[Meiri Shurui Co., Ltd.] Meiri Shurui Co., Ltd. has launched “TAKAZO Distillery” for the first time in about 60 years.
DISTILLERY” has released the “PURE MALT” series, including “Takazo REBORN”, which is a new born one year old.
*Meiri Liquor Co., Ltd.*
Press release: August 19, 2024
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From “TAKAZO DISTILLERY”, which was launched by Meiri Shurui for the first time in about 60 years, “Takazo REBORN”, which is a new born year old, “PURE
MALT” series is released.
August 19, 2024 Meiri Liquor Co., Ltd.
Meiri Liquor Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture), a comprehensive alcoholic beverage manufacturer with over 160 years of history, has opened the Takazura Distillery for the first time in about 60 years.
REBORN” and “TAKAZO PURE MALT PLUM WINE CASK” made using barrels in which “Hyakunen Umeshu” was aged.
FINISH” and “TAKAZO PURE MALT MIZUNARA CASK FINISH,” which uses luxurious first fill from Mizunara barrels.
Meiri Shuryu’s whiskey production was started in 1952 by Takazo Kato and a passionate craftsman, but was abandoned due to a fire. Since reacquiring our license in 2022, we have brought together the technology that has supported the sake brewing of sake breweries across the country through yeast development and alcohol distillation, and this is our first release as we look ahead to the next few decades.
▼Shipment start date
“Takazo REBORN”: October 1, 2024 (Tuesday)
“TAKAZO PURE MALT PLUM WINE CASK FINISH”: October 1, 2024 (Tuesday) “TAKAZO PURE MALT MIZUNARA CASK FINISH”: From winter 2024 onwards ▼Meiri Liquor “TAKAZO DISTILLERY” homepage
https://takazo.meirishurui.com/
Some products can be purchased from the above website in limited quantities starting October 1st (Tuesday). We would appreciate it if you could check it out.
◆Uniqueness of “TAKAZO DISTILLERY”
* Terroir A rich taste created by the city of water. *
Mito is a “city of water” surrounded by the Naka River and Lake Senba, with a rich water vein.
Water rich in magnesium that springs up from underground is one of the essential elements in whisky-making. This water, which is also used for sake brewing, is pumped in-house every day. Mito is also hot in the summer and bitterly cold in the winter. You can enjoy the taste of whiskey that has been aged and breathed in Mito’s climate for the first time in 60 years.
* Craftsmanship Making the best whiskey starts with the basics. * We are not only concerned with water and grains. Every day, we experiment and research every step of the way, from yeast, which is important in determining flavor, to fermentation and distillation, aiming for the best taste.
Utilizing the technology of Meiri Shurui, which independently develops and cultivates the yeast that is the basis of sake brewing, we will In 2012, he developed his own whiskey yeast. We will continue to conduct research to create the fruity taste unique to Takakura Distillery.
* Attempts New attempts born from the techniques and knowledge of brewers. * At Takakura Distillery, we use Mizunara barrels, as well as bourbon barrels, sherry barrels, port wine barrels, and rum barrels to age our whisky.
The most distinctive feature is the plum wine barrel in which Meiri Shurui’s signature product, Hyakunen Plum Wine, was aged.
Aging in barrels that are imbued with the mellow aroma of plum wine creates the framework of a fruity flavor that is unique to Japan. 600 Utilizing the knowledge of Meiri Shurui, which handles various types of products, we create unique whiskies.
◆Product information
“Takazo REBORN”
NewBorm “Takazo” is proudly brought to you by Takazo Distillery. Founded 160 We have consolidated all of the knowledge of Meiri Shuryu over the years and tripled the amount of yeast and more than doubled the fermentation period compared to the original, resulting in a new pot with a sophisticated taste.
The blend is centered around Meiri Shurui’s flagship product, “Hyakunen Umeshu,” which is aged in plum wine barrels. The aroma is light and plum-like, and the taste is raisin-like.
You can feel the sweetness at the beginning and the spicy taste at the end.
・Shipment start date: October 1, 2024 (Tuesday)
・Contents: 200ml
・Retail price: 3,200 yen (excluding tax)
・Alcohol content: 50%
・Number of pieces manufactured: Limited to 5,730 pieces
“Takazo PURE MALT PLUM WINE CASK FINISH”
Pure malt whiskey from Takakura Distillery.
Blended as one of the important components of the unblended sake from plum wine barrels that have been aged with “100 Year Plum Wine”, which has the title of being the best in Japan. This is a bottle that hints at the future of Takazo Distillery, where you can feel the fruity sweetness and aromatic vanilla scent that makes use of Mito’s terroir.
・Shipment start date: October 1, 2024 (Tuesday)
・Contents: 700ml
・Retail price: 4,500 yen (excluding tax)
・Alcohol content: 46%
“Takazo PURE MALT MIZUNARA CASK FINISH”
Pure malt whiskey from Takakura Distillery. Matured in luxurious first-fill Mizunara barrels, the symbol of Japanese whisky.
This is a whiskey that takes advantage of Mito’s terroir and aims to balance the sweetness and spiciness of the fruit while exploring fruity whisky.
・Shipment start date: After winter 2024
・Contents: 700ml
・Retail price: 6,000 yen (excluding tax)
・Alcohol content: 46%
◆Comment from Managing Director Takahiro Kato
The theme of Takakura Distillery, which started in 2022, is “REBORN”. While inheriting the thoughts and techniques of my great-grandfather, Takazo Kato, and his passionate craftsmen, we boldly incorporate the foundations and new knowledge cultivated over the history of Meiri Sake, which has continued since the Edo period.
For fermentation, we have tripled the amount of yeast and doubled the fermentation period to encourage vigorous fermentation, and are currently developing our own unique whiskey yeast.
For maturation, in addition to bourbon barrels, one of our unique features is Mizunara barrels, which are the signature cask of Japanese whisky, and plum wine barrels in which “100-year plum wine” is aged and infused with flavor.
We hope that you will be able to pick up the first release from Takazo Distillery, which inherits the thoughts of its predecessors and aims to produce fruity whiskey that takes advantage of Japan’s terroir.
◆About collaboration with I&CO
In launching Takakura Distillery for the first time in 60 years, I&CO, which had a relationship of trust,
In collaboration with Tokyo, we aimed to develop products that are unique and universal from a global perspective. In the future, we will continue to pursue the uniqueness that only Takazo Distillery can offer, aiming to create Japanese whiskey that we can be proud of around the world.
I&CO corporate site http://iandco.com/ja
◆Company overview
Our vision is to contribute to enriching the lives of customers around the world through Japanese alcohol and food.
A comprehensive alcoholic beverage manufacturer in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. The predecessor of our company was Kato Sake Brewery, which was founded at the current location during the Ansei era at the end of the Edo period. We manufacture distilled spirits, alcohol, etc., and are now a comprehensive alcoholic beverage manufacturer that produces sake, shochu, liqueurs (such as plum wine), fermented seasonings, and quasi-drugs, and our sales channels are expanding throughout the country as well as to the world. We also export. https://www.meirishurui.com