Wine · Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture
Oka Kura
Japanese sake vermouth and rice spirits from a historic Kumamoto shochu house.
- Founded by
- Yuno Hayashi
- Based in
- Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture
Their story
Oka Kura is the project of Yuno Hayashi, who named the brand for her grandfather. She partnered with Tsutsumi Distillery in Kumamoto's Hitoyoshi Basin, a house that has been making shochu for nearly 150 years about five kilometers from the Kuma River.
Tsutsumi is one of a small group of distilleries allowed to label their spirit Kuma shochu, a protected regional name. Oka Kura builds on that base with products made for cocktails.
Its best known bottle is Bermutto, a sake-based vermouth in dry and sweet styles that takes cues from European aromatized wines. The range also includes a yuzu liqueur and rice-based vodka and gin.
How it's made
The rice is grown within the Kuma River system, and the river's water goes into the sake and shochu. Oka Kura blends local rice spirits and junmai sake with hyper-regional Japanese botanicals to make its vermouths, liqueur, vodka and gin.
Why we carry them
We love Bermutto in a martini or a spritz; it brings a soft, savory sake character that a standard vermouth can't. It is a fun way to bring Japanese flavors to a home bar.
Find more makers like this in Provisions Club, our curated subscription.
Explore Provisions Club