Tomino Hozan (Sweet Potato Shochu)

Tomino Hozan (Sweet Potato Shochu)Like many imo shochus, this one has that earthy nose. Fresh dirt. A hint of wild flowers. What makes it unique from other is the yellow koji which gives it much more floral aroma and palate. A hint of buttery mouthfeel accompanies the pleasantly sweet floral taste. Drinking mixed with hot water really opens up the flavour.

The finish is long and warming

Palate: Dark chocolate dipped in strawberries

savoury palate of blackberry and ripe plum with integrated charry notes and a lovely soft finish

pomegranate and Satsuma Plum is an intriguing core of earth and crushed rocks

which must be a minimum of 3 years old

A young Valpolicella wine

raspberry and dark cherry flavors

Kuromaru uses Kogane Sengan sweet potatoes from Kagoshima prefecture which are then carefully fermented using black koji malt from 100% pure Japanese rice

The colour evolves from ruby to garnet then to light-brick over the years but the brilliance and intensity will remain

Big and bold

It is a 'Mediterranean' styled gin featuring botanicals including rosemary

as well as a hint of pepper