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Company Name: Kiku no Tsuyu
Distillery Co., Ltd.
Founded: 1928
Address: 290 Nishizato, Hirara City
TEL: 09807-2-2669
FAX: 09807-2-4379 |
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The secret
behind the popularity of the awamori from this long-established
distillery on Miyako Island lies in its crisp and fruity aroma and
sharp flavor.
Kiku no Tsuyu Distillery is located on the main Nishizato Street
in the business quarter of Hirara City on Miyako Island. It is supported
by a wide range of fans and holds the second largest awamori
share in Okinawa. Its products are well known not only on Miyako
Island but also on the main island of Okinawa. Its widely-recognized
flavor owes a lot to the instruction given by Keishu Taira, the
83-year-old former master distiller of the company. His techniques
have been highly evaluated and he was awarded the Asahi Award Seventh
Order of Merit in 1985. The position of master distiller has now
been handed down to Toyohiko Yamauchi. The key to production of
the awamori-which has also won the Gold Prize at the Mondo
Selection-is 'temperature control and production of the main mash'.
The quality of the rice has improved recently, enabling production
of top quality kusu.
Founded in 1928 as Nakao Distillery, the company changed its name
in 1965 to Kiku no Tsuyu, a name derived from the name of the original
founder Kikujiro Nakao. Kiku, meaning 'chrysanthemum', also
signifies 'the water of life'. A Chinese legend declared that people
sustained their lives by drinking dew drops from chrysanthemum petals.
The present president, Kiyoshi Shimoji, stores a lot of kusu,
as if mature liquor-making is his hobby. Although the company has
the largest number of storage tanks in Okinawa, it plans to move
to the suburbs in the near future in order to expand the factory
space even more. The sweet aroma of awamori drifting amidst
the busy streets will be greatly missed by many people. |
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