"The Engine of our Hometown" - Thinking Globally, Acting Locally -

We have started selling our Ichinoide sake lees. The thick moist sake lees that remains following the Ichinoide pressing process is hand made using 100% domestic rice. We then block it up ready for sale (itakasu). Availability is limited to the brewing season during the winter and will end as soon as we have sold out. You can choose from 1kg, 2kg, and 4kg bags. Daiginjo sake lees will be available in 1kg bags.

 

If you can’t find it at a store near you - don’t worry! It’s available through the Kuge Honten webshop.

We have created a new 40 ° bottle (700ml) for our barley shochu - Tsunezo, which is very popular for its fruity aroma and refreshing taste.

 

We asked Associate Professor Nishiguchi of Oita Prefectural College of Arts and Culture to design the label and packaging for our barley shochu - Tsunezo Breeze 40°, using the motif of a mikadoageha (graphium dosen), a type of butterfly, floating over Usuki Bay. The mikadoageha is a Japanese Natural Monument.

 

We would also like to recommend the Breezy, a delicious cocktail that uses Tsunezo Breeze 40°as its main ingredient. It was invented by the director of Shotbar Clainbegin, Mr. Nakao.
The Breezy, as the name suggests, has a refreshing taste.

 

 

We received a lovely letter for Mr. Misumi who visited our brewery on the 24th of last month. Our team were really encouraged by the letter, so I would like to share it with you.

 

“I had a great time during my visit to your brewery the other day. I learned a lot about the specific processes involved in producing great sake and even got to participate. Even though it was right in the middle of the sake brewing period, and everyone was very busy, all the staff were very accommodating and it was a fantastic experience.

 

I think Kuge Honten Sake’s delicious taste is partly due to its use of many local ingredients, for me making it a real pleasure to drink whilst actually in the region where it was made. However, the key ingredient is the passion and expertise of the two brewers responsible for producing the sake. They put their hearts and souls into its manufacture, and it’s reflected in its wonderful taste.

 

Beppu, where I stayed, is full of countless wonderful public baths. Many of the guests at the hotel where I stayed preferred to visit the popular ones such as the Takegawara Onsen. As a result, the hotel’s bath was totally empty, and as there weren’t any restrictions on taking beverages into the bath, I was able to enjoy a glass of sake while I bathed. I went for a fresh 19% Vol namazake, and Junmai Ginjo - Ichinoide, both from Kuge Honten. Thank you very much!!”

 

The pub, Seishun Junjo Monogatari, which has been serving our Barley Shochu - Tsunezo, featured on the TV show - Banana Man’s Special Gourment!!
They introduced our Barley Shochu - Tsunezo during the show.

 

Please check their official Twitter account.

Following on from yesterday, members of the Yokohama Shochu Committee from Kanagawa Prefecture visited our brewery. As they are a shochu committee, we wish we could have shown them our shochu production process, but instead they did get to see the sake production. Everyone was very enthusiastic and asked a lot of good questions.

Mr. Misumi (second from the right in the photo) from Kanagawa Prefecture took part in the sake brewing tour. He already had a good knowledge of sake and helped us with the production for the day which was a great help. Thank you very much!

Happy New Year! Kuge Honten reopened yesterday (January 4, 2020). Thank you in advance for your continued support.

Today was our last day of trade for Reiwa-1 (December 30, 2019).
We will reopen again on Saturday, January 4, 2020.
Thank you for all of your support this year. Have a very - Happy New Year!

Kuge Honten web shop now accepts cashless payments and is registered for the cashless/consumer return incentive.
As an incentive for using cashless payment methods, you can get up to 5% returned in points. (Incentive period: Until June 2020).

 

Our president appeared on “Usuki’s Presidents - Series 2”, broadcast on May 25, 2019 (13:18-45:18).
The show takes a look at Usuki’s charm and the feelings of our president. The preparations for the joint four-company brewery opening event were also featured.