Joraku Shuzo (常楽酒造)
Joraku Shuzo is a shochu distillery in Nishiki, Kumamoto, founded in 1912 (Taisho 1), making Kuma shochu and liqueurs.
What kind of distillery is Joraku Shuzo?
The distillery was founded in 1912 in the southeastern part of the Hitoyoshi basin, with Mt. Shirakami to the south and the Kuma River to the north. It keeps traditional methods from its founding and brews with Kuma River subterranean water. Its rice shochu basically uses rice from the Hitoyoshi-Kuma area. Koji is made in a machine-controlled rack, followed by two-stage mashing, distillation, and aging in tanks or oak barrels. It also makes shochu-based liqueurs.
- Water
- Water for brewing and rice processing is Kuma River subterranean water.
- Ingredients
- Rice shochu basically uses locally distributed rice from the Hitoyoshi-Kuma region.
- Style
- Both atmospheric and vacuum distillation are used, giving richer and lighter fruity styles respectively.
- Other
- It also makes low-alcohol liqueurs using Kuma yogurt and fruit.
Can you visit Joraku Shuzo?
- Tours
Tours take about 30 minutes and include the barrel warehouse, liqueur facilities, a process video and tasting. Open 9:00 to 16:00, closed Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, New Year and Obon; 1 to about 20 people; phone booking required.
Hours and booking rules change, so check before you go. Official website
Other brewery tours in Kumamoto
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: joraku.co.jp