Present sake to new starters♪A special feature on popular alcoholic beverages to give to colleagues at a farewell party! [12th Monthly Oshizo Ranking]

12th Monthly Oshizo Ranking

■12th (final) ranking theme
“What sake would you like to give to your colleague at a farewell party? ”

■Voting period
①Primary voting: 3/1~3
②Decisive voting: 3/5-7

This is the last time for the monthly ranking of recommended breweries that started in April last year.
The theme of the final episode is[Sake to give to colleagues at a farewell party]！！

As the new year approaches, this is the season to celebrate the new beginnings of colleagues and friends.
Why not try putting the cheer of success in your new world into sake?
We have carefully selected the best sake suitable for a bright departure, so please refer to the ranking results and give it as a gift.♪

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, 4 people will be chosen by lottery from among the voters."Hands-on Sake - Recommended Sake"to deliverPresent planImplemented! !

This time, we will randomly deliver 3 types from 6 sake bottles from Akita and Iwate.♪

・Onogawa (Akita Prefecture) Tenka Heart Label Junmai Ginjo Unfiltered Raw Akita Sake Komachi 180ml
・Onogawa (Akita Prefecture) Tenka Flame Label Special Junmai Unfiltered Unprocessed Sake Dry 180ml
・Onogawa (Akita Prefecture) Tenka Sugitama Label Junmai Ginjo Unfiltered Unprocessed Sake First Shibori 180ml
・Onogawa (Akita Prefecture) Tenka Junmai Ginjo Unfiltered Raw Akita Sake Komachi 180ml
・Shiwa Sake Brewing Store (Iwate Prefecture) Hiroki Junmai Ginjo First Shibori 180ml
・Shiwa Sake Brewing Store (Iwate Prefecture) Shiso Junmai Ginjo Heart Label 180ml

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!

12th Monthly Oshizo Ranking TOP3 results announced!

TOP3 of the 12th Monthly Oshizo RankingHere it is! !

It's finally here!"Fourteen generations"！！
This is the final episode of the Monthly Oshizo Ranking and it is the first to appear.Takagi Sake Brewery (Yamagata Prefecture)is a clear 1st place!
``Juyondai'' is a popular brand that is so difficult to obtain that it is said to be a phantom sake.
Its fruity and elegant sweetness has always captivated the hearts of drinkers, making it a great gift to give to someone special!

The 2nd place winner was a legend in the Japanese sake world.Shinmasa Sake Brewery (Akita Prefecture)！
Like Juyondai, which ranked first, it is an extremely popular brand that has always reigned at the top of the Japanese sake world, and its appeal needs no explanation.
``Ama Neko'', which stands out among Shinsei, is sure to be one that expands the range of Japanese sake!

3rd placeMori Sake Brewery (Nagasaki Prefecture)This talented sake brewer, produced by a talented brewer, has won the hearts of drinkers and has expanded his fan base all over the country!
I think the representative brand “Hiran” is the perfect alcohol for a new beginning.♪

This is the result of the TOP 10 below 4th place!
All of them are attractive sake breweries that are hard to choose, and it is a lineup that you will want to taste carefully.♪

Now, we will introduce the oshigura and oshisake that won the top 3 rankings.♪

[1st place] Takagi Sake Brewery

A supreme sake brand known both domestically and internationally"Fourteen generations"。
During the dry and tanrei boom of the Heisei era, the sudden appearance of the 14th generation, which concentrated the flavor and aroma of rice."Mellow taste"era was pioneered.
now“Phantom sake”It has become so difficult to obtain that it has become so popular that it commands a premium value in the market.

“Juyondai” is produced by Takagi Sake Brewery, which has a brewery in Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Founded in 1615 (Keicho 20).
A long-established sake brewery with a history of 400 years, the rice is suitable for brewing sake."Sake Mirai"It is also famous as the brewery that developed three types of sake rice, including .

At Takagi Sake Brewery, the head of the family has inherited the name "Tatsugoro" from generation to generation, and currently the 15th generation Tatsugoro is“Akitsuna Takagi”President.

``Juyondai'' is a brand that his father, Tatsugoro the 14th, used as old sake, and President Takagi expanded it into new sake.“Work”And for those who drink it,“I wish I could create a flavor that touches the heartstrings.”This is the idea that is put into it.

By the way, the name ``14th Generation'' was created when President Takagi's grandfather (Tatsugoro 13th Generation) applied for a patent with the names ``12th Generation'', ``13th Generation'', ``14th Generation'', and ``15th Generation'', but among the numbers that were subject to rejection, only ``14th Generation'' was applied."Toyoshiro"It was a coincidence that it was read as.

“The 14th generation” that I dedicated myself to building

President Takagi, the 15th generation chief brewer, created the current rich-tasting sake, ``Juyondai''.
It has been a desperate journey to reach the popularity it has today.

After graduating from the Department of Brewing Science (currently Department of Brewing Science) at Tokyo University of Agriculture, he became an alcoholic beverage buyer at a high-end supermarket in Tokyo.
I was passionate about my work in the distribution industry, analyzing sales and demand in my area.

In 1993, I suddenly received a phone call from my father.
"Our brewer is retiring. I am a member of the prefectural assembly, so I cannot be involved in the brewery. What will you do?"

I didn't ask him to come back, but the call was full of expectations.
Should I go back home or stay in Tokyo?
President Takagi, who was at a loss, stumbles upon a fateful glass of sake.
That's it"Photography"It is.
It stands out from the tanrei dry drink that was popular in the 1990s, and the mellow taste with the sweetness of the rice made me instantly fall in love with it.
When I was a child, the gentle scent of steamed rice that flowed from the storehouse every morning. It was ``photography'' that awakened this feeling.
Impressed by Photoraku, President Takagi resigned from his job as a buyer in the summer of the same year and returned to his hometown with the aim of producing sake with a rich and delicious taste.

However, since the brewery no longer had a brewer, he decided to make sake himself.
Although I had acquired basic knowledge about how to make rice koji and how to manage sake mash and moromi (mash) in my university's brewing department, I was completely different when it came to putting it into practice.
President Takagi's body screamed due to the extremely cold ``cold preparation'', unaccustomed physical labor, limited sleep hours, and the pressure of irreversible changes, and he finally collapsed with acute gastritis during the construction process and was hospitalized.

After that, I managed to create my first sake, and with the help of advice from my university mentor, it tasted just like I had envisioned.
The drink my father told me, "Good job," still remains today."Juyondai Nakatori Junmai Unfiltered"It continues to be manufactured as a product under the name.

The moment of relief when he finally made his first drink was short-lived, but now he had to sell it.
President Takagi frequently visited liquor stores and izakaya bars in Tokyo, helping out with customer service to the point where his suit was chafing.
Eventually, the ``mellow flavor'' sake was recognized, and the name ``Juyondai'' spread throughout the country from long-established liquor stores.

It has been 20 years since I started brewing sake.
President Takagi, who had given his life to bring the 14th generation into the world, must have reached his physical and mental limits.
In August 2012, President Takagi returned home on a humid night when he heard a dull, heavy thud and collapsed again.

It was ventricular fibrillation.
Miraculously, he survives thanks to first aid from his family and treatment at the hospital, but he is unable to continue making sake for a while and is temporarily entrusted to the sake brewer.
This led to President Takagi"Japanese sake"It seems that he has rediscovered his heart.

During his rehabilitation period, he won a gold medal at the National Sake Awards due to his teamwork with the brewer.
Won the highest award at the Tohoku Sake Appraisal, which is known to be a difficult competition.
In the consumer-conscious [SAKE COMPETITION], ``Juyondai'' won first place in the Junmai Daiginjo category, achieving triple crowns.

“Hearing without a voice, seeing without a figure”

This is the company policy of Takagi Sake Brewery.
Microorganisms such as Aspergillus oryzae and yeast, which do not speak and cannot be seen without the use of a microscope, are responsible for fermentation.
Sharpening your five senses, being close to their work, and communicating with brewers and employees will lead to good sake.
This approach to sake brewing can be said to be the basis of the deliciousness of Juyondai.

``Juyondai'' has become such a popular sake that it now commands a premium price.
However, he says that he has no plans to increase the annual production of about 2,600 koku (one koku is 180 liters).
This is because we do not mechanize everything and value the characteristic that the five human senses can make a difference.
From that belief“As a producer, I want to release only sake of a quality that satisfies me and make the people who drink it happy.”I can feel President Takagi's pride in this.

``Juyondai'' sake to give to colleagues at a farewell party

Among the many Juyondai series, the one that became a big hit was"14th generation Honmaru secret ball return"！

The 1990s, when President Takagi started making ``Juyondai'', was the time of the Ginjo boom.
Hidden in the shadows was Honmaru, a special honjozo sake that we were proud of.
It has the meaning of being the core of the castle, which is neither the second nor the third circle, but should never be attacked.If this sake is not understood by the public and collapses, the brewery will collapse as well.
There was such enthusiasm.

The name Hiden Tamagaeshi comes from the fact that the alcohol added is a pure rice lees removed shochu made in-house, and it took a lot of trial and error to achieve both a mellow and sharp taste when drunk.
We aimed to create a drink that can be easily purchased for around 2,000 yen with a rice polishing ratio of 60%.

When I was struggling to figure out how to handle this sake, which is not a ginjo sake, Hasegawa, president of Hasegawa Liquor Store, liked it, and ``Juyondai'' became famous throughout the country along with Honmaru.

■Voters' recommendations■

Mr. K.S/Iwate Prefecture

It's a drink that makes all the ingredients even more delicious.♪Especially the pairing with sashimi is the best.

[Takagi Sake Brewery]

〒995-0208
1826 Tominami, Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture
TEL: 0237-57-2131

[2nd place] Shinsei Sake Brewery (Aramasashuzo)

Shinsei Sake Brewery is located in Akita City, a city rich in greenery with the Dewa Mountains to the east and the Sea of ​​Japan to the west.

It was founded in 1852, at the beginning of the end of the Edo period, when the era was in turmoil, by the founder, Sato Uhei.
At that time, it was popular among locals as ``Uhe-no-sake'' and ``Yamau-no-sake,'' but the Meiji government's overall policy[Shinsei Kotoku]Impressed by this, he decided on the sake name.“New government (Aramasa)”Name it.

Kyokai No. 6 = Shinsei Yeast

When talking about the history of Shinsei Sake Brewery, there are two things that cannot be separated:"No. 6 Yeast"Probably.

During the Taisho era, Sato Usaburo, who would later become the fifth generation Ubei, entered the Osaka High School of Technology, which was the pinnacle of brewing studies.
His classmate was Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whiskey, and he was nicknamed ``Taketsuru of the West, Ubei of the East'' because they practiced together and achieved excellent results.

After completing his studies, the fifth generation Ubei returned to the brewery and became a brewer himself, devoting himself to research to improve the quality of sake.
With the desire to brew even better sake, the fifth generation Ubei finallyNo. 6 yeast (Kyokai No. 6 = Shinsei yeast)succeeded in making it appear in his own sake.

Shinsei Sake Brewery, which was in the process of establishing its sake brewing technology,We have achieved the feat of 3rd place in the country at the National New Sake Appraisal.
At that time, sake brewing was popular mainly in western Japan, and it was unusual for sake breweries in Tohoku to achieve good results.This led to the creation of the first cold-region yeast from Shinsei's moromi in 1930."Kyokai No. 6 Yeast"was taken.

In 1935, "Kyokai No. 6 Yeast" was finally released and quickly gained popularity, to the point that the distribution of the previous yeast No. 1 to No. 5 was forced to be discontinued.
As a result, "Kyokai No. 6 yeast = Shinsei yeast" is currentlyThe oldest sake yeastIt became.
Additionally, because fermentation could be completed even in cold regions, the trend in producing sake shifted from western Japan to Hokuriku, Shinshu, and Tohoku.

This is a series where you can directly feel the charm of No. 6 yeast, which can be said to be the history of the brewery itself."NO.6"。
If you like Japanese sake, you've probably seen it at least once!
It is Shinsei's only standard raw sake, and you can enjoy the charm of No. 6 yeast, which has different brews such as "R-type (Regular)," "S-type (Superior)," and "X-type (eXcellent)."

In search of the true nature of sake with Akita ingredients

The policy that Shinsei Sake Brewery has arrived at in the course of its journey is“Respecting regional characteristics and original sake”It was.

As a result of continuing to discover the essence of Japanese sake along with Akita ingredients, we have created brands such as the now extremely popular "No. 6", "Colors" packed with the charm of Akita's sake rice, and the innovative and bold "PRIVATE LAB".

Sake to give to colleagues at a farewell party: Shinsei Shirokoji Junmai Flax Cat

"Flax Cat" can be said to be the most unique work in the Shinsei lineup.
In addition to regular sake koji, this sake is brewed using shochu koji (white koji), which has a strong sourness, resulting in a product that allows you to enjoy a sourness that is different from that of Japanese sake.
Furthermore, it is a product that is packed with attention to detail, such as making Kimoto and preparing it in a wooden barrel.
The bottle used is a rikkatsukinagatsutsusakere, which is also unique.♪

■Voters' recommendations■

Y・N/Chiba Prefecture

The refreshing sourness seems to go well with the spring mood.
I want you to take your time and enjoy the scent that passes through your nose and the umami that can be felt even in the sourness, even on holidays.

■Shinsei white koji-trained pure rice flax catSpecs■

[Shinsei Sake Brewery]
〒010-0921
6-2-35 Omachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
TEL: 018-823-6407
FAX:018-864-4407
MAIL：info@aramasa.jp
HP:http://aramasa.jp/

[3rd place] Mori Sake Brewery

Founded in 1895.
Our warehouse is located in Hirado City, Nagasaki Prefecture, which was once known as "Philando" during the Age of Discovery and was the first port town in Japan to engage in Western trade.
At the beginning of our business, we operated under the trade name "Komatsuya",With the changing times, in the 1950s, the company was incorporated as Mori Sake Brewery Ltd. Currently, the fourth generation, Yukio Mori, is the head of the company.

Yutaro Mori, famous as a young genius master brewer

Mori Sake Brewery is famous for its representative brand ``Hiran'', but it was actually on the verge of going out of business until a few years ago.
What saved the storehouse from such a critical situation wasThis is Yutaro Mori, a young fifth-generation chief brewer.

Yutaro, who majored in brewing science during his university days, started working on restoring the aging brewery when he returned to the brewery.We have returned to the origins of sake brewing.

It is an ancient Japanese sake brewing method.“Kimoto-zukuri”introduced,Paddling, adding water, filteringwithout doing anything like that to improve the taste.Natural sake brewing that relies on the action of yeastI decided to do this.
This results inThe result is sake with a firm core, allowing you to enjoy a stable taste even after opening the bottle.

We are also particular about the raw materials, rice and water.
The water we use is the famous water that gushes out from the foot of Saikyoji Temple, which we have been using since our establishment.
The rice used is Yamada Nishiki from Hirado and Nikomaru edible rice from Nagasaki.
We believe that by not dressing up too much and using local materials, we will be able to circulate to the people who have supported the sake brewery over the years, and continue to spread the word about Hirado's climate and charm.

The sake that was born from this idea is ``Hiran”. 
Regarding the origin of Hiran, the place name of Hirado used to be that the shadow of Hirado island seen from the sea was a divine spirit that turned into a bird.It was named ``Hiran Island'' because it resembles the image of a ``Ran'' taking flight.

There are various types of Hiran, from fruity and light to light and crisp.Starting with winning an award at the National Liquor Awards, it has become so popular that it has been praised not only in Japan but also overseas, including winning the gold medal at the 2021 Clamaster in Paris.
This can also be said to be the result of Yutaro's "curiosity" and "exploratory spirit" in making sake.

Also, speaking of "Hiran", in 2023, Hands-on planned a project on a crowdfunding service specializing in Japanese sake."Our Hiran"It's still fresh in my memory!
Please also read about “Our Hiran”herePlease check it from♪

Sake “KIZUNA” that you would like to give to your colleagues at a farewell party

Earth, water, rice, storehouses, bacteria, and people are connected and continue to be woven together.

Hirado was once named ``Hiran Island'' because the island's shadow resembled the appearance of the sacred bird ``Ran'' taking flight.

``Hiran Kizuna'' is a sake brewed using water and rice grown in this historic climate, bacteria that live in the brewery, and people who have a love for sake brewing.

HIRAN's work concept“Expressing the climate of Hirado through alcohol”This is a representative drink that embodies this.

A gentle fruity and refreshing scent.
When you take a bite, the clear flavor and sweetness spread softly, and you can feel the lightness and pleasant acidity.
This is a bottle with a refreshing aftertaste that will help you enjoy the next drink.

■Voters' recommendations■

Mr. N.U/Kanagawa Prefecture

Because this is a time to say farewell, we reaffirmed the bonds we have with our colleagues who we shared both good and difficult times with, and we chose them with the hope that they will continue to play an active role in their new endeavors.

■KIZUNASpec ■

[Mori Sake Brewery]

〒859-5115
31-2 Shinmachi, Hirado City, Nagasaki Prefecture
TEL: 0950-23-3131
FAX:0950-22-4174
HP:https://mori-shuzou.jp/

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

A total of 18 breweries were nominated in the first round of voting!
Thank you for participating in the ranking this time!

voice of encouragement

Mr. S.N/Osaka Prefecture

[Sake: Raifuku Sake Brewery Raifuku Junmai Nama Genshu Sakura]
It's a seasonal sake, but the label is cute and I think it's good for the season, and best of all, it's great because you can give the name to the person you're drinking to wish them happiness.
Mr. Raifuku's alcohol is the one I choose on a daily basis for celebratory occasions or when drinking with someone.

Mr. R.I/Fukuoka Prefecture

[Oshizake: Yoshika Sake Brewery Yoshika awa sake Hakurai]
As a gift for starting a new journey.
I think it's the most delicious of all the sparkling sake I've tried, and it has a special feel to it, but the price makes it perfect as a gift.

Mr. T.H/Tokyo

[Sake: Kobayashi Sake Brewery Houou Mida ~Blue Phoenix~ THE 1st Junmai Daiginjo Honsei]
This is a drink that conveys the wish for colleagues who are about to leave their homes, to come back strong like a phoenix and like a blue flame, even if they feel discouraged by the hardships that may come their way.

Mr. M.K/Ehime Prefecture

[Oshizake: Matsuo Sake Brewery Miyanomatsu Oren first squeeze]
Due to the turbidity, the sweetness is weak, and if anything, the acidity is clear and pleasant.
Also, since it was a farewell party, I thought the word "raise the flames" was important.

Breakdown of ranking voters

By age group

gender ratio

place of residence

Sake consumption frequency

Summary

What do you think of the ranking of sake you would like to give to your colleagues at a farewell party?♪

This time's TOP3 are

[1st place]Takagi Sake Brewery"The Fourteenth Generation"

[2nd place]Shinsei Sake Brewery“Shinsei White Koji-Made Junmai Flax Cat”

[3rd place]Mori Sake Brewery“KIZUNA”

This is the result.

``Juyondai,'' which we dedicated ourselves to creating, ``Shinmasa Amaneko,'' which evolved the creativity of sake, and ``Hiran Kizuna,'' which is based on the theme of bonds.
Each one has the special thoughts of the creator, and you'll definitely want to choose one as a gift for your loved one.♪
I would be happy if we could build a culture where everyone, including the makers, the givers, and the recipients, can enjoy sake when they have it in their hands.♪

Although this is the last time for the monthly ranking of recommended sake breweries, Hands-on SAKE will continue to introduce new types of sake in the future.“Oshizo culture”We would like to spread the word, so please look forward to it.♪

Thank you very much for your participation so far!

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

List of past monthly recommended storehouse ranking articles

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 Japanese sake.♪

Hobbies: Glasswork, traveling, futsal

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