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Company name: Iheya
Distillery
Founded: 1948
Address: 2131-40 Aza Gakiya, Iheya Village, Shimajiri-gun
TEL/FAX: 0980-46-2008 |
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A leading supplier of awamori
to fans outside Okinawa, this distillery preserves the superb quality
awamori made by the 46-member consortium of distillers.
Iheya Island, the northernmost island of the Okinawan archipelago,
was the birthplace of the first king of the Sho Dynasty, Sho Hashi.
It has become a popular tourist island in recent years, thanks to
the Kumaya cave, with its 'Amano-iwado' legend, and an umbrella-shaped
pine tree over 200 years old and more than 25 meters across.
The island is also full of ancient history and myths. Production
of awamori symbolic of the island began in 1948 when distillers
were brought over from Shuri. The brand was named
after the Sun Goddess of Japan and the name of the master distiller.
70 percent of the liquor is consumed by the locals even today. Before
the reversion of Okinawa, the brand was a rarity, only available
on the island.
The awamori made on the island uses spring water called 'Iinukah'
that is fruity and mellow. It has a deep taste, and yet is very
easy to drink. The owner, Mr. Hokumura, is also the head of the
quiet district in which the distillery is located. He says that
the awamori is produced from a spring situated some four
kilometers away. This water helps maintain the mellow and well-balanced
texture of the distilled liquor.
Iheya is the only distillery on the island, which has a population
of 1,600 people. The secret of the unchanged taste of the awamori
since its foundation is perhaps not only the water but also the
local fans who drink every day. They are said to
complain if the taste is altered in any way. This is an awamori
deeply rooted in the local culture. |
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