Awamori is a kind of shochu, allowed to produce in nowhere but Okinawa. Sometimes it belongs to shochu, other times separates. The unique one among Awamori products is “Donan Hanasaki 60.”
“Donan Hanasaki 60” is a representative product of Kokusen Brewery and the alcohol content is, as its name tells, 60%. A shochu definition says it must be 45% or less. Most of Awamori contain less than 40%. So it might be out of shochu, to mention strictly.
Donan Hanasaki 60
Price: 2,400 JPN ( 600 ml )
Alcohol: 60
Atmospheric Distillation
Made from Jasmine Rice, Malted Rice (BLACK)
Hanasaki means the first coming sake when they distill Awamori. To tell the truth, “Donan Hanasaki 60” is allowed to produce in Yonaguni Island only. That has been important on special events in an island of Okinawa. Donan means Yonaguni in the Okinawa dialect.
Kokusen Brewery was built in 1958. They never use any artificial additives and have forever steamed rice, brewed and distilled in their traditional handmade way.
As mentioned above, the alcohol content is 60% and there is reasonably much punch in drinking the Awamori, but tasting kind of sweet and smooth. Yonaguni is a rainy district and it is said they have tried hard to control the temperature that is very important on making Awamori. It is supposed the trial and their passion can make it sort of smooth.