Shochu brand "SHOCHU X" has begun sales of "RINWA-", which is undiluted spirit aged for 10 years in a kame (jar) at an alcohol content of 58 percent, via its official LINE account (https://lin.ee/cjQcXdj). It has a mellow yet rich flavor, with a sweet aroma and spicy nuances derived from kame aging.

From "SHOCHU X," a brand that continues to challenge the creation of new shochu while preserving the traditional umami of Japanese shochu, comes "RINWA-". This spirit is distilled using proprietary techniques, maximizing the umami of barley, and then aged for 10 years in kame (jars). It has an alcohol content of 58 percent, yet possesses a mellow, rich flavor without harshness, and a captivating aroma. The palate offers a pleasant taste with the distinct umami of barley complemented by vanilla and spicy nuances from kame aging, leaving a sweet fragrance even in the empty glass.

We recommend savoring it neat first, taking a small sip and letting it gently coat your tongue. If the alcohol content feels too strong, try a "twice-up" by adding an equal amount of natural water (at room temperature) to "RINWA-". This will allow you to enjoy a different aroma than when drunk straight.

The existence of whiskey and brandy served as a hint in the development of "RINWA-". A key characteristic common to these two highly regarded spirits is "distillation" and "aging." By thoroughly pursuing these two elements in shochu, the brand arrived at using the 58% undiluted spirit, stored in a mere 240 liters, from Tenpyo, a distillery in Fukuoka Prefecture that aims to "create authentic barley shochu that can be proudly presented to the world."

While shochu is typically distilled once, "RINWA-" undergoes two separate distillations using different original stills to achieve its unique aroma and flavor. The resulting spirit is then aged in kame for 10 years. As authentic shochu is legally limited to an alcohol content of 45% or less, the 58% "RINWA-" is classified as a spirit. However, through double distillation and a decade of aging, a new entity has been born, opening up new possibilities for shochu.