[Iwate Prefecture] What is Asakai? Introducing new ways to enjoy sake from a long-established sake brewery in Iwate

Asakai is a long-established sake brewery run by Nanbu chief brewer Masahiko Fujio, who was selected as a contemporary master craftsman at the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Award in 2005, so if you are a sake lover, you may have tasted the sake at least once. I think there are many.

In this article, we will introduce a fun story about Asakai, a long-established store, that will make you feel a little more familiar.

Asakai ?

Asakai was founded in 1871 by Genzo Murai, the seventh generation samurai of the Nanbu domain, who quit being a samurai and started brewing sake in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture.

In preparation for his new start as a samurai as a merchant and the dawn of a new era, the Meiji era, he named his storehouse after a waka poem in the Manyoshu, ``Asakai,'' which is a phrase used in a song about ships rowing in the early morning. It is said.

Due to the award history including the 2021 National New Sake Appraisal Gold Award, there is an image that it is a long-established sake brewery that is difficult to enter, but Masahiko Fujio's philosophy is ``1 koji, 2 moto (sake mash), 3 zukuri (moromi)''. Based on this, we brew a wide variety of sake to meet diversifying needs.

Another characteristic of the website is that it clearly states the ``alcohol content'', ``rice polishing ratio'', ``sake content'', and ``recommended drinking method and temperature'' for all sake, making it easy for even sake beginners to understand.

Reference: Asakai Co., Ltd. official website “Product lineup”

Introducing episodes that will make you feel more familiar with Asakai

I've found three episodes that will help you feel more familiar with Asakai, so I'd like to introduce them to you.

[Episode 1] Making cooking sake

Did you know that Asakai not only makes sake for drinking, but also cooking sake?

Asakai's cooking sake is called ``Junmai Ryorisake Bizen Kensho,'' and it is made from Hitomebore grapes grown in Iwate Prefecture without relying on additives such as salt.

During moromi making, which is one of the processes for producing Japanese sake, there is a process called danjikomi, in which koji and steamed rice are added to the shubo or moto, which was made in the previous process.

Normally, the tiered preparation is done in 3 stages, but in ``Junmai Ryori Sake Bizen Kensho'', the preparation is done in 5 stages to increase the amino acids that are the source of umami. It can be said to be characteristic.

Authentic cooking sake made in a sake brewery brings out the flavor of the ingredients.

When drinking Asakai, it may be a stylish way to drink it by making a snack using ``Junmai Ryorisake Bizen Kensho''.

Reference: Asakai Co., Ltd. official website “Junmai Cuisine Sake Bizen Kensho”

[Episode 2] Making shochu

When we think of shochu, we tend to think of it as being made by specialized shochu makers, but there are several sake breweries that make rice shochu using advanced sake brewing techniques, and Asakai is one of them.

Asakai's shochu is a shochu made by re-fermenting and distilling fresh ginjo lees that have been fermented within a week of ginjo sake, so it can truly be said to be a shochu born from sake.

You can enjoy the aromatic aroma of Ginjo lees, so we recommend drinking it chilled and on the rocks.

Reference: Asakai Co., Ltd. homepage “Pot distilled liquor lees shochu 43%”

[Episode 3] Drinking comparison set is fun

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Asakai has a directly managed online shop called ``Gensanya'' on Yahoo! Shopping and Rakuten Market, and its drinking comparison set is very popular, especially on Rakuten Market, where it has been consistently ranked in the annual rankings since 2007. .

From the trial size of 300ml bottles x 5 bottles, which are suitable for small drinks, to the voluminous set of 4 x 720ml bottles x 8 bottles, there is a size range that can be enjoyed by everyone from sake beginners to full-fledged sake drinkers. .

There are also tasting sets that are particular about taste, such as the "Suijin" set, which is famous for its dryness among Asakai, and the raw unprocessed sake set, so you can find a set that suits your needs.

If you are trying Asakai sake for the first time, we recommend purchasing a comparison set first.

Reference: Yahoo! Shopping “Gensanya”

Reference: Rakuten Market “Gensanya”

summary

Asakai is a long-established sake brewery led by Nambu Chief Brewer Masahiko Fujio, and with an attitude of creating sake that meets the needs of our customers, we continue to provide a wide variety of sake that many people can enjoy. I understand.

Please refer to this article and find a way to enjoy Asakai that suits you.

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