Message from Beverage Director, Sam Miyazawa:

My ancestors were samurai until 1582.

The last samurai in my family was a vassal of the Takeda clan, who at the time ruled a vast area including Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, and parts of Gunma, Aichi, and Toyama prefectures. And he worked at Takato Castle in Nagano, one of the Takeda's castles.

However, the Oda clan, who later ruled all of Japan, attacked the castle and the Shogun, his vassals, and soldiers were all killed. I don't know how he survived, but he became a farmer after that, and I was able to be born into this world nearly 400 years later.

Takato Castle, which he served, is one of the most famous sakura (cherry blossom) spots in Japan. The more than 1,500 sakura trees surrounding the castle
are a very rare variety of sakura tree, and are designated
as a Japanese historic site.

View of part of the remaining structure of Takato Caste, flanked by blossoming sakura trees.

Why are the cherry blossoms at Takato Castle so beautiful? It is said that it is because the bodies of more than 3,000 people who were defeated in the final battle are resting under the cherry trees.

Senjo Shuzo in Takato is a representative sake brewery in Nagano Prefecture with a history of about 160 years.

The brewery's elegant sweet Junmai Daiginjo is a top-notch product, and is also sold at Kuraichi.

Even more popular than Senjo Junmai Daiginjo at Kuraichi is their Sakura Gin, which uses cherry blossom leaves from Takato Castle.

Sakura has been used in various foods and drinks in Japan since ancient times, and recently Sakura cask whiskey has become popular.

At Senjo, the brewers carefully hand-pick Takato's native cherry blossom leaves one by one, distill them with juniper berries, and create a very unique gin based on rice-derived spirits.

It has a sweet and gorgeous aroma of cherry blossoms and a smooth drinking experience reminiscent of Ginjo sake.

Please try this extremely elegant craft gin with the aroma of cherry blossoms that arrived from my paternal hometown.

On Saturday April 26th, we will be holding a free in-store tasting event for the craft gin and Junmai Daiginjo sake introduced in this newsletter, so we look forward to seeing you there!