This Hyakunen No Kodoku ("100 years of solitude", a reference to Gabriel Garcia Marquez's famous book) is an aged mugi shochu (barley shochu). It comes from the Kuroki Honten distillery. This highly reputed distillery is based in Takanabe, Miyazaki prefecture. The two barley varieties used in its production are Haruka Nijo and Haru Nijo. They are grown organically on the company's own farm.
White koji (shirokoji) is prepared on a barley base. This is contrary to current practice, which calls for a rice base. We are therefore dealing with 100% organic barley shochu. Distillation takes place under atmospheric pressure, in a single pass through a traditional alembic. Aging in sherry casks for 3 to 5 years, and bottling at high proof, make this shochu an exceptional product. The color is lightly filtered, as the shochu specifications prohibit overly pronounced hues.
It can be drunk neat, like a whisky, but also "on the rocks", or even diluted 50-50 with water to accompany a meal.
Nico's tasting notes
The nose of this shochu is still caught in the fibers of the cask, and only begins to show itself after a few seconds. A few mischievous spices are the first to poke their heads out, followed by a velvety ribbon of vanilla. Barley surfaces too, peppery and coated with red fruit tannins.
Aeration delivers all the aromas of wood, with vanilla, soft oak, sweet spices and coconut. The barley rests gently on the barrel, exchanging its toasty aromas for a few pinches of spice.
The taste is relatively powerful, similar to a spirit more traditionally known in Europe, but above all eminently gourmand. The shochu is a real syrup, chocolatey, sweetly spiced, scented with soft cereals, coconut milk and puffed rice. The touch is exceptionally smooth, but the intensity is superb.
The finish is dominated by a soft, gently spicy woodiness, itself imbued with melted cereals.
"An elegant syrup, a concentration of cereals and gourmet oak, an exceptional shochu..."
