The North Kyusyu(Kyushu) Sake and Shochu Awards are held annually by the Bureau to rate and showcase the quality of seishu sake and honkaku single-distilled shochu brewed in the three prefectures under its jurisdiction (Fukuoka, Saga, and Nagasaki) with the aim of promoting advances in brewing technology and sake quality so as to assist the development of these prefectures’ sake industries.
The 2018 North Kyusyu Sake and Shochu Awards drew 108 entries from 48 breweries in the Ginjo-shu category, 85 entries from 47 breweries in the Junmai-shu category, and 118 entries from 38 distilleries in the Honkaku Shochu category. Quality evaluations were conducted on September 19 (Honkaku Shochu), September 21 (Junmai-shu), and September 27 and October 3 (Ginjo-shu).
For the taste test, entries were assessed on the following criteria.
Category | Tasting criteria |
---|---|
Ginjo-shu | Does it have the refined fragrance, harmonious flavor, and balance of taste and aroma expected of a Ginjo-shu? |
Junmai-shu | Does it have the rich taste and smoothness expected of a sake drunk with a meal? |
Honkaku Shochu | Does it balance distinctiveness, aroma, and flavor considering the quality characteristics resulting from differences in ingredients (such as barley and rice), distilling methods, etc.? |
For the names of the winners, etc., please refer to the attachment "List of Prize Winners".
Sub-category | Ginjo-shu | Junmai Ginjo-shu | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | |
Fukuoka | 13(17) | 19(27) | 16(15) | 24(23) | 20(22) | 43(50) |
Saga | 15(18) | 22(26) | 14(11) | 21(16) | 19(20) | 43(42) |
Nagasaki | 8(7) | 12(12) | 7(5) | 10(7) | 9(8) | 22(19) |
Total | 36(42) | 53(65) | 37(31) | 55(46) | 48(50) | 108(111) |
Numbers in previous year shown in parentheses
Prefecture | Breweries | Entries |
---|---|---|
Fukuoka | 23(23) | 42(43) |
Saga | 17(17) | 31(28) |
Nagasaki | 7(7) | 12(12) |
Total | 47(47) | 85(83) |
Numbers in previous year shown in parentheses
Primary ingredient, etc. | Barley | Rice | *Other ingredients | Matured shochu stored for long time | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Distilleries | Entries | Distilleries | Entries | Distilleries | Entries | Distilleries | Entries | Distilleries | Entries | |
Fukuoka | 13 | 23 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 23 | 10 | 17 | 21 | 74 |
Saga | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
Nagasaki | 10 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 36 |
Total | 26 | 41 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 31 | 19 | 31 | 38 | 118 |
*Entries made primarily from other ingredients broke down as follows (distilleries/entries): sweet potato(8/12), sake lees(6/9), buckwheat (1/2), sesame seeds (1/2), carrot (1/1), chestnut(1/2), japanese millet (1/1), water chestnut (1/1), pumpkin(1/1) Note: Sake lees include Ginjo-shu sake lees.
Primary ingredient, etc. | Barley | Rice | *Other ingredients | Matured shochu stored for long time | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Distilleries | Entries | Distilleries | Entries | Distilleries | Entries | Distilleries | Entries | Distilleries | Entries | |
Fukuoka | 14 | 25 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 11 | 18 | 21 | 75 |
Saga | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
Nagasaki | 11 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
Total | 28 | 47 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 34 | 20 | 34 | 39 | 129 |