A shochu maker founded in the first year of the Meiji era, 1868, and headquartered in Ichikikushikino City, Kagoshima Prefecture, "Hamada Syuzou"
The sweet potato shochu previously introduced on Saiga NAK, "Daiyame," has gained top-class popularity and received the highest award trophy in the IWSC2019 SHOCHU category!
Many of you have probably heard of it before, haven't you?
From such a Hamada Syuzou, we've received an amazing new alcoholic beverage!
It's the authentic barley shochu "Ukaze."
Ukaze is a product that won a gold medal at "IWSC2024" with the catchphrase “The best sweet and savory taste created by the exquisite blend of four unique raw spirits” (translated).
It was also released by Hamada Syuzou on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, as a 155th-anniversary commemorative product, and this year marks the "1st anniversary of Ukaze."
This time, I received a shochu that made Reika's liver tingle, so I'll be reviewing it extensively!
First, Let's Look at the Label
The label features a Japanese-style design drawn with four watercolor paints.
These four colors have a proper meaning, as mentioned at the beginning: Barrel-aged raw spirit, Rich raw spirit, Light raw spirit, and Fragrant raw spirit are the four types of raw spirits that are blended.
To achieve this, we selected raw spirits close to our vision from hundreds of types, and finally narrowed it down to four raw spirits. Furthermore, we continued to blend these four raw spirits in 1% increments, relentlessly pursuing the ideal taste.
(Translated from Japanese)
Hamada Syuzou Official Website
The package with its gentle colors doesn't stand out, and it gives a Japanese modern taste, and with the product name in hiragana also reminds me that the taste might be gentle!
What's on the Back Label of "Ukaze"?
I see, Ukaze was born in Kagoshima, wasn't it?
Kagoshima is said to be the second largest producer of aracha (crude tea) in Japan and the birthplace of Wakocha.
The alcohol content is a common 25%.
The taste is said to be a "fruity and floral taste."
Also, shochu extracts alcohol through a process called distillation, so it contains no carbohydrates.
In modern times, with increasing health consciousness, you can drink it without worrying about calories, and it is said to be less likely to cause hangovers.
My Liver is Craving Alcohol! Time to Open!
Oh, I can't wait. Just like ramen starts with the soup, alcohol starts with the aroma.
As stated on the label, it has a fruity aroma.
Despite being 25% alcohol, there was no characteristic alcoholic "Kwah!!!" smell.
I can't imagine what kind of taste it will have.
I want to drink it so badly....
Recommended Tea Mixes! Purchased in Bulk at a Convenience Store!
According to the official source, Ukaze is a perfect match for tea mixes, so this time Saiga NAK bought:
- Oolong tea
- Green tea
- Black tea (unsweetened)
- Jasmine tea
- Green tea bag
I am truly impressed by how convenient convenience stores are these days.
Just a little while ago, unsweetened black tea wasn't even a major item.
It also seems to go well with most other tea mixes, such as rooibos tea and barley tea, so why not try mixing it with your favorite tea?
The Highly Anticipated Reviews of Each Flavor! Love Drinking!
First, I took out the black tea.
Definitely fill it to the brim with ice! And it's "2 parts mixer to 1 part Ukaze."
Let's call this the "Ukaze 1:2 Ratio Rule."
While I was talking, it was complete!
The taste is...
Reika: "Is this, perhaps, soft drink with alcohol...?”
The unique sweetness of black tea leaves combined with Ukaze's fruitiness makes it taste sweet.
It's not an overwhelmingly sweet taste from added sugar, but a sweetness that brings out the flavor of the ingredients!
You can gently feel the sweetness of the tea leaves, and when you swallow, it has a refreshing aftertaste.
I felt that this is a drink that can be enjoyed both during and after meals.
Next, Drinking Oolong Tea!
Reika has a past of getting badly drunk from shochu mixed with oolong tea that she drank at supper long ago, which had a unique flavor.
She carries a slight trauma, but what about the taste this time...?
"!?!!!!?"
Reika: "The spiritual pressure of the tea leaves has vanished...?"
Strictly speaking, it hasn't vanished.
However, the unique sweet aroma of oolong tea, when combined with Ukaze's taste, somehow pleasantly disappears, leaving a faint oolong tea flavor and a refreshing aftertaste of Ukaze!
Reika: "Ukaze, are you going to be so considerate as to cure my trauma..."
This is trauma overcome!
Next is Green Tea, the Legend of the Tea World
This way of drinking, shochu mixed with green tea, is called "Mugi-Ryoku" and is loved by all generations.
When I actually tried drinking it...
"Phew!"
As expected, this way of drinking is delicious!
However, compared to the ones I just drank, I felt the strongest alcohol presence in this one!
Why is that? Many opinions came out saying, "It has a strong alcohol presence..."
This is a recommended way to drink for those who want to savor the feeling of drinking alcohol!
The taste allows you to feel both the sweetness and bitterness of green tea, which is different from the black tea mix.
But the one that takes the best part is Ukaze, making the aftertaste refreshing!
I've Been Waiting! Jasmine Tea, the Rising Star of the Tea World!
Jasmine tea is quite new among the teas found at convenience stores.
With its fresh, aroma-like scent and a taste that has some bitterness, this tea, particularly popular among young women, is, so to speak, the "gal" of the tea world.
Can Ukaze-kun properly handle the "gal" of the tea world...?
"Ukaze!!!"
Ukaze-kun, who mitigates the bitterness while maintaining the splendid jasmine flavor!
It's like an "understanding class president" who brings out the charm of the "gal" while also being charming himself...
It also clearly brings out the sweetness of barley shochu within the jasmine.
Ukaze-kun was everyone's friend!
Other Ways to Drink It!
I found an interesting way to mix it, so I'll introduce it.
It's the "Tea Bag Mix."
The way to make it is to put a tea bag at the bottom, fill it to the brim with ice, and follow the "Ukaze 1:2 Ratio Rule."
Then pour in water and stir once with a stirrer, and it's complete.
You might worry if the green tea flavor actually comes out, but...
The taste is similar to a mizuwari (water mix), and while you can feel the sweetness and aroma of barley shochu, the flavor from just one stir of green tea creates a refreshing and never-tiring taste!
So, it was just for flavoring with a tea bag, wasn't it...?
It's a completely new way of drinking, totally different from a regular green tea mix, and my liver is overjoyed!
"Ukaze," the Savior That Reduces Tea's Astringency with Its Fruitiness
After trying various ways of drinking it, I noticed that all the tea mixes had reduced astringency and transformed into a fruity and refreshing taste in the aftertaste.
While typical barley shochu tends to have a pronounced sweetness in the aftertaste, Ukaze has a very subtle sweetness, which works to its advantage, making it the best alcohol that enhances the tea's flavor without overpowering it!
Introduced on Reika's Stream!
This product was incredibly delicious.
When it comes to alcohol, Reika immediately starts streaming games while drinking.
By the way, the black tea mix was Reika's favorite.
"I'm already drunk before the stream even starts~ I can't decide on my favorite way to drink it..."
"Raw spirit!"
That concludes the review of Ukaze.
For more details on Ukaze, please visit the Ukaze special page.
Also, follow Hamada Syuzou's official X (@hamadasyuzou) to get the latest information!
急に冷え込んできて、
ずっと暖かかった鹿児島でも
冬の訪れを感じつつあります⛄❄️寒い日には#うかぜ のお茶割りで
ほっとひと息つきませんか☕アールグレイやルイボスティが
おすすめです☺️🙌 pic.twitter.com/YgVKNPQiGv— 【公式】濵田酒造（はまだしゅぞう）焼酎メーカー (@hamadasyuzou) November 8, 2024
