sake Brewery is a brewery that uses the former site of kushikino mine, one of those gold mines for making shochu.
A part of the tunnel had been producing gold for more than 300 years until it closed down in the 1990s, it is now open to the public as [Satsuma kinzangura]

Satsuma Kinzangura is bulit at the Kushino mine site

This is a trolley that heads to a tour tunnel. If you run through the “real” orbit used from the gold mine era, you will feel like an adventurer in the world of Indiana Jones. 
With tax included it is 720 yen for adults and 310 yen for children (3-12 years old). 
Reservations are not required, but there are 4 flights a day (10:30 / 11:30 / 13:30 / 14:30) so don't forget to check in advance if you would like to board.

Get on the trolley and go to the tour mine

You will be guided by a guide that introduces the history of Kinzan Inside of the tunnel. On the tour route, the genuine tools and machines used by the miners and the mined ore are displayed in their original state.

The equipment used for mining gold ore still remains in the mine

The temperature in the tunnel is around 19 ° C throughout the year, and it feels cool in summer time and warm in winter time. 
A stable environment with constant temperature and humidity and no UV rays is actually very ideal for making shochu. In the back of the pit, huge pots for aging are lined up far beyond sight.

Aged pots are lining up along the tunnel

■Recommended Shochu Brands by Satsuma kinzangura Distillery 

The main brand of Satsuma Kinzangura is  [Kinzangura] of course this is Satsuma shochu matured in a pit. This one has a fruity sweetness and mellow flavor, it is also recommended for beginners of shochu. In the shop attached to the facility, you can sample several shochus, including Kinzangura.

A Brand "Kinzangura" representing Satsuma Kinzangura.  

Hamadasyuzou Group is also producing Kagoshima's only sake, “Sashuu Masamune”. It is highly recommended to try the sake produced by Kagoshima's top-class shochu maker.

[Sashuu Masamune]  is the only one Japanse sake produced in Kagoshima 

Shirokane Sake Brewer [Ishikura Museum]

Shirakane Sake Brewery is the oldest brewery in Kagoshima Prefecture. It was founded in 1869.
There is still an anecdote that Ishikura, which is now open to the public as the “Ishikura Museum”,  and there was a story about famous Samurai Takamori Saigo that visited here and bought all the shochu from the warehouse during the 1877 Southwest War.

[Ishikura Museum] where you can visit Ishikura, where Takamori Saigo also visited

The Thick Beam in the ceiling makes you feel the long history.

The pottery bottles that are displayed on the wall are actually used in the past. The old Satsuma shochu was sold in such a ceramic jar instead of a glass jar before. On the exhibition floor, there are many panels and video materials that introduce the process of making shochu, and historical materials that introduce the relationship between Kura (houseware) and Takamori Saigo.

Ceramic shochu bottles that were actually used  before are lined up

One of the exhibits contains a virtual reality experience. 
You can learn the manufacturing process of shochu while enjoying the celestial sphere movie. 
In addition, there are many hands on exhibitions, such as a distillation experience like a scientific experiment, and making stained glass using crushed shochu bottles, so you won’t have time to get bored!

VR experience section where you can enjoy shochu making with spherical video

■A recommended brand of Shirakane Sake Brewer

The main brand of Shirakane Sake brewer, Shirokanenoro, is a long seller that has been on sale since 1912. 
It features the original sweetness and umami of Potato, and a refreshing mouth with no miscellaneous taste.  This is one for people who want to have a real potato Shochu in daily bases.

Shirokanenoro is a top brand of Representative Shirokane Sake Brewer

Another characteristic of Shirokane Shuzo is that there are many products that are sensitive to the needs of the times. 
The “shochu for highball” that has been uniquely tuned to match the highball. This product should be used instead of whiskey as the base of the highball.

Shochu for highball「Platina Barrel」

How to enjoy Satsuma Shochu by Experts

The appeal of Satsuma shochu is that you can enjoy a variety of styles to suit your individual taste.
However, for shochu beginners, you will be concerned about how to drink the authentic experts. Here, we will introduce the recommended way of drinking, which was spoken to by a spokesperson for Hamada Sake Brewery who is an expert with Satsuma Shochu.

[Rock]

Shochu on the rock is served in a glass with a large piece of ice. Not only can you taste the most original taste of shochu but also enjoy the slight change in taste as the ice melts.

lighted taste and easy to drink [Rock]

Mix with hot water

This is the best way to enjoy the scent of the potato satsuma shochu. In Kagoshima, the preferred method of drinking is to pour hot water of about 80 ° C into a cup and then slowly add shochu. This is the best way that you can enjoy the scent. The ratio of hot water and shochu is your preference.

Satsuma shochu flaver will stands out if you mix with hot water

Mix with cold water

This is another way to enjoy shochu at your favorite ratio. It’s also a great benefit that it’s easy to adjust the taste and physical condition because the shochu is put in the glass first and water is poured later. If you mix the shochu with the water the day before and let it sleep overnight, you can enjoy a more mellow flavor.

You can easily adjust how you prefer [Shochu mix with water]

There are also so many ways to drink, such as carbonated mix, green tea mix, and cocktails based on Satsuma shochu to suit your taste. Try the different mixes to find the best way to drink for yourself!