東洋美人 純米大吟醸50【山口】～感性と技術の融合～
今宵のお供は山口県の萩で醸される銘酒「東洋美人」です。
毛利輝元の築いた萩城と日本の歴史を語る上で避けることのできない地域であり、
一方で長門峡や須佐ホルンフェルス等の風光明媚なスポットが点在する地域です。
萩で大正10年(1921年)に創業し、
100年の歴史を誇る澄川酒造場の醸す「東洋美人」は、
初代蔵元が亡き妻を思って名付けたと言われております。
現在4代目澄川氏が蔵元杜氏を担っていますが、
東京農大の学生時代に、現場実習で十四代を醸造する高木酒造を訪れ、
杜氏制度を主流とする業界では異例の蔵元杜氏として活躍する高木氏のもとで
醸造の技術だけでなく、「命を削る酒造り」をする姿に喚起され蔵元杜氏として、
萩の酒蔵に戻ってきました。
そこで得た経験から、
数値化できる工程についてはデータを蓄積して極力勘を排除し、
感性と技術が融合した酒造りに至ったのかもしれませんね。
澄川酒造場では「0杯から1杯へ」をスローガンに、
美味しい日本酒を飲んだことのない人に最初の1杯を提供しようと
様々な企画を実施しており、一時期は県内出荷が8割を超える程に逆転し、
地酒の本来の姿である地産地消が進んでいます。
サイズが特徴的で180mlのミニサイズなので気軽にお試しができ、
1回の食事で飲みきるのに丁度良いサイズなので、
残して日が経ってしまうことを心配する必要がないのもありがたいですね。
華やかな香りとやわらなかな口当たりで旨味を強く感じます。
純米大吟醸を飲みやすい価格、サイズで提供して頂けることに感謝しつつ、
あっという間に瓶が空いてしまう程のおいしさでした。
次回は萩の歴史と自然に思いを馳せながら飲んでみたいと思います。
TOYOBIJIN ~Japanese sake review~
Tonight's companion is Toyo Bijin, a famous sake brewed in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
It is an area inevitable when we talk about the history of Japan and Matsushitamura School of Shoin Yoshida who produced many Ishinshi, and Hagi Castle built by Terumoto Mouri.
On the other hand, it is a region dotted with scenic spots such as Nagatokyo and Susa Hornfels.
Established in Hagi in 1921, the Toyo Bijin, a 100-year-old Sumikawa Brewery, is
It is said that the first Kuramoto named it after his dead wife.
The fourth generation Mr. Sumikawa is in charge of Mr. Mori Kuramoto, but when I was a student at Tokyo University of Agriculture, I visited Takagi Sake Brewing, which brews the fourteenth generation in the field training.
Mr. Takagi, who plays an active role as Mr. Mori Kuramoto, who is unusual in the industry whose main system is the Mori system, was inspired not only by the brewing technology but also by the fact that he made "a sake that kills life" and returned to the brewery as the brewing manager.
From the experience gained there, it may be that we have accumulated data on processes that can be quantified and eliminated intuition as much as possible, leading to sake brewing that fuses sensitivity and technology.
With the slogan "0 to 1", the Sumikawa Sake Brewery is carrying out various projects to provide the first glass to those who have never tasted delicious sake. It has been reversed to the extent that it exceeds, and local production for local consumption, which is the original form of local sake, is progressing.
This time I met Junmai Daiginjo with a rice polishing rate of 50%.
The size is characteristic and it is a mini size of 180 ml, so you can feel free to try it, and since it is a size that is just right to finish drinking with one meal, you do not have to worry about leaving the days left.
The gorgeous fragrance and soft texture give it a strong umami taste.
Thank you for offering Junmai Daiginjo at an easy-to-drink price and size, but it was so delicious that the bottle emptied in no time.
Next time, I would like to drink while thinking about the history and nature of Hagi.
