Nishi, Kiccho Houzan Shochu, 700ml

The Nishi distillery was founded over 150 years ago near the city of Kagoshima, in the southernmost tip of Kyushu Island. Many shochu producers focus solely on the distillation process to distinguish themselves from their peers. Nishi, however, goes a step further and realizes that the quality of the sweet potatoes, the raw material for shochu, plays an often-overlooked role.

That's why they choose to grow their own potatoes as much as possible and work closely with the local farming community. 'Imo shochu' is therefore the house specialty and has built a fine reputation both within and outside Japan. Kiccho Houzan is somewhat unique because it is produced with black koji, normally reserved for awamori on Okinawa. The richness often found in this koji is also prominent in this Kiccho Houzan.