Thoughts on the Displayed Products

Kawabe

The Kawabe River is the largest tributary of the Kuma River. From Mt. Kunimi in Yatsushiro City, it passes through Itsuki Village, the village famous for the lullaby originated from it, and Sagara Village, which joins the Kuma River in Hitoyoshi City. For 16 years in a row, this clear stream has been selected as the "river with the best water quality "by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan."
The rice used for 'Kawabe' is all Hinohikari varieties grown in Sagara village in the basin. The fourth-generation president, Junko Tsutsumi, says with a smile, "It's delicious even if you cook it. It's much more expensive though than the rice we eat at home. But our shochu from this rice, distilled under reduced-pressure, has a clear water-like aroma and flavor." President Tsutsumi recommends drinking it "with a little water. This seems to convey the freshness of the shochu the best. And the green bottle is also a symbol of the purity of "Kawabe."

CRESCENT

A new product developed under the auspices of President Tsutsumi. With the craft gin boom occurring all over the world, three distilleries of Kuma Shochu are selling gin. CRESCENT literally means Crescent as in the shape of the new Moon.
Their gin is re-distilled with 9 types of botanical ingredients in ‘Sengetsu’, company’s leading product. Tea leaves, sweet summer, yuzu, ginger, and cypress that are produced in Kumamoto are some of the 9 types. “I focus on the balance of the nine ingredients,” says President Tsutsumi, and she adds, "I suggest to simply mix it with club soda or tonic water - but if you have high tolerance, I can recommend you drink it straight.” The alcohol content is 47%.