North Kyusyu Sake and Shochu Awards 2014
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 2014 North Kyusyu Sake and Shochu Awards drew 108 entries from 51 breweries in the Ginjo-shu category, 87 entries from 50 breweries in the Junmai-shu category, and 143 entries from 42 distilleries in the Honkaku Shochu category. Quality evaluations were conducted on September 17 (Honkaku Shochu), September 26 (Junmai-shu), and September 30 and October 3 (Ginjo-shu).
※In Japanese, Sake has two meanings. One is alcohol Beverage. The another is seishu, Japanese traditional sake.
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 during a meal? |
| Honkaku Shochu | Does it balance distinctiveness, fragrance, and flavor considering the quality characteristics resulting from differences in ingredients (such as barley and rice), distilling methods, etc.? |
The prizewinners and numbers of entries were as follows.
1 Prizewinners
Ginjo-shu category
There were 19 Gold Prize winners, with the Grand Prize going to BANDAI DAIGINJYO brewed by the KOBAYASHI SHUZO CO.,LTD.
| Prize | Prefecture | Tax Office | Manufacturer Name | Brand name | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prize | Fukuoka | Kashii | KOBAYASHI SHUZO CO.,LTD | BANDAI DAIGINJYO | Ginjo-shu |
| Gold Prize | Fukuoka | Kurume | CO.,LTD. ISONOSAWA | ISONOSAWA | Ginjo-shu |
| HANANOTSUYU CO.,LTD. | RYOURAN | JunmaiGinjo-shu | |||
| WAKATAKEYA SAKE BREWERY | WAKATAKEYA | Ginjo-shu | |||
| Amagi | SHINOZAKI CO.,LTD. | KUNIGIKU JUNMAIDAIGINJO | JunmaiGinjo-shu | ||
| Yame | CO.,LTD TAKAHASHI SYOUTEN | SHIGEMASU | Ginjo-shu | ||
| Tikusi | OGASYUZOU KABUSHIKIKAISYA | DAIGINJYO CHIKUSHINO | Ginjo-shu | ||
| Saga | Saga | TENZAN SHUZO CO.,LTD | HITENZAN | Ginjo-shu | |
| YAMATO SHUZO CO.,LTD. | DAIGINJO HIZEN TOUJI | Ginjo-shu | |||
| Karatsu | KOMATSU SAKE BREWING CO.,LTD | MANREI | Ginjo-shu | ||
| NARUTAKI−SYUZOU CO.,LTD. | JYURAKU-TAIKO | Ginjo-shu | |||
| Tosu | AMABUKI SHUZO CO.,LTD | AMABUKI JUNMAIDAIGINJOU AIYAMA | JunmaiGinjo-shu | ||
| Imari | MATSUURAICHI SAKE BREWING CO.,LTD | MATSUURAICHI | JunmaiGinjo-shu | ||
| Takeo | GOCHOUDA SHUZO CO.,LTD. | AZUMA ICHI | Ginjo-shu | ||
| SETOU SHUZO.CO.,LTD. | DAIGINJO AZUMACHOU | Ginjo-shu | |||
| FUKUCHIYO SHUZO CO.LTD | NABESHIMA DAIGINJO | Ginjo-shu | |||
| Nagasaki | Sasebo | IMAZATO SHUZO CO.,LTD. | ROKUJUYOSHU | Ginjo-shu | |
| UMEGAE SHUZO CO.,LTD. | UMEGAE DAIGINJYO | Ginjo-shu | |||
| Shimabara | AIMUSUME SHUZO JOINT STOK COMPANY LIMITED | AIMUSUME JYUNMAIDAIGINJYO | JunmaiGinjo-shu | ||
| Hirado | FUKUDA BREWERY CO.,LTD. | FUKUTURU・NAGASAKI BEAUTY | Ginjo-shu |
Quality evaluation in the Ginjo-shu category
A great many of the entries exhibited an outstanding balance of gorgeous fragrance and mature smooth taste. The entries were divided into two sub-categories for quality evaluation-Ginjo-shu and Junmai Ginjo-shu-and they were further grouped according to their aromatic ingredients as determined in advance by analysis using the gas chromatograph shown on the left.
Junmai-shu category
There were 19 Gold Prize winners, with the Grand Prize being awarded to 『MIYANOMATSU』 from the MATSUO SHUZOJO GENERAL PARTNERSHIP.
| Prize | Prefecture | Tax Office | Manufacturer Name | Brand name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prize | Saga | Imari | MATSUO SHUZOJO GENERAL PARTNERSHIP | MIYANOMATSU |
| Gold Prize | Fukuoka | Nishifukuoka | SHIRAITO SAKE BREWERY | TANAKA SIXTYFIVE |
| Kurume | ASAHIGIKU SHUZO CO.,LTD. | ASAHIKIKU | ||
| CO.,LTD. ISONOSAWA | SHUN | |||
| HANANOTSUYU CO.,LTD. | JUNMAI HANANOTSUYU | |||
| HIYOKUTSURUSHUZOU CO.,LTD. | JUNMAISHU HIYOKUTSURU | |||
| WAKATAKEYA SAKE BREWERY | TOKUBETSU JYUNMAI WAKATAKEYA | |||
| Iizuka | KANHOKUTO SHUZO CORPORATION | JUNMAI GOKUJOH KANZAKE KIHEITA | ||
| MIZUHOGIKU SHUZO CO.,LTD. | MIZUHOGIKU | |||
| Yame | KITAYA CO.,LTD | KITAYA | ||
| Saga | Saga | MADONOUME SHUZO CO.,LTD. | TOKUBETSUJUNMAI MADONOUME | |
| YAMATO SHUZO CO.,LTD. | JUNMAI HIZEN TOUJI | |||
| Karatsu | NARUTAKI-SYUZOU CO.,LTD. | JYURAKU-TAIKO | ||
| Imari | KOIMARI SYUZO CO.,LTD | KOIMARI SAKI ZENRYOYAMADANISHIKI JUNMAISYU | ||
| UNLIMITED PARTNERSHIP HIWATASHI SHUZOJO | JUNMAISHU MARICYO | |||
| MATSUURAICHI SAKE BREWING CO.,LTD | MATSUURAICHI | |||
| Takeo | IDE SHUZO CO.,LTD. | TORANOKO | ||
| GOCHOUDA SHUZO CO.,LTD. | AZUMA ICHI | |||
| Nagasaki | Sasebo | UMEGAE SHUZO CO.,LTD. | UMEGAE JYUNMAISHU | |
| simabara | YOSHIDAYA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | SEISEN SEKIJYOU WO NAGARU |
Quality evaluation in the Junmai-shu category
The diverse field preserved the flavors of their rice ingredients while offering a diversity of other characteristics, ranging from deep flavors to smoother palate impressions and refreshing aftertastes, all ideal for sake taken with a meal. The entries were warmed for evaluation using the equipment shown on the left.
Honkaku Shochu category
Gold Prizes were awarded to 15 distilleries, with WARAMUGI from TANOSHIMARU SHUZO CO.,LTD. taking the Grand Prize.
| Prize | Prefecture | Tax Office | Manufacturer Name | Brand name | ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Prize | Fukuoka | Kurume | TANOSHIMARU SHUZO CO.,LTD. | WARAMUGI | Barley |
| Gold Prize | Fukuoka | Omuta | MENO SHUZO CO.,LTD. | SHODAI CHUKICHI | sake lees |
| Kurume | EIRIN SHUZO CO.LTD | NAO RAI | Barley | ||
| KENJOU CO.LTD | SENNENNEBOUSUKE | Rice | |||
| HANANOTSUYU CO.,LTD. | YAMANOKA | perilla | |||
| FUKUTOKUCHO CO.,LTD. | SARO | refined green tea | |||
| Amagi | YEBISU SHUZOU CO.,LTD. | FUKUTOKUEBISU | Rice* | ||
| SHINOZAKI CO.,LTD. | KENJYOU | Barley | |||
| Yame | KITAYA CO.,LTD | KUROKOJI MUGI YOSAKU | Barley | ||
| CO.,LTD TAKAHASHI SYOUTEN | SHIGEMASU DAIGINJYOU SAKEKASUSHOCHU | sake lees* | |||
| NISHIYOSHIDA SHUZOU CO.,LTD. | TSUKUSHI KURO | Barley | |||
| FUKUSHIMASYUZOU CO.,LTD. | YOSAKU | Barley | |||
| Saga | Imari | MUNEMASA SHUZO CO.,LTD. | NONNOKO KURO | Barley | |
| Nagasaki | Fukue | GOTOURETTOU SHUZO CO.,LTD. | GOTOUMUGI | Barley | |
| Hirado | FUKUDA BREWERY CO.,LTD. | CASUTORI NAGASAKI BEAUTY | sake lees* | ||
| Iki | CO.LTD IKINOHANA | IKINOHANA | Barley |
*indicates matured shochu stored for a long time.
Quality evaluation in the Honkaku Shochu category
The entries ranged from those offering a balance of fragrant aroma and full-bodied taste produced by atmospheric distillation to lighter, more quaffable shochu distilled under reduced pressure, and everything in between. The different ingredients and production and storage methods used gave each an individuality that reflected the character of its maker. For quality evaluation, the entries were poured into clear glasses and labeled to show details such as ingredients and distillation method.
2 Numbers of entries
(1) Ginjo-shu cateogry
| Sub-category | Ginjo-shu | Junmai Ginjo-shu | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | |
| Fukuoka | 19(19) | 29(29) | 14(14) | 24(24) | 24(24) | 53(53) |
| Saga | 18(15) | 25(22) | 8(8) | 11(11) | 18(16) | 36(33) |
| Nagasaki | 8(8) | 12(14) | 6(6) | 7(7) | 9(9) | 19(21) |
| Total | 45(42) | 66(65) | 28(28) | 42(42) | 51(49) | 108(107) |
Numbers in previous year shown in parentheses
(2) Junmai-shu category
| Prefecture | Breweries | Entries |
|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka | 24(23) | 45(42) |
| Saga | 19(17) | 30(30) |
| Nagasaki | 7(6) | 12(10) |
| Total | 50(46) | 87(82) |
Numbers in previous year shown in parentheses
(3) Honkaku Shochu category
| Primary ingredient, etc. | Barley | Rice | *Other ingredients | Matured shochu stored for long time | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | |
| Fukuoka | 15 | 27 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 12 | 19 | 22 | 83 |
| Saga | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 12 |
| Nagasaki | 13 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 48 |
| Total | 31 | 52 | 12 | 15 | 24 | 38 | 24 | 38 | 42 | 143 |
*Entries made primarily from other ingredients broke down as follows (distilleries/entries):
sake lees (8/11), sweet potato (7/10), sesame seeds (2/4), buckwheat (2/3), carrot (1/2), water chestnut (1/2), refined green tea (1/1), perilla (1/1), potato (1/1), Japanese millet (1/1), Job's tears (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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | Breweries | Entries | |
| Fukuoka | 15 | 28 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 26 | 10 | 16 | 24 | 82 |
| Saga | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 16 |
| Nagasaki | 12 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 50 |
| Total | 31 | 51 | 17 | 21 | 27 | 42 | 21 | 34 | 46 | 148 |
*Entries made primarily from other ingredients broke down as follows (distilleries/entries):
sake lees (11/16), sweet potato (8/14), buckwheat (2/3), sesame seed (2/3), potato (1/1), green tea (1/1), kudzu (1/1), perilla (1/1), carrot (1/1), water chestnut (1/1).
Note: Sake lees include Ginjo-shu sake lees.