Kyoto by the Sea: Sake Tasting ft Mukai Shuzo (Japan)

Founded in 1754, Mukai Sake Brewery is a small sake brewery based in the idyllic fishing village of Ine in the north of Kyoto, Japan, with an annual production of about 5 million bottles.

Ms. Kuniko Mukai has served as head brewer since 1999 and is the eldest daughter of this family business. At the time of her appointment, there was a lot of buzz about her because she was the first female head brewer in Japan.Kuniko Mukai was a country girl, coaxed by her parents to study at the Tokyo University of Agriculture. While studying fermentation and brewing techniques at Tokyo University, Kuniko-san met Professor Takeda who encouraged her to create a sake made from the red rice he knew grew locally in Ine. In May 2000 Kuniko-san launched her first ever red rice sake called ‘Ine Mankai’ or ‘Ine in full bloom’ and today this has put Mukai Shuzo and Ine on the sake map.⁠ Because of her perseverance in making wholly unique sake, Ine Mankai (their ancient red rice sake) was served during the G20 Osaka Summit held in 2019.

The brewery has now turned into a local hot-spot with a constant flow of visitors, the majority of which are tourists looking to try their famous sake. Ms. Mukai aims for flavors that are moderately bitter and sour, and that pair wonderfully with food. The brewery also preserves all but abandoned production methods (natural yeast without mashing, and Kimoto production, which is traditional sake yeast mash starter and the oldest surviving traditional style of sake making). They have using these methods since the Edo period. If you are lucky enough to catch Ms. Mukai at the brewery, she loves to chat. We managed to meet her there last Summer!

From the head brewer Kuniko-san:

"When I was a kid, the only people around me were fishermen, and I was disappointed that my family business was sake brewery. Needless to say I had never thought of becoming the head brewer. However, while studying in the brewing department at my university and helping with the family business, I ended up deciding to immerse myself in this world. When I became head brewer I kind of became a social icon for a while, and that alone boosted the brewery’s popularity. But nowadays, I focus on making sake that people keep coming back for. We are creating enduring, unique sake, using traditional methods. If you come to the brewery, don’t hesitate to say hi!"

TASTING LIST

Inemankai Junmai Genshu (Red rice sake)
Inemankai Junmai Genshu Nigori (Red rice sake)
Uranagi Junmai Nama Yamahai Genshu
Natsu No Omoide Koshu

DETAILS

Sat 31st Jan, 2-3pm
$35pp for tasting of 4 sake
Led by Jay from Fossa
10% off all Mukai Shuzo sake purchased during event
31 Binjai Park