What kind of sake brand is Ichinokura? 一ノ蔵

04/17/202201/31/2023

Ichinokura Co., Ltd. is a sake brewery that was created by combining multiple sake breweries and daring to abandon the history of each individual.
In addition to making sake that is particular about handmade sake, it is also an active brewery for sake brewing that meets the needs of modern people, such as sparkling sake called “Suzune" and low-alcohol sake.

Japanese sake brewing with an emphasis on tradition and history. It is important to protect the history of the brewery and the brands it has made.

This time, we will introduce the history of such sake breweries and the charm of “Ichinokura".

Contents

What kind of sake is Ichinokura? What is the secret to deliciousness?

What kind of brewery is Ichinokura Sake Brewery?

What kind of sake is Ichinokura? What is the secret to deliciousness?

The most famous brand in Ichinokura is “Ichinokura uninspected book brewing dry".

Some people feel sourness and astringency with a slightly alcoholic scent. Although it is delicious, the quality of sake is as refreshing as water. In addition to dry, there are also “sweet" and “super dry", and many fans enjoy drinking and comparing, and this is a series that represents Ichinokura.

In addition to brewed sake such as “Uninspected Honjozo", sake with various brews and tastes, such as Ginjo sake, which is prepared by slowly brewing well-polished rice at low temperature, and Junmai sake, which has a rich and mellow taste. 

Recently, many people may have drank sparkling sake “Suzune". furthermore, a large number of sake that meets the needs of Japanese sake in the pass few years, such as the low-alcohol “Himezen," is on sale.

Delicious rice and clean water
Miyagi is one of Japan’s leading rice producing areas. Ichinokura sake uses rice produced in Miyagi prefecture for most of the rice is used as the main ingredient. it seems that more than 10 kinds of rice are used depending on the product.

In addition, Ichinokura treats and uses groundwater in the Omatsuzawa Hills. This water is colorless and transparent, has no offensive odor, and is neutral or slightly alkaline, which is suitable for sake brewing, and has a profound effect on the taste of Ichinokura.

Commitment to “introduction of the latest equipment and facilities" and “handmade"
Ichinokura is active in introducing the latest equipment and facilities. At the time of the integration of the breweries, a state-of-the-art new factory was built, and the head office brewery, which is located in Matsuyama, Osaki City, is equipped with the latest brewing equipment in a clean and spacious space. Through such capital investment, we are able to develop and produce a wide variety of current products and produce 19,000 stones (equivalent to 1.9 million bottles per box) * of sake annually.

• As of 2008

Equipped with facilities, it is also characterized by faithfully adhering to the “high-quality sake brewing made by hand" that was set at the time of its founding. Rather than relying on machines, basically everything is made by “people." It is said that the idea is that it is more efficient and delicious to make sake by making full use of the human senses, smelling the aroma, touching it with your hands, and tasting it with your tongue.

What kind of brewery is Ichinokura Sake Brewery?

Ichinokura is a warehouse located in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Ichinokura was born in the era when the consumption of sake increased along with the high economic growth and reached its peak in 1973 during the oil crisis.

This year is also the year when the liberalization of rice began and the restrictions on the shared allocation of rice were lifted. Major manufacturers will utilize their brand power to start producing and selling sake nationwide. On the other hand, the non-major Tohoku brewers were hit hard.

In 1973, at the request of Mr. Matsumoto, the president of Matsumoto Sake Brewery, the four sake breweries in Miyagi Prefecture merged. Since each sake brewery has preserved the history of the brewery and its own brand, it would have taken a considerable amount of preparedness to make sake together.

Mr. Matsumoto, the first president, told the four young representatives of each kuramoto, “Let’s share the joy and sadness of the whole family." I want you to make sake. “

Challenge to the class system
Ichinokura was born in this way. In 1977, The product “Ichinokura Uninspected Honjo Brewing Dry" was launched, which is thoroughly committed to handmade sake and challenges the sake classification system at that time.

At that time, sake had a grade, and high grades were subject to high taxes. The judgment standard of that level was that “the NTA approves by the examination of the liquor council", which was an ambiguous judgment by the liquor council.

Ichinokura did not dare to apply for this inspection, but sold the high-quality Honjo Sake as a second-class sake that appealed to the low tax. “It is the customer who is really appraised," he clearly stated on the label and raised the issue of the classification system. This “Ichinokura uninspected book brewing dry" was a big hit and is still a signboard product of Ichinokura.

Challenge to new sake
Ichinokura was a hit with this brewed sake, but the lineup has been diverse in recent years. Of particular note are the “tin sound", which has fine bubbles like champagne, and the “himezen," which has about half the alcohol content of ordinary sake.

These are new types of sake made by applying the traditional techniques of sake brewing. Instead of sticking to traditional sake, they will make sake that suits the tastes of modern people. Ichinokura’s positive attitude toward new sake brewing, just as it once challenged the classification system, is also an attraction of Ichinokura.