【Okinawa's oldest distillery】
ZJ282 - Masahiro Blended Whisky
Special price: $275 /bottle
Type：Whisky
Region：Japan
ABV：47%
Volume：700ml
Highlight
San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021 Double Gold
Distillery
ShoKou Shuzou Co., Ltd. is one of the oldest and largest distilleries in Okinawa, Japan. Founded in 1883 (Meiji 16), it was established by Shobun Higa, the first head of the Higa family, who obtained a brewing license from the royal court as a supplier to the Ryukyu Kingdom. Currently, the eighth head of the family, Masayasu Higa, runs the business, focusing on the production of Awamori, whisky, and gin.
ShoKou Shuzou Co., Ltd. is one of the oldest and largest distilleries in Okinawa, Japan. It was established by Shobun Higa, the first head of the Higa family, who obtained a brewing license from the royal court as a supplier to the Ryukyu Kingdom. In 1883, the first generation head, Masafumi Higa, received a brewing license from the Ryukyu Kingdom and started his business near the Shuri Royal Palace.
In 1946, the third generation head, Masahiro Higa, rebuilt the brewery after the Battle of Okinawa, moving it to Yonahara in southern Okinawa, and later to Shuri Ishimine.
In 1979, the fourth generation head established a new factory near Shuri Castle in Naha City, and in the same year obtained ISO 9001 certification, becoming the first brewery in Okinawa to receive this certification.
In 1983, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding, the Nishizaki factory was built in Itoman City, relocating the production base.
In 2018, the eighth generation head, Masayasu Higa, successfully launched Okinawa Gin, subsequently obtaining a whisky production license. This marked their first foray into craft spirits, and they began to emerge as one of the world's top whisky producers.
Distillation
Carefully selected high-quality barley, with particular attention to the protein content and enzyme activity of the malt, utilizes unique yeast strains, and controls temperature and time to produce rich flavor precursors. Traditional pot still distillation is employed, selecting only the heart of the spirit.
The maturation process leverages Okinawa's subtropical climate to accelerate the spirit's maturation in oak barrels, extracting a richer flavor profile. Staged maturation in American bourbon and European sherry casks adds further complexity. All whiskies are unfiltered and do not contain added caramel coloring, preserving their original flavor and color.
Masahiro Blended Whisky is a high-alcohol blended whisky that is a high-quality interpretation of the Okinawan terroir by a century-old distillery. With the rich sweetness of rice and the full-bodied texture of malt as its core, it retains the tropical marine terroir of Okinawa. The taste is smooth and balanced, suitable for neat drinking and highballs. It is a unique and cost-effective choice among Japanese whiskies.
