HOZAN

Founded in 1845 in the Kagoshima region, the Nishi Shuzo distillery produces an entire range of honkaku shochu distilled from sweet potatoes grown on the island of Kyushu. Marketed under the Hozan brand (meaning ‘Treasure Mountain’), these distilled beverages are highly sought after in Japan, frequently appearing in competitions and in lists of recommended bottles in the food press. Using various types of koji – yellow, white and black – Nishi Shuzo produces several styles of shochu, including some aged versions that are matured for up to eight years in oak barrels.