Exquisite! Iwate liquor special – Sake [north/center of the prefecture]

① Nanbu Bijin (Ninohe City)

Founded in 1903. The brewery was named Nanbu Bijin in 1952 because of its desire to produce clean and beautiful sake, using underground water from Orizume Masenkyo Gorge and locally produced rice. Currently, we are actively working on developing new technologies while preserving our traditions, such as expanding overseas and developing sugar-free liqueurs. In 2012, construction of an extension to the liqueur factory began. We are releasing a series of sugar-free liqueurs that use plums, strawberries, blueberries, and yuzu from Rikuzentakata grown in the prefecture, making this a great lineup for those who don’t like sake.

Representative brand [Nanbu Bijin]

② Fukugita (Kuji City)

“Fukurai” has been a popular local sake in Kuji since its establishment in 1908. The name contains the wish that good fortune will come to everyone, including those who drink alcohol, those who sell it, and those who make it. We also produce “Special Pure Rice Sake – Northern Ama Diary (All Iwate Sake)” and Mountain Wine (Renewal), which is easy for women to drink.

Representative brand [Fukukita]

③ Washinoo (Hachimantai City)

The brand he values ​​most is Kinjirushi, a former second grade sake. We make sake with the desire to deliver delicious sake because it is the type of sake that is consumed most often.
Junmaishu “Kitamado Sanyu” is made with a raw moto-type sake mash using fermented lactic acid bacteria, and has a deep flavor, and you can enjoy the taste that changes depending on the temperature, from cold to hot.
Ginjo sake such as “Sui” and “Kurato Sake” have a clean taste unique to Nanbu chief brewers, and Junmai Ginjo sake made from Iwate Prefecture’s “Yui no Ka” rice, which is suitable for sake brewing, has received high praise in competitions both domestically and internationally. Masu.
In addition, the freshly squeezed unprocessed sake “Shiboritate Genshu” sold during the winter season is a long-selling product that has been on sale for nearly 40 years, and is perfect for the cold season in Iwate Prefecture.

Representative brand [Washinoo/Kurado Sake]

④ Kiku no Tsukasa Sake Brewery (Shizukuishi Town)

Kiku no Tsukasa Sake Brewery is the oldest sake brewery in the prefecture, with a 250-year tradition. The main brands they represent are “Kiku no Tsukasa”, “Shichifukujin”, and the Nama Sake series “innocent”. The Kiku no Tsukasa wishes to be able to become a ruler in the world of sake like the chrysanthemum flower, which can be called the ruler (king) of flowers, and that the Seven Lucky Gods pray to the seven auspicious gods of good fortune and virtue. It was put on. Sake made using underground water from Mt. Iwate is characterized by its deep flavor and pleasant aftertaste. It is a sake that can be enjoyed with a variety of dishes and situations without losing its flavor even when warmed.

Representative brands [Kiku no Tsukasa, Seven Lucky Gods, innocent]

⑤ Asakai (Morioka City)

Established in 1898, Asakai is a sake brewery that has won the Gold Award 23 times since the Heisei era at the 2021 National Sake Awards. As the name suggests, it was named at the beginning of the new Meiji era when it was founded, and it is said to have been named after the word “asakai,” which means “to start rowing.” As a representative sake brewery in Iwate, it has always pioneered new eras. You can tour the sake brewery as a tourist brewery, and sample many types of sake at the attached shop, “Jisake Bussankan.” In addition, the non-alcoholic Amazake and Daiginjo soft serve ice cream are popular items that even children can enjoy.

Representative brand [Asakai]

⑥ Akabu Sake Brewery (Morioka City)

Founded in 1891. This is a long-established brewery that has been in business for over 100 years from Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture. In 2013, a new brewery was built in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, and young people, mainly the young 6th generation, gathered under the slogan of “Creating a new history for Akabu Sake Brewery.” They understood the sake brewing style that suited the times, and without compromise, We are creating AKABU, a sake brewed with passion, love, and guts from Iwate. We strive to create sake that is evolving day by day, with the aim of producing sake that will be passed down into the new era. This year, even more so than last year, we will continue to work hard to provide you with sake that is always aiming for the best.

Representative brand[AKABU、浜娘]

⑦ Sakuragao Sake Brewery (Morioka City)

A sake brewery founded in 1909. The name sakura-gao comes from the way the cheeks turn a slight cherry blossom color when drunk. Sake, which is characterized by its rich flavor and gorgeous aroma, has been loved by the locals for a long time, as most of it has been consumed within Iwate Prefecture since its founding. “Morioka SAKE Spa Ring” is a sparkling sake branded with the local “Morioka”. Its elegant sweetness and refreshing sourness make it a product that can be enjoyed by men and women of all ages and generations.

Representative brand [Sakura Face/Northern Lover]

⑧ Tsukinowa Sake Brewery (Shiwa Town)

Tsuki no Wa Sake Brewery was founded in 1898 and is located in Shiwa Town, one of Japan’s leading producers of sticky rice. The name Tsuki no Wa comes from the historic site “Tsuki no Wa” located in Jingaoka Historical Park in the same town, and the company produces Junmai sake using 100% glutinous rice, which is said to be unsuitable for sake brewing. Gelato made with rice koji from Wakasaya Ice Cream Garden, a direct sales store of Tsukinowa Sake Brewery, is also popular. *Gelato business 10:00-17:00, closed on Wednesdays. During the winter season (November to March), only Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are open.

Representative brand [Moon Ring]

⑨ Shiwa Sake Brewery Store (Shinami Town)

Shiwa Sake Brewery was founded in 1902 in Shiwa Town, the birthplace of Nanbu Chief Brewer. “Hiroki” was born as “a sake that is widely enjoyed by many people” and is popular as the brewery’s representative brand. We use underground water from Mt. Azumane, one of the three Shiwa Sanzan mountains, to brew sake in an old-fashioned way that takes advantage of Iwate’s rice, water, and nature. In addition, behind the brewery, we are cultivating Ginginga, a rice suitable for Iwate’s sake breweries. The company name was changed on October 12, 2020.

Representative brand [Hiroki]

[Sake Brewery Tour] Reservation required

●Support period: All year round (closed on Wednesdays, December 31st to January 3rd)

●Visit hours: 9:00-16:00

●Time required: 20 minutes

●Capacity: 1 person ~

●Application: Reservation required, free

●Note: https://www.shiwa-shuzoten.com/fieldtrip/

⑩ Azumine Sake Brewery (Shinami Town)

Azumine Sake Brewery, located in Shiwa-cho, roughly in the center of Iwate, was founded in 1781, in the middle of the Edo period. Inheriting the mainstream of Nanbu-ryu sake making, we strive to make sake with care and attention to every step of the preparation process. With the theme of “Iwate-like” sake and sake brewing, please try the sake refined using the traditional techniques of Nanbu chief brewers.

Representative brand [Azumine/Yuraku]

⑪ Takahashi Sake Brewery (Shiwa Town)

Founded in the Edo period. At first, he operated a koji shop, and then opened a sake brewing business in 1921. Takahashi Sake Brewery’s signature brand, “Horinoi,” was named after the famous “Horigome no Ido,” which draws high-quality underground water from the Ou Mountains. We own a dedicated rice field for sake brewing, and are particular about producing “locally-rooted sake” that is handcrafted from rice cultivation to production.

Representative brand [Horinoi]

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