Volume：720ml
ABV：40%
Limited: 600 bottles

With its deep amber hue, bold packaging, and the engraved barrel number “#133,” one might easily mistake this for a high-end whisky. In fact, it is a Sherry cask-aged rice shochu crafted by Tsutsumi Distillery in Kumamoto. Bottled at a robust 40% ABV, limited to just 600 bottles — each individually numbered — this represents the pinnacle of the distillery’s craftsmanship.

Aged extensively in Sherry casks, this expression carries a rich rum-like aroma, infused with the sweet depth of dried fruits from the cask, while retaining the signature lightness and clarity of rice shochu — a rare and fascinating balance.

Pouring into the glass, one might swear it’s rum from the scent alone — vanilla, almond, and raisin rise elegantly from the surface. On the palate, it’s silky and refined: a gentle sweetness from the Sherry cask, layered with notes of vanilla and ripe fruits. The finish lingers beautifully — long, clean, and warming, without heaviness.

The packaging deserves special mention: the bottle rests between carved layers of corrugated cardboard, revealing a hollowed-out core that cradles the weighty glass within. This innovative, tactile design is both sturdy and artistic — a testament to Tsutsumi’s creativity beyond distillation.

Located in Kuma District, Kumamoto, Tsutsumi Distillery is one of Japan’s most respected shochu houses, with over a century of history. For more than fifty years, they have experimented with barrel and earthenware aging to create shochu expressions that transcend convention.

If you’re a fan of bold spirits — whisky, rum, or otherwise — and seek something distinctively Japanese yet globally refined, Gokujō Tsutsumi #133 is an unmissable masterpiece.