Unkai Shuzo (雲海酒造株式会社)
Unkai Shuzo is a brewery in Miyazaki Prefecture, founded in 1967, known for Kobiki, Unkai and Satsuma Kohi. Known as the pioneer of Japan's first authentic buckwheat shochu 'Unkai', also crafting sweet potato and barley shochu as well as sake. KIKI lists 11 of its bottles.
AI-compiled from public information, not checked by the brewery.
Key facts
| Name | Unkai Shuzo (雲海酒造株式会社) |
|---|---|
| Location | Miyazaki Prefecture |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Makes | Sake and Shochu |
| Website | www.unkai.co.jp |
What kind of brewery is it?
History
Founded in 1967 as Gokase Shuzo Yugen Kaisha, the brewery released Japan's first authentic buckwheat shochu, Unkai, in 1973 before changing its name to Unkai Shuzo Co., Ltd. in 1978. It subsequently expanded with barley shochu Iitomo, sweet potato shochu Hyuga Kobiki, sake brewing, and tourism facilities like Kuramoto Aya Shusen no Mori.
What makes it distinct
| Water | Uses natural soft water from Mt. Gion at the Gokase distillery and underground spring water from Aya's laurel forest at the Aya distillery. |
|---|---|
| Yeast | Utilizes proprietary yeasts including the marine Hyuganada Kuroshio Yeast and in-house Unkai Soba Hana Yeast. |
| Ingredients | Uses carefully selected ingredients such as Southern Kyushu Koganesengan sweet potatoes, buckwheat, barley, and rice koji. |
| Style | Operates multiple regional distilleries tailored to specific spirits, utilizing oak barrel and earthen pot aging. |
Visiting
Advance reservations allow guided tours with tastings at Aya Shizengura Kengakukan, alongside retail shopping at Kuramoto Aya Shusen no Mori.
- Tours
- Shop
Bottles from this brewery
The KIKI app knows 31 bottles from this maker (11 on this site).
| Bottle | Type | Per 720 ml |
|---|---|---|
| Kobiki BLUE Imo Shochu 25%木挽 BLUE | Sweet potato shochu | ¥599 |
| Unkai Buckwheat (Soba) Shochu 25%雲海 そば焼酎 | Buckwheat shochu | ¥576 |
| Satsuma Kohi Sweet Potato Shochu薩摩古秘 | Sweet potato shochu | ¥813 |
| Iitomo 20% Shochuいいとも | Barley shochu | ¥545 |
| Hyuga Kobiki Black Koji Sweet Potato Shochu 20%日向木挽 黒麹 20度 | Sweet potato shochu | ¥567 |
| Satsuma Kobiki Black Koji Shochuさつま木挽 黒麹仕込み | Sweet potato shochu | ¥669 |
| Hyuga Kobiki Sweet Potato Shochu 20%日向木挽 20度 | Sweet potato shochu | ¥567 |
| Iitomo Black Kojiいいとも 黒麹 | Barley shochu | ¥625 |
| Nayuta no Toki Long-Term Aged Soba Shochu那由多の刻 長期貯蔵 | Buckwheat shochu | ¥1,180 |
| Unkai Mayan no Tsubuyaki Long-Term Aged Buckwheat Shochu 38%雲海 長期貯蔵そば焼酎 マヤンの呟き 38度 | Buckwheat shochu | ¥3,213 |
| Satsuma Kobiki Shochuさつま木挽 | Sweet potato shochu | ¥616 |