Origins of Otogo Shochu
Otogo Shochu is a type of spirit called Kuma Shochu. Kuma Shochu has been made for 500 years and has a recognised WTO geographical designation, like ‘Scotch’ or ‘Champagne’. It comes from the Kuma Valley, a remote area on the far southwest island of Kyushu in Japan. The River Kuma, one of Japan’s fastest flowing and largest, has created a fertile valley with limestone geology. The area is a big rice producer along with many agriculture foodstuffs.
Kuma Shochu is produced by just 27 local distilleries and was consumed entirely locally until relatively recently. Otogo comes from a distillery run by the Tsutsumi family, which is based in Taragi, a small town, up river from Hitoyoshi, in Kumamoto prefecture, Kyushu. The family has two distilleries, the first has been in operation since 1878, and employs around 50 people.
