Nishihira Shuzo, a distillery on Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture, has released 'Mashu,' an exceptionally rare 50-year-old vintage, unusual for brown sugar shochu. It is available online in a limited edition of 50 bottles.

Amami brown sugar shochu is produced exclusively in the Amami Islands, the only region in Japan where its manufacture is permitted. Known as a rare Japanese spirit, it harnesses the blessings of the rich climate and soil of the islands, which are also a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, along with Amami's unique traditions and culture.

Its aroma, reminiscent of molasses, the mellow umami from rice koji, and a crisp finish create a flavor profile entirely distinct from other shochus, embodying the condensed essence of the islands' terroir.

Serena Nishihira has been appointed the new representative of Nishihira Shuzo, a distillery that has been crafting this brown sugar shochu for 94 years. To commemorate the appointment of Amami's only female Toji (master brewer) in the male-dominated world of sake brewing, the secret vintage 'Mashu' has been released online.

'Mashu' is named after a woman who lived on Amami Oshima during the Meiji era. Thomas Waters, who achieved great things in the civil engineering industry, had a lover named 'Mashi-san.' Nishihira Shuzo, with its slogan 'Connecting the World and Amami with Brown Sugar Shochu!', named the vintage 'Mashu' with the hope that it would become a bridge to overseas markets, mirroring the connection between Waters and Mashi-san.

The oldest vintage in Nishihira Shuzo's current collection is 'Mashu.' Representative Nishihira herself describes its allure, saying, 'It's a taste that conveys a sense of dignity, like the confidence gained from 50 years of aging.'

We invite you to savor this exceptionally precious vintage.