Kuroki Honten Nakanaka Barley Shochu
Nakanaka is the main brand of barley shochu from the well-respected Kuroki Honten distillery. It is the same barley shochu used in distillery’s well known oak barrel aged barley shochu Hyakunen no Kodoku. Nakanaka is aged for a much shorter period in kame, traditional clay pots similar to amphorae used for aging shochu. Underground spring water from Osuzu Mountain streams is being used.
100% mugi (barley), with koji grown on barley replacing malting and distilled at low pressure on a vacuum still to preserve aromatics resulting in a full bodied shochu with distinct notes of chocolate and a rich sweetness on the palate.
While excellent served with chilled water or on ice, to truly appreciate the complex aromas and flavors of Nakanaka we recommend to drink it oyuwari (with hot water) which unlocks a lot of the subtleties and allow the chocolate notes to linger on the tongue.