BREWERY | LOCATION

MARUO HONTEN | KAGAWA

CLASSIFICATION

Junmai • Pure Rice Sake

Yamahai • Traditional yeast starter method

Muroka • No charcoal filtration

Nama • Unpasteurised

Genshu • Undiluted

Maruo Honten was founded in 1885 in Kotohira near the Konpira Shrine (a famous pilgrimage site) in Kagawa prefecture. The current Kuromoto (brewery owner) is Maruo Tadaoki who has been owner & Toji since 1999. The main sake brand produced at Maruo Honten is called Yorokobi Gaijin. These sake are incredibly rare to find in Japan as they are revered in the sake community and sell out almost instantly once they are released. They are so far incredibly difficult to find outside of Japan as Maruo-san has never officially exported directly. Since 2013 we have purchased a small allocation from one of the first bottle shops in Takamatsu to carry the Yorokobi Gaijin brand. We then ship them to Australia and put them away for ageing until they are ready to drink. A costly exercise but one in which we believe is worth the effort and patience, as the drinker is rewarded with some of the most stunning sake being produced in Japan today.⁠

The Kameno-o rice used to make this sake is sourced from a single grower Iwate prefecture. In 2017 the entire production was just 980kg which Maruo-san then purchased the whole harvest to make this sake as he has done for several years. We have aged this sake since release and after 5 years resting in our temperature controlled warehouse, we are excited to release these wonderful products at the perfect drinking age. A pungent savoury, nutty, cheesy nose leads to a full and round palate with a hint of sweetness and layers of complexity and length. Layered and complex this Sake will only soften and gain from some exposure to air.

YEAR: 2017

RICE TYPE: Kameno-o (Organic)

RICE POLISHING: 70%

ALCOHOL: 18.5%

YEAST STRAIN: Kumamoto #9

SERVE: Chilled or Room Temperature

SIZE: 1800ml

RARE: This product is extremely limited