Heizo is a sweet potato shochu produced by Sakuranomine Sake Brewery, a historic brewery founded in the Meiji period. The brewery places great importance on small-batch production and traditional craftsmanship.
Both the first and second stages of fermentation are carefully carried out in ceramic jars called kame. This traditional method helps create a shochu with a gentle, pleasant aroma characteristic of sweet potatoes.
Heizo offers a subtle, sweet-potato fragrance, followed by a lightly roasted aroma when tasted. Its flavor combines gentle sweetness with a satisfying depth, while retaining a clean, refreshing finish.
Heizo was first released in 1995. It was created to commemorate the succession of the brewery by its sixth-generation president in 1994.
The name “Heizo” is an abbreviation of Heisei no Kura, meaning “the brewery of the Heisei era.” The name reflects the occasion on which the new generation took over the brewery and introduced this distinctive shochu.