Sanwa Shurui (三和酒類株式会社)
Sanwa Shurui is a brewery in Oita Prefecture, founded in 1958, known for Nishi no Hoshi and Iichiko. An Oita-based producer renowned for its iichiko barley shochu and Wakabotan sake. KIKI lists 2 of its bottles.
AI-compiled from public information, not checked by the brewery.
Key facts
| Name | Sanwa Shurui (三和酒類株式会社) |
|---|---|
| Location | Oita Prefecture |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Makes | Sake and Shochu |
| Website | www.sanwa-shurui.co.jp |
What kind of brewery is it?
History
Founded in 1958 by three local breweries, a fourth joined the next year to form the current structure. In 1979, the release of iichiko barley shochu became a nationwide sensation. Today, the company produces wine and small-batch sake at its Karashima Kokuu no Kura facility alongside shochu.
What makes it distinct
| Water | Brewed using pure natural water drawn from approximately 300 meters underground in Usa. |
|---|---|
| Yeast | Uses proprietary yeasts developed in-house, such as iichiko yeast and TSH-1 yeast for barrel aging. |
| Style | Employs diverse techniques including all-barley-koji mashing, vacuum and atmospheric distillation, and barrel aging. |
| Also | Wakabotan sake, offered as sacred sake to Usa Jingu, is handcrafted in small batches at Kokuu no Kura. |
Visiting
While the main headquarters plant is closed to visitors, facilities such as Karashima Kokuu no Kura and the iichiko Hita Distillery offer tours, tastings, and retail shops.
- Tours
- Shop
- Tasting / food
Bottles from this brewery
The KIKI app knows 22 bottles from this maker (2 on this site).
| Bottle | Type | Per 720 ml |
|---|---|---|
| Nishi no Hoshi Barley Shochu 20%西の星 20度 | Barley shochu | ¥527 |
| Iichiko Special Barley Shochu 30%いいちこ スペシャル 30度 | Barley shochu | ¥1,980 |
Awards
| Year | Competition | Result | Entry | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewing year 2024 | Japan Sake Awards (Zenkoku Shinshu Kanpyokai) | Gold prize | 和香牡丹 |