I recommend this for old and aged Japanese sake! ! Vintage-filled [Monthly recommended store ranking] results announced!

8th Monthly Oshizo Ranking

■8th ranking theme
``What is the recommended aged sake? ”

■Voting period
①Primary voting: 10/20-23
②Final vote: 10/25-27

Just as value is found in vintage whiskey and wine, aged sake and old sake are also attractive and valuable.

Aged sake is a type of Japanese sake that has existed since the Kamakura period.
The dazzling amber and golden color of this beautiful sake continues to fascinate connoisseurs even today.
Admire its brilliance, take your time and enjoy the taste that has matured over many years... and soak in the aftertaste after swallowing...
This is the best part of aged sake! !

In this ranking, there are a lot of unique aged sakes!
We will introduce you to some trivia about aged sake, so you are sure to find your favorite bottle.♪

What is the monthly recommended store ranking?

What is the monthly recommended store ranking?“User voting type sake media”It is.
For each theme, everyone“I recommend it the most!”We will compile and announce the recommended stores that we felt!

By voting from everyone, you will be able to know the real "Oshizo" of each rather than the trend.
Why not discover recommended sake and sake breweries through this ranking and make your daily sake life even more enjoyable?♪

Voting benefits [present plan]

As a voting benefit, 3 people will be chosen by lottery from among the voters."Hands-on Sake - Recommended Sake"to deliverPresent planImplemented! !

This time we will deliver these three books.♪

・Onogawa (Akita) Junmai Daiginjo summer sake
・Shinami Sake Brewing Store (Iwate) Hiroki Zodiac Label 2024
・Uozu Sake Brewery (Toyama) SONOMAMA (as is)

The winners will be announced every time after the monthly Oshizo rankings have been tallied.Hands-on SAKE SNSWe will announce it!

After voting, people asked themselves, ``Will my favorite sake brewery come out on top?'' ``Will the giveaway sake win?''The appeal of the Monthly Oshizo Ranking is that you can enjoy double excitement and excitement.♪
Please feel free to vote!

8th monthly recommended brewery ranking TOP3 results announced!

TOP3 of the 8th Monthly Oshizo RankingHere it is! !

This time it was a close battle with 3 warehouses tied for 1st place! !

And these three breweries are allSake breweries that participated in Hands-on SAKE's online sake brewery study abroad programThere is also! ! I'm really happy that it's getting attention again like this.♪

"Aging"There are many sake breweries that specialize in this field, and each produces matured sake with distinct characteristics and individuality, so it's no surprise that they won the award in a tie.

By the way, the results of the TOP 10 below 4th place were as follows!

Now, we will introduce the oshigura and oshisake that won the top 3 rankings, so we hope you will find them even more appealing and use them as a reference when choosing aged sake in the future.♪

[1st place] Enoki Sake Brewery

Founded in 1899.
The legendary excavated by Kiyomori Taira"Ondo no Seto"The brewery is located in Ondo-cho, Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, which is known for its sake.

Representative brands are"Hanahato"and"Kiyomori"。
The name of the sake ``Hanahato'' comes from the name of the place ``Hatooka'' where the brewery is built, and the first sentence of an old Japanese language textbook (Hanahato Yomihon)."Hana, pigeon, bean, trout..."Because of this, it is said that the name "Hanahato", which everyone knows, was given.

In addition, since Ondo-cho has ties to the Heike family, they have been brewing ``Kiyomori'' since its founding, but at the time Taira no Kiyomori did not have a very high historical position, so they focused on ``Hanahato'' and positioned ``Kiyomori'' as a secondary.

Currently, the brewery is managed by the fourth generation brewer, President Toshihiro Enoki.
President Enoki's personality is exactly that of a ``Hanabato'', full of dreams, passion, and kindness.
“Hanahato” can be described in one word.“Sake with a gentle and gentle taste”。
We aim to create a relaxing drink that you can drink when you're tired and feel relieved.

In addition, Hanahato's sake brewing is carried out with the following three missions in mind.

1.　Creating alcoholic beverages that everyone can enjoy and feel good about

2.　Creating opportunities to enjoy, enjoy, and talk about alcohol

3.　Creating a kind, considerate, and rich heart

We continue to take on challenges to expand the enjoyment of sake, and provide alcoholic beverages that serve as a lubricant for tipsy communication.
This expands the circle of people and makes those who drink Hanahato feel relieved and happy.

Enoki Sake Brewery is a ``kind and considerate'' sake brewery, with the hope that through Hanahyo you can find some peace of mind.

Hanahyo's synonym "Kijoushu"

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Hanabato is"Kijoshu"Probably.

Kijoshu is an alcoholic beverage developed by the National Tax Agency Brewing Research Institute in 1973 as a ``luxury sake unique to Japan'' to be used at state guesthouses and other guesthouses where guests from overseas are invited to toast with sake.
"High-quality sake that is compared to noble wine"It was named ``Kijoshu''.

The biggest feature of Kijoshu isPrepare using sake (junmai sake) instead of waterBy the way.
The color is bright amber, and the taste is rich, mellow, and sweet.
It has a rich and rich flavor like raisins and nuts, but it has a more sour taste than regular alcohol, and although it is sweet, it has a surprisingly refreshing aftertaste.

Enoki Shuzo was the first sake brewery in Japan to brew this Kijoshu!
In 1974, the third generation brewer, Toru Enoki,
“I want to try new sake that no one has tried before and expand the range of sake.”
With this in mind, we started working on manufacturing.

At the time, dry sake was the norm, but sweet Kijoshu, which had a sake content of -50, was not easily accepted.
However, due to the never-give-up spirit of its predecessors and the diversification of food culture, Kijoshu gradually gained recognition, and the world's largest sake fair was held in London."IWC (International Wine Challenge)"In the aged sake sectionTrophy winner for 5 consecutive yearsThis led to the company's rise to becoming a sake that is recognized around the world.

Kijoshu used to have a high demand from overseas, but now Kijoshu fans are established in Japan as well.“For Kijoshu, go to Hanahato!”It continues to fascinate many people.

*By the way, speaking of Hanahato's Kijoshu, Hands-on SAKE's sake-specific crowdfunding will be launched in 2023."SAKE Crafan"A project in collaboration with Hanabato“Kijoshu x Barrel Aged”Don't forget.

Details can be found here♪

↓　↓　↓

“Kijoshu x Barrel Aged” A new challenge for Enoki Sake Brewery, the birthplace of Kijoshu

Recommended aged sake “Hanahato Kijoshu 8 Years Storage”

A luxurious and unique bottle of Kijoshu that has been aged for over 8 years.

This sake is thick and sweet, and you can enjoy the mellowness of aged sake, giving it a luxurious feel similar to sherry, Madeira, or high-quality Shaoxing wine.

Of course, it's very popular among alcohol drinkers from all over the world and the few old sake enthusiasts, but it's also popular with women because of its taste and ease of drinking!

It goes perfectly with rich dishes such as foie gras, cheese, braised pork, and tempura.
You can also enjoy the rich sweetness with chocolate, or as an adult dessert by pouring it over ice cream.♪
The super soothing taste is also recommended as an after-party drink after drinking spicy alcohol!

■Voters' recommendations■

Mr. C.K/Fukuoka Prefecture

It is a sake that can be enjoyed both as Kijoshu and Aged Sake.
It's melty and sweet, and it's great on ice cream! I will continue to support you.

■Hanahato Kijoshu 8 years storage specifications■

[Enoki Sake Brewery]
〒737-1205
2-1-15 Minamiinto, Ondo-cho, Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture
TEL: 0823-52-1234
FAX: 0823-51-2238
MAIL: info@hanahato.ocnk.net
HP:https://hanahato.ocnk.net/

[1st place] Shiraki Kosuke Shoten

Aged old sake"Daruma Samune"Kosuke Shiraki Shoten is known for its
We have been brewing old sake for over 50 years."Pioneer of aged sake"It is.

Founded in 1835.
In the northern part of Gifu City, where the countryside spreads and a tributary of the Nagara River flows through.I will set up a storehouse.
Since its foundingThe brewery was brewing sake under the name "Kinsei," but in 1891 (Meiji 24), the brewery collapsed in the Nobi earthquake that hit the Mino region of Gifu Prefecture.
When rebuilding, we will remember the Dharma of falling down seven times and getting up eight times."Daruma Masamune"It was renamed to.

Currently, "Daruma Masamune"We brew a brand called ``Usuzumizakura.''

“When it comes to old sake, it’s Daruma Masamune.”Shiraki Kosuke Shoten's main product is old sake, but why did they choose to make old sake?

Its origins date back to the 1960s, when the sixth generation brewer, Zenji Shiraki, was in charge.
At that time, drinking local sake was the norm for evening drinks.
Eventually, television became popular and commercials from major sake brewers started playing, and local liquor stores started selling it, and the local sake that had been selling well until then gradually stopped selling.

In order to overcome this situation, the sixth generationUnique sake breweryI start thinking about it.
Then, by chance, he found a forgotten one-sho bottle in a corner of the storehouse.
When he gingerly opened a bottle of Japanese sake that had probably been around four or five years old, he was captivated by the unexpectedly beautiful golden color and the taste, which was completely different from his usual Japanese sake.He found hope in aged sake.

Then the challenge to revive old sake begins.
The 6th generation sake brewer, who started out with no knowledge of the brewing method, tried different types of sake every year, such as sweet Junmai sake and dry Ginjo sake, and spent many years verifying the results.
Every year, we make several varieties and let them mature without selling them.
And it's a long journey, with the intention of seeing the results five or ten years from now.

This long road to sake brewing was not easy.

From the surroundings,

“I save money without selling alcohol.”
“Shiraki-san is crazy.”
"Weird person"

I heard a voice from the government office that has jurisdiction over liquor tax.

"Let's sell alcohol quickly and pay taxes."

That's what I was told.

However, the sixth generation owner, who pinned his hopes on the revival of old sake, didn't care.
If we were concerned about this, we would not be able to make old sake.

After overcoming various obstacles and steadily aging over the years, it was possible to put sake on the market as 3, 5, and 10 year old sake in the 1975s.
Although it was not well received when it first went on sale, it gradually gained the understanding of sommeliers, buyers, and other people, and has now become well-known around the world as a representative brand of vintage sake, winning numerous awards at domestic and international competitions.

Currently, Shiraki Shiraki, the seventh generation brewer and representative employee, is carrying on the wishes of the sixth generation and making the brewery more exciting. Common name"Samantha"A lively brewery popularly known as .
Together with her husband, Toshi Shiraki, who serves as the brewer, they work together to preserve the tradition of Daruma Masamune's sake brewing.

Directly from President Shiraki“How to enjoy old sake”Introducing♪

Recommended aged sake “Daruma Masamune 20 Year Old Sake”

20 Year Old Sake is a particularly rich type of old sake from Daruma Masamune.Sake made by Kosuke Shiraki Shoten, which has been working on aged sake for over 50 years.It is.

It is a blend of four types of alcoholic beverages that have been aged for over 20 years, and has a mellow sweetness, yet a strong core flavor.
The aroma is complex and deep, with notes of brown sugar, caramel, and maple syrup.
The deep, deep sunset-like color has a profound feel that makes you feel twenty years old.
We recommend enjoying it at room temperature or lukewarm, neither too cold nor too warm.

■Voters' recommendations■

Mr. C.S/Fukuoka Prefecture

Speaking of aged sake, it is Daruma Masamune. I compared sake aged for 3 years, 10 years, and 20 years, and all of them are matured sakes that have a sweet taste and are gentle on the tongue.
As I drink this drink, I can think of all the dishes I want to eat, such as bitter chocolate, sweet potato cake, rich braised pork, and Chinese food. Also, Daruma-san on this label is super cute!
Recommended for those who love cooking and eating♪

■Daruma Masamune 20 year old sake■ 

[Shiraki Kosuke Shoten]
〒501-2528
61 Kadoyamon, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture
TEL: 058-229-1008
FAX: 058-229-1010
HP/Online shop:https://www.daruma-masamune.co.jp/

[1st place] Ochishuzo

Founded in 1885 in Saeki City, a gourmet town located in the southernmost part of Oita Prefecture, Kyushu.
It has long been popular as a purveyor of sake to the Mori family, which ruled the Saeki clan.

Such a historic sake brewery was also faced with a succession problem during the era of the fifth generation brewer, Shoichi Daichi.Risk of going out of businessI fall into this.
Ikeda, the current sixth-generation brewer, heard about Daichi Sake Brewery's predicament.Respect” Mr.“We must preserve Saiki’s sake and shochu culture for future generations”I stood up.

President Ikeda, who jumped into Daichi Sake Brewery, learned sake brewing under the fifth generation, and in 2019 (Reiwa 1) decided to take over the brewery as a form of business succession.
He then invited his younger brother, Tsukasa Ikeda, who had experience making sake at several sake breweries, as the chief brewer, and restarted the new Daichi Sake Brewery.

In search of better water, which is most important in sake making, we relocated our brewery from Funatocho, Saiki City to Kamiura, and have been producing sake in our new brewery since 2020.

With a fresh start, Shinsei Daichi Sake Brewery will create a new type of sake."So that everyone who drinks it will smile"This was born with the hope that"Hanaemi"It is.

As mentioned above, Saiki City, Oita Prefecture is a gourmet town blessed with both seafood and mountain delicacies.
That's why I have special feelings towards food.
What kind of alcohol should you use to make your meal 120% satisfying?

“Sake with a mild aroma and deep flavor”。

Don't interfere with your meal, don't get tired of drinking, enhance your food, and enjoy the synergistic effect with alcohol.
That's the kind of alcohol I try to drink.

At Daichi Sake Brewery, we have a number of commitments to sake brewing.
First, for the preparation water“God’s water”We use groundwater (soft water) from Gyoran Falls, which is said to be famous for its water.
The raw rice used is Yamada Nishiki, grown in-house, and locally grown rice grown by contracted farmers, and the producers' feelings and love are put into the sake.

Also,“Alcohol that touches your heart and leaves a lasting memory”Aiming forThe amount of koji used is higher than usual.
As the amount of koji increases, the amount of time and effort required increases, but in order to create sake that impresses, sake is produced without sacrificing time or effort and without compromising on taste.

Recommended aged sake “Zuiho 30 Year Old Sake”

``Zuiho''” is a legendary brand from the now defunct Daichi Sake Brewery that was loved by the local community for a long time.
During World War II, when the aircraft carrier Zuiho docked in Saiki, he heard rumors of good sake and stopped by a sake brewery, which led to the name being given to him.

In January 1995, a large fire broke out in the warehouse.
In a hopeless situation, with most of the equipment on fire,Only Zuiho is miraculously safe.It was.
Since ancient times, sake breweries have had a culture of worshiping gods with particular importance, but whether by coincidence or by necessity,The Zuiho that had been stored was under the altar.

30 years have passed since then.
After a sufficient aging period, this aged sake has been miraculously revived in limited quantities!

The color is a beautiful amber with a shine, and the aroma is mellow and rich like maple.
The taste is very mellow, with a deep flavor similar to sherry or high-quality Shaoxing wine.
It has a miraculous taste that has matured with the history of the brewery.

Hitoshi Ohno, a young brewer at Daichi Sake Brewery, decided to share the charm of this 30-year-aged sake with everyone.

Through 30-year-old sake, which is unusual in the industry, Mr. Ohno
“One of the charms of Japanese sake is the way its taste changes over time! ”
I was impressed.
Hands-on SAKE's crowdfunding service is based on the desire for everyone to experience this same feeling."SAKE Crafan"It is still fresh in my memory that the project was implemented.

*You can see the details of the project here.
↓　↓　↓

[Japanese sake aged 30 years] A miraculous gift from our predecessors

■Voters' recommendations■

Mr. C.S/Fukuoka Prefecture

This is a sake I encountered at Hands-on Sake Kurafan.
Even though it has been aged for 30 years, it has a jewel-like clear amber color that makes you fall in love with it. This old sake has a beautiful aroma, a light texture, and is gentle without any harshness.
I thought it would be a waste if only I knew about this taste, so I gave it to my father as a gift for his birthday!

■Zuiho 30 year aged sake specs■

[Daichi Sake Brewery]

〒879-2601
277-1 Asamiiura, Kamiura, Saiki City, Oita Prefecture
TEL:0972-48-9388
FAX: 0972-48-9387
HP:https://oochi.saiki.jp/

List of sake breweries voted in the first round and their favorite voices

A total of 14 breweries were nominated in this first round of voting!
Check out the results of the first round of voting♪

There's quite a lineup, and all the brands seem to have matured well!
Surprisingly, there are many sake breweries that are brewing aged sake, and I think this shows that they are seeing new possibilities for sake.

Even when it comes to aged sake, the characteristics vary depending on the brewery, so I recommend sampling and comparing them to enjoy their charms.♪

voice of encouragement

Mr. N.U/Kanagawa Prefecture

[Oshizake: Kido Izumi Brewery Treasured Junmai Old Sake 20 Years]
“A 20-year-old product that has reached maturity.”
This is a 20-year-aged pure rice sake that generously uses Yamada Nishiki, the top rice suitable for sake brewing.
Kido Izumi Sake Brewery's aged sake has a mature and dignified aroma, and the deep, long-lasting umami is exquisitely intertwined to create a dish that you can enjoy while enjoying the lingering after-dinner taste!

Mr. T.N/Nagano Prefecture

[Sake: Kuze Sake Brewery Choko Daigin 10 Chosei Mai]
A Daiginjo old sake made by fermenting Yamada Nishiki with hard water and fermenting it at low temperatures for 10 years.
This was the best aged sake I've ever had.♪

Mr. S.F/Aichi Prefecture

[Oshizake: Kikuhime Kikurihime Ginjoshu]
I became a fan the moment I took a sip of this Kikurihime! It's like you don't even feel like you've drunk anything.
The splendor of Ginjo and the aroma and taste that come from aging make it the perfect sake to represent Kikuhime.

Mr. K.N/Saga Prefecture

[Oshizake: Tenzan Sake Brewery, Tenzan Junmai, all-malted rice, aged for 20 years]
How the aroma and flavor spreads. Storing it at a low temperature allows it to age elegantly and is the best.
It's delicious at any temperature, from cold sake to hot sake.

Trivia about aged Japanese sake

In order to convey the appeal of aged sake to those who are not familiar with aged sake and those who are already hooked,“Long-term aging sake research group”I would like to introduce some trivia based on the materials!
There are unexpected discoveries and ways to enjoy it, so you might be able to recommend it even more.♪

*The Long-Term Aged Sake Study Group is a voluntary organization formed by sake brewing companies that was established in 1985 for the purpose of exchanging technology and developing markets for the production of aged sake.

What is aged sake?

At the long-term aging sake research group,"Sake that has been aged at the brewery for three years or more, excluding sugar-added sake"is defined as aged sake.

Aged old sake is not a "specific name sake" such as ginjo sake, junmai sake, or honjozo sake, soThere are no regulations regarding label display.。
For this reason, we have established a definition to make it easier to understand for consumers who want to drink aged sake.

After drinking long-term aged sake,“Sobering”It is characterized by
In the Edo period [Kunmo Yogon Monogatari],
"New sake only gets you drunk in the head. Aged sake leaves you feeling so pleasantly intoxicated that your entire body feels hydrated."
It is written.
The gentleness on the body and the gentleness of the taste are unique to aged sake.

History of aged sake

Aged Japanese sake has a long history.In a letter sent by Nichiren Shonin to his followers during the Kamakura period,
``You should doubt the path to Buddhahood of a woman who can spread old wine that can squeeze people's blood into the path of the Buddha Lotus.''
There are descriptions such as these, indicating that aged sake was treated as a valuable item even back then.

Also, in the literature of the Genroku period,
"When you get drunk on old sake, it's like the Gion Festival..."
Aged old sake has been a part of Japanese culture since ancient times.

However, it was imposed during the Meiji era."Stone tax"As a result, aged sake will disappear from the world.
The stone tax is a very harsh tax system that imposes a tax on sake as soon as it is squeezed.
When sake is aged in a sake brewery, a stone tax must be paid first before the sake is aged, so many sake breweries have stopped storing aged sake.

After the war, the stone tax was abolished, but it seems that it will take a lot of time for the once-lost culture of aged sake to be revived.

Type of aged sake

Aged old sake is generally classified into types based on the following three points.

1. How to brew
2. How to store and age
3. Years of aging

With this in mind, let's take a look at the types of aged sake!

How to enjoy aged sake

Basically, we recommend drinking it at the ripening temperature.
(Dark ripening: room temperature, light ripening: low temperature, etc.)。
Aged old sake is a type of alcoholic beverage that allows you to enjoy its taste as it changes over time and temperature, so it is best to enjoy it slowly and carefully, rather than adding more to it right away.

First, pour the aged sake into a glass, hold it against the light, and see the beauty of its sparkling color.
Next, shake the glass and bring it up to your nose to feel the unique aroma, then take a sip.
Feel the rich harmony of gentle texture and aroma, and enjoy the lingering taste as it changes.

In addition, it is a liquor that goes well with a wide range of foods, and goes well not only with Japanese cuisine, but also with Chinese and Western cuisine, desserts, and more.

In addition to the above, there are various ways to drink it, such as warm, with soda, and in cocktails, so please try finding your own way to enjoy it.♪

Breakdown of ranking voters

By age group

gender ratio

place of residence

Sake consumption frequency

Summary

How about some recommended aged sake?♪

This time

[1st place (tie)]
・Enoki Sake Brewery
"Hanahato Kijoshu 8 years storage"

・Shiraki Kosuke Shoten
“Daruma Masamune 20 Year Old Sake”

・Daichi Sake Brewery
``Zuiho 30 year aged sake''

This is the result.

Aging Japanese sake is not something you just need to spend time on.It is a product of the experience and technology of sake breweries, and its value should be recognized worldwide.
Including the 3 breweries that won first place this time, we once again appreciate the wonders of Japanese sake brewing technology and the charm of aged old sake.I think you could feel it!

Please refer to this ranking result and step into the fascinating world of aged sake.♪

We would like to continue to spread the ``Oshikura culture'' in the future, so please look forward to the next monthly Oshikura ranking!

You can view past monthly recommended store ranking articles here!
↓　↓　↓

List of past monthly recommended storehouse ranking articles

Which sake would you choose for your last drink of the year?

■Next theme: What is the recommended aged sake?
■Recruitment period:①Primary Oshizo voting period: November 20th to 23rd
② Final voting period: November 25th to 27th (everyone votes for the favorite brewery voted for in ①)

“Then this is definitely the place to go!”If you think so, please join the ranking and vote!
We look forward to your vote!

How can I participate in the monthly ranking?

“I want to spread my Oshizo more!” “I want to share my Oshizo with other people!” etc.
If you are interested in the monthly recommended store ranking, you can easily vote by following the steps below.

Would you like to work together to create a ``Oshigura culture'' and boost the sake industry?

It doesn't matter how famous you are or what prefecture you live in.
We are looking forward to your vote.♪

■Monthly Oshizo ranking recruitment period
①Primary Oshizo voting period: From 20th to 23rd of every month
② Final voting period: 25th to 27th of every month (everyone votes for the favorite brewery voted in ①)
■Tally announcement: Announced on each SNS and website at the beginning of every month.
■Presentation location：
・Hands-on SAKE Instagram
・Aisake Cream Instagram
・Hands-on SAKE HP

STEP 1

Register Hands-on SAKE official LINE.

STEP 2

Open the "Monthly recommended brewery ranking" tab in the menu and tap "Vote for this month's recommended brewery ranking."

STEP 3

Enter the voting details for the primary storehouse.

With the creator"Connect"
The thoughts of the creator"Peek"
our worldview"Spread"

Cheers with a hands-on pose again next time!

Jun sake writer While I am involved in manufacturing, I am also a sake writer.
I discovered the deliciousness of Japanese sake and was completely hooked.
I would like to spread the culture of sake by all means.♪

Hobbies: Glasswork, traveling, futsal

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