Japan’s most historic distilled liquor🌟Okinawa Awamori

Okinawa's unique brewing techniques, passed down for 500 years.

Awamori is Japan's oldest distilled spirit, reportedly dating back to the latter half of the 15th century. Awamori typically has an alcohol content of around 30%.

Because it is a distilled spirit, it contains no other sugars or proteins , and is lower in calories compared to other brewed spirits . 100 ml of 15% alcohol sake contains 103 calories, but because awamori contains no sugar, 100 ml of awamori contains only 59 calories.

Awamori's characteristics

Awamori is primarily made from Thai rice (a type of indica rice) and Okinawa's unique black koji mold. The long, firm indica rice is used as the koji (fermentation starter), and water and yeast are added for fermentation. Finally, it is distilled using a single distillation method. This technique is also known as "all-koji brewing." Black koji is one of the defining characteristics of Awamori. Brewing methods using black koji are extremely rare worldwide. Using black koji produces a large amount of citric acid, which has a powerful antibacterial effect, making it ideal for brewing in the warm, humid, and microbial-prone environment of Okinawa.

The aging method of Awamori differs from that of Western spirits. During the long aging process, physical and scientific changes occur, resulting in a rich and mellow aroma. Awamori that has undergone long-term aging is called "ancient sake".

ancient wine

Awamori sake is poured into a sake vat or bottle and aged for more than three years; this is called "aged sake." Aged sake has a more mellow and sweet flavor, and emits a vanilla-like aroma.

Ancient sake has a higher alcohol concentration than regular wasamu, averaging over 40 degrees. Therefore, when enjoyed with large ice cubes, the alcohol content is not lost, allowing you to slowly savor the changes in flavor as the ice melts. The longer an ancient sake has been aged, the longer it needs time to develop its aroma. By pouring the ancient sake out and letting it come into contact with the air, you can appreciate its unique fragrance.

The history of Awamori

The Challenge of Awamori

To keep pace with the times and meet customers' demands for flavor, many long-established breweries are constantly challenging the brewing techniques of Awamori. In addition to trying to recreate ancient brewing methods, they also try to incorporate Okinawa products or other ingredients into Awamori, adding even more flavor to the already distinctive and unique Awamori.