Kodakara Dry Ginger Liqueur

Tatenokawa was founded in 1832 and later named “Castle Brook” (Tatenokawa) by the Lord of the local Shonai Clan. The current, 6th generation president, Sato Junpei, leads a young team (all in their 30s) and strives to make the best quality sake in Japan.

When Sato-san took over the brewery in 2001 he was faced with a difficult decision; like many breweries, sales were slow with fridges full of dead stock. Sato-san had to decide whether to end 170 years of sake making history or to find a way to reinvigorate his brewery. He chose that latter, focusing on quality by cutting the number of products to just one and vastly reducing production volumes.

The brewery’s fortunes began to change and, in 2008, Sato-san made the bold decision to make only Junmai Daiginjo sake - the premier cru of the sake world. The decision to only make Junmai Daiginjo was not taken lightly but Sato-san decided that by only producing the most premium type of sake he would ‘make sake that is easier to understand’ and ‘focus on quality’. This simple strategy has seen Tatenokawa’s popularity, reputation and fame grow rapidly and they have an ambitious ‘100-year vision’ to “brew the number one Japanese sake” (in a sense they’ve already achieved this with their 1% polished sake, Komyo). Tatenokawa is a brewery of enthusiasm, tenacity and courage; you only need try their sake to know these guys are going places.

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This wonderful ginger liqueur is made from ginger harvested in Kochi Prefecture (on the Pacific Ocean coast of Shikoku Island, famous for its fruit-growing), and combined with Tatenokawa Junmai Daiginjo sake and Shochu made from the lees (kasu) of the same sake and sugar. The result is a dynamic and fiery brew.

This new liqueur from Tatenokawa Shuzo is a real zinger! An explosion of fiery ginger offset by a delicious sweetness. Ever had Old Jamaican Ginger Beer? Think that but in sake form!

Kodakara Ginger is best served chilled and neat, on the rocks, or with soda. It is suitable as an aperitif, dessert wine or simply enjoyed on summers day with loads of ice. (A super secret pairing is actually tempura!)

The addition of shochu has the bonus of elongating the life and so it will last for a few weeks once open, if kept in the fridge.