Koei Tecmo's historical simulation game "Sangokushi 14" is now available on PS4 and PC (Steam).
We recently featured a collaboration event with Kagoshima Prefecture's shochu brewery "Sassyu Hamadaya Denbei" on Saiga NAK, and Sassyu Hamadaya Denbei sent us a bottle of the sweet potato shochu "Sassyu Sekitoba" and barley shochu "Sassyu Ryofu" that appear in Sangokushi 14!
Thank you so much!
The Saiga NAK editorial department often has game tournaments in the office on Friday nights, but we love drinking as much as we love games.
We had a tasting (drinking!) with some of the alcohol lovers in the Saiga NAK editorial department, including LAN Cable Man, a well-known DQ Walker, Nash Tajima, who works as an infrastructure engineer using his gamer skills, and the author, a band member, so we would like to share with you how it went! We are very happy to report the results of our tasting!
Sangokushi14 collaborates with shochu! Shochu appeare in the game!
Review of "Sassyu Sekitoba"
First of all, let's start with the authentic sweet potato shochu "Sassyu Sekitoba".
It is named after "Sekitoba", a rare horse that ran 1,000 miles a day in the Sangokushi period (the history of the Three Kingdoms).
Authentic shochu "Sassyu Sekitoba" was created from carefully selected high-quality Kogane-Sengan (Special Sweet Potato) and naturally filtered limpid water from Kagoshima's unique Shirasu Plateau.
"Sekitoba" is a famous horse that appeared in the "Records of the Three Kingdoms(Sangokushi)" and is said to be able to run 1,000 miles a day.
It is a perfect example of "Sassyu Sekitoba", which is light on the palate, but has a rich taste that travels furiously through the southern lands.
Quote from the label of "Sassyu Sekitoba"
The ingredients are sweet potato (produced in Kagoshima prefecture) and rice malt (domestic rice), and the alcohol content is 25 degrees.
According to the official description, it is "a new type of sweetpotato shochu with a light yet profound taste". How does it taste?
The author's impression
It is a strong tasting shochu with a strong aroma unique to sweet potato shochu.
It leaves a strong aftertaste, but it is not unpleasant, and you can enjoy the lingering aftertaste.
It is not just an "easy to drink" shochu, but a shochu with a strong flavor.
Impression of LAN cable man
Because it is not too assertive, it goes well with all kinds of food.
It is so refreshing and easy to drink that the glass goes on and on, and before you know it, you will be tongue-tied.
What? This glass is the end...?
Impression of Nash Tajima
It's so good!
Other members of the editorial staff also tasted it, and many of them said it was easy to drink.
It has a refreshing taste and a gorgeous aroma that spreads in the mouth, making it an enjoyable bottle to drink. It is also ideal as a mealtime drink.
Many gamers are young and may have never had shochu before, but Akha-Uguma may be perfect for their shochu debut because it has both an authentic taste and is easy to drink.
The Akausajima series also includes "Sekitoba Ume-shu", "Sekitoba Yuzu", and "Sekitoba Yuzu Ume-shu", which are made from Plums and Yuzu (citrus fruit).
One of the female staff members in the editorial office said, "Sekitoba is easy to drink, so I am very interested in a liqueur based on it".
Review of "Sassyu Ryofu"
Next up was the authentic barley shochu "Sassyu Ryofu".
It is a product related to the name of "Ryofu", who is said to be the strongest general in the Three Kingdoms (Sangokushi) and to have ridden a red rabbit horse.
Fans of the Three Kingdoms (Sangokushi) will want to collect the bottle with the word "Ryofu" shining on it.
Authentic shochu "Sassyu Ryofu" is made from carefully selected high-quality 2-row barley and naturally filtered limpid water from Kagoshima's unique Shirasu plateau.
"Ryofu" was praised as "Ryofu among men and Sekitoba among horses" and was the most powerful general in the Three Kingdoms period due to his outstanding bravery.
With its sweet and gorgeous aroma like ripe fruit and rich and full flavor, it is a perfect product to be called "Sassyu Ryofu", standing proudly and majestically in the southern land.
Quote from the "Sassyu Ryofu" label
Unlike Sekitoba, this one is a barley shochu, made from barley and barley malt, and has an alcohol content of 25 degrees.
The label says it is "like a ripe fruit", but what kind of flavor does it have?
The author's impression
First of all, it has a fruity sweet aroma.
The taste is lighter than that of Sekitoba, but it is not light, and it has a "mellow" taste.
When drunk on the rocks, the change in flavor as the ice melts is very interesting.
Impression of LAN cable man
In contrast to Sekitoba, this sake has a unique flavor.
It has a slight sweetness and is suitable for those who want to enjoy it slowly and mainly with sake.
What, no refill?
Nash Tajima's impression
It's soooooo good!
Many other members of the editorial staff said that although it has a strong personality, it has a sweetness that many women seem to like.
The fresh, fruity aroma is strongly felt each time it passes through the nose, and the umami spreads slowly.
The deep flavor can be felt in each sip, so you will probably make new discoveries with every sip.
A gem that lives up to the name "Sekitoba" and "Ryofu"
Both "Sassyu Sekitoba" and "Sassyu Ryofu" were great gems.
The author liked "Sassyu Ryofu", while LAN Cable Man seemed to be hooked on "Sassyu Sekitoba".
Both shochu have a strong flavor, but their characters are completely different.
While thinking about the world view of "Sangokushi 14", we rediscovered the charm of shochu, wondering how much difference there is in the same shochu.
I encourage everyone to try and compare the two!
We were so absorbed in the tasting that we forgot that it was a tasting event. Before we knew it, the bottles were empty in no time.
The game competition, which everyone enjoyed in a tipsy mood, was more lively than usual, with lots of laughter.
The combination of good shochu and games is a lot of fun, and it's not hard to see why!
Thank you, Sassyu Hamadaya Denbei, for such good shochu and a great time!
For more information about the Sassyu Sekitoba and Sassyu Ryofu shochu we reviewed, as well as the Sassyu Sangokushi shochu, a collaboration between Sassyu Hamadaya Denbei and Sangokushi 14, check out the official Sassyu Sekitoba website!
On the official site, in addition to the product information, there is also a "Delicious ways to enjoy" section that includes recipes for food that go well with the Sekitoba series shochu, so please take a look at that too!
