Zuiyo Sake Brewery: Shaping Kumamoto's Sake Heritage and Crafting the Finest Asobijin Shochu

Zuiyo Sake Brewery: Pioneers in Kumamoto's Sake Production

瑞鹰酒造：熊本县清酒酿造先驱

Zuiyo Sake Brewery, established in 1867 in the prosperous town of Kawashiri under Hosokawa rule, holds a significant place in the history of Kumamoto's alcohol production. At that time, the only alcoholic beverage being made in Kumamoto was akazake, a style of alcohol to which ash was added to prevent spoilage and create a slightly alkaline taste. However, Zuiyo Brewery broke new ground by becoming the first brewery in Kumamoto to transition from akazake to sake brewing.

1867年，瑞鹰酒造在细川统治下的繁荣小镇川尻成立，它在熊本县清酒酿造历史上占有重要地位。当时，熊本唯一可生产的酒精饮料是赤酒，为了防止变质，这种酒中加入了灰烬，呈弱碱性。瑞鹰酒造开创了新的局面，成为熊本第一家从赤酒酿造转向清酒酿制的酒造。

For centuries, the production and importation of sake were prohibited in Kumamoto. The turning point came in the latter half of the 19th century with significant societal changes such as the Meiji Restoration and the Satsuma Rebellion, which led to the legalization of alcohols other than akazake. Inspired by the idea of creating a sake that truly represented Kumamoto, Tahachi Yoshimura embarked on the journey of sake-making in the third year of Keio (1867). Almost 20 years later, on New Year's Day in 1889, a fortuitous incident occurred. Tahachi opened the doors of his sake brewery to allow the new year's light to illuminate the space, when suddenly, a hawk flew in after a sparrow. Tahachi saw this as a happy omen and named his sake brand "Zuiyo," meaning "good omen hawk." Since then, Zuiyo Brewery has become synonymous with excellence, celebrated for both its name and the quality of its sake.

几个世纪以来，熊本既禁止生产清酒，又不能带进清酒。19世纪下半叶出现好转，明治维新和萨摩之乱等重大社会变革，使得除赤酒以外的酒类的合法化。庆应三年(1867年)，吉村太八萌生了创造一种真正代表熊本县清酒的想法，并开始了酿造熊本清酒的之旅。约20年后的1889年的元旦，发生一件奇异的事情。太八打开酒造大门，让新年的光芒照进来。这时，一只鹰追逐一只麻雀飞了进来。他认为这是吉兆，于是将他的清酒品牌命名为“瑞鹰”，意思是“吉祥之鹰”。从那时起，瑞鹰酒造就成了卓越的代名词，并以其名称和清酒的质量而闻名。

Asobijin Shochu: A Journey of Excellence from Sake to Shochu

阿苏美人烧酒:从清酒到烧酒的卓越之旅

While Zuiyo Sake Brewery is widely recognized for its exceptional sake, their expertise extends beyond this beloved beverage. The brewery also produces remarkable shochu, with Asobijin Shochu being a standout creation. This unique shochu is distilled from junmai, creating a distinctively soft and light flavor. The water used in the brewing process is sourced from abundant subsoil springs found in the Kyushu mountains and the caldera plateau of Aso. Asobijin shochu, reminiscent of the beauty of Kumamoto's Aso region, delivers a clean and gentle taste. It can be enjoyed in various ways, such as mixed with hot water, served on the rocks, or paired with plums, allowing you to savor the best of both worlds.

瑞鹰酒造以其卓越的清酒而广为人知，然而他们的专业知识远远超出了这一让人心爱的产品。这家酒造还生产出色的烧酒，其中阿苏美人烧酒就是一款杰出的产品。这种独特的烧酒是从纯米酒中蒸馏出来的，口感柔和清淡。中其使用九州山区和阿苏火山口高原下丰富的地下泉水酿制而成。阿苏美人烧酒，口感柔和清淡爽，让人联想到熊本阿苏地区美女。你可以各种方式享用它，比如和兑入热水，坐在在岩石上，搭配梅子，可让你品尝到两全其美的味道哦。

Zuiyo Sake Brewery and its exquisite offerings, including the renowned Zuiyo Sake and the delightful Asobijin Shochu, stand as a testament to the brewery's enduring legacy of excellence. With a commitment to tradition and an eagerness to innovate, Zuiyo continues to captivate sake and shochu enthusiasts alike, offering a taste experience that truly embodies the essence of Kumamoto.

瑞鹰酒造及其精美的产品，包括著名的瑞鹰清酒和令人愉快的阿苏美人烧酒，是酒造卓越的持久遗产的证明。凭借对传统工艺的承诺和对创新的渴望，瑞鹰酒造继续吸引着清酒和烧酒爱好者，并为其提供真正体现熊本精髓清酒的品尝体验。