Yonagani, Ku-su Awamori, 700ml

Yonaguni is one of Japan's southernmost islands, located just 100 km from Taiwan (compared to a whopping 2,000 km from Tokyo!). For centuries, the island served as a hub for contacts between China and the Ryukyu Kingdom. It is therefore likely that the techniques for brewing Awamori, a distillate made from Thai long-grain rice, were first introduced here. Sakimoto Shuzo is one of only three producers on this island (which has a population of only 1,300) and has been a benchmark for authentic Awamori for 100 years. Ku-su is aged for three years after distillation, resulting in a softer character compared to the younger variety. Its fresh character is beautifully preserved, accentuating the delicate floral aromas that can be so characteristic of quality Awamori.